Virginia Drivers License

[Lami 0]

Hello there

I thought I'd post my experience this weekend in renewing my drivers license here in Virginia.

I'm from Ontario and when I first arrived here in March we went to the DMV to switch my license. They gave me a temporary license good until the I-94 in my passport expired. I was there this Saturday renewing it with my I-797 for my AOS. NOT for the EAD. They renewed it for a year from the date of my I-797. no fuss, no muss.

I hope this helps someone else as they have the vaguest information available both online and on the phone

[Shirley Ann 6]

Hello there

I thought I'd post my experience this weekend in renewing my drivers license here in Virginia.

I'm from Ontario and when I first arrived here in March we went to the DMV to switch my license. They gave me a temporary license good until the I-94 in my passport expired. I was there this Saturday renewing it with my I-797 for my AOS. NOT for the EAD. They renewed it for a year from the date of my I-797. no fuss, no muss.

I hope this helps someone else as they have the vaguest information available both online and on the phone

you are so fortunate to have it that easy! I'm also from Ontario and I'll be in Indiana. The law there requires me to take the written AND road test again to get mine.

Each State has it's own regulations I guess.

Happy driving!!

[ceadsearc 516]

Glad it went so well! Unfortunately it's not always that easy, my husband had to use his EAD to get his license in VA, along with his 797 from AOS, and even then it was some trouble. We were told at the local DMV that as of late last year it is at each DMV's discretion if they want to issue or renew licenses with 797s/EADs/etc, ever since that illegal immigrant killed a nun while drunk driving.

[Lami 0]

you are so fortunate to have it that easy! I'm also from Ontario and I'll be in Indiana. The law there requires me to take the written AND road test again to get mine.

Each State has it's own regulations I guess.

Happy driving!!

Heh.. yeah each state is an entity all their own. I'm glad I got mine (and that it was so easy) because we're in a rural area outside of Lynchburg. No bus service and nothing close enough to walk to. I'd be.. housebound. A month felt like I'd been grounded... hehe. I was ready to start swinging from the trees.

Good luck with yours.

[Lami 0]

Glad it went so well! Unfortunately it's not always that easy, my husband had to use his EAD to get his license in VA, along with his 797 from AOS, and even then it was some trouble. We were told at the local DMV that as of late last year it is at each DMV's discretion if they want to issue or renew licenses with 797s/EADs/etc, ever since that illegal immigrant killed a nun while drunk driving.

I know that they changed the law after that drunk driver but I was under the impression it was Virginia wide. They don't accept EAD's because he was in the process of being removed from the USA and had a temporary EAD when he got his license. Their online information indicates that the 797 will be accepted depending upon WHY it was issued (AOS they accept) I'm sorry he was given a hard time. I hope they stop painting us all with the "bad immigrant" brush. It sure makes things more difficult on us and only encourages people to drive without a license and insurance.

[ceadsearc 516]

I know that they changed the law after that drunk driver but I was under the impression it was Virginia wide. They don't accept EAD's because he was in the process of being removed from the USA and had a temporary EAD when he got his license. Their online information indicates that the 797 will be accepted depending upon WHY it was issued (AOS they accept) I'm sorry he was given a hard time. I hope they stop painting us all with the "bad immigrant" brush. It sure makes things more difficult on us and only encourages people to drive without a license and insurance.

I agree. The guy in question didn't even have a license, he had an ID card. I think there may be some confusion at the DMV locations (at our location in Northern Virginia, there was some confusion even within the location among staff members) because when the law changed, the wording given was somewhat vague and so I think perhaps some people are unclear on what constitutes an acceptable 797. And I know at least at the time, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said that while DMVs no longer had to accept EADs, they were allowed to if they wanted (link) which is just ... confusing, lol.