Getting a driver's license as a K-1 visa holder

[darstar 0]

Hi all,

My wife arrived in the States on a K-1 in mid July. Her visa will expired mid October. Her AOS documents were sent to USCIS last week.

I've heard that if I try to get a driver's license for her here in California, it would only be valid for the term of her visa. What is the proper way to get a K-1 visa-holder a driver's license while she awaits her AOS case to be processed? Does providing the DMV a NOA1 letter from USCIS help? Is there a proper procedure?

Thanks for any info.

[YuAndDan 153]

I am a CDL holder and am a little familiar with drivers licenses.

That is strange, You may want to inquire at the DMV I have never heard of the DMV doing such thing. Did she have a license back in her home country? If not she will probably have to do a written test, get permit then do a road test.

Cal DMV only indicates need, proof of age, (Birth Certificte), SSN, Photo ID (Passport), someting showing where live.

More can be found here: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#2500

[darstar 0]

I am a CDL holder and am a little familiar with drivers licenses.

That is strange, You may want to inquire at the DMV I have never heard of the DMV doing such thing. Did she have a license back in her home country? If not she will probably have to do a written test, get permit then do a road test.

Cal DMV only indicates need, proof of age, (Birth Certificte), SSN, Photo ID (Passport), someting showing where live.

More can be found here: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#2500

Yes, I've checked out the DMV site. From what I've heard, they would not issue a CA driver's license beyond the date she is required to leave the country (unless I can prove she is applying for a green card).

She does not have a license and will indeed have to go the written test, permit, road test route. I just want to make sure that her license will be valid beyond the expiration of her K-1.

[sarah and hicham 3]

We couldn't even get a state ID card because his I-94 was expiring within 60 days... as for the drivers license the woman at the DMV in California told me he has to wait for his Greencard but that he can drive very carefully on his license from Morocco and if he gets pulled over either say you are visiting or that you are establishing yourself and in the process of AOS.

Good luck,

Sarah

[YuAndDan 153]

Yes, I've checked out the DMV site. From what I've heard, they would not issue a CA driver's license beyond the date she is required to leave the country (unless I can prove she is applying for a green card).

She does not have a license and will indeed have to go the written test, permit, road test route. I just want to make sure that her license will be valid beyond the expiration of her K-1.

I see that after some lenghty reading of the DMV site.

All original and pending driver license or identification cards will expire on the expiration date of his/her birth date/legal presence document (BD/LP) issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Your BD/LP document must have an expiration date 30 or more days from your application date. If your BD/LP document has an expiration date less than 30 days, you will not be able to start a driver license or identification card application.

If your BD/LP document has an expiration date of less than 60 days, you may complete your licensing requirements (written/vision/driving tests), but you will need to submit another BD/LP document with an expiration date of 60 days or more before your driver license or identification card is mailed to you.

From what I see and your time line it is probably too late to apply already, they indicate if less than 30 days are left on the LP document then they wont issue, and if 60-30 days they will issue if can complete the requirements, "road test" I don't see how this can be done with in 2 or 3 days, she entered the US 7/15 leaving you around 30 left on the I-94.

Have you applied for AOS? The Cal DMV site indicates Notice of Action (I-797 Approved Petition) (NOA2) is also considered (BD/LP) and they will use the expiration date on that form.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#BDLP

Hope this may help.

Edited September 13, 2006 by YuAndDan

[darstar 0]

Yes, I've checked out the DMV site. From what I've heard, they would not issue a CA driver's license beyond the date she is required to leave the country (unless I can prove she is applying for a green card).

She does not have a license and will indeed have to go the written test, permit, road test route. I just want to make sure that her license will be valid beyond the expiration of her K-1.

I see that after some lenghty reading of the DMV site.

All original and pending driver license or identification cards will expire on the expiration date of his/her birth date/legal presence document (BD/LP) issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Your BD/LP document must have an expiration date 30 or more days from your application date. If your BD/LP document has an expiration date less than 30 days, you will not be able to start a driver license or identification card application.

If your BD/LP document has an expiration date of less than 60 days, you may complete your licensing requirements (written/vision/driving tests), but you will need to submit another BD/LP document with an expiration date of 60 days or more before your driver license or identification card is mailed to you.

From what I see and your time line it is probably too late to apply already, they indicate if less than 30 days are left on the LP document then they wont issue, and if 60-30 days they will issue if can complete the requirements, "road test" I don't see how this can be done with in 2 or 3 days, she entered the US 7/15 leaving you around 30 left on the I-94.

Have you applied for AOS? The Cal DMV site indicates Notice of Action (I-797 Approved Petition) (NOA2) is also considered (BD/LP) and they will use the expiration date on that form.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#BDLP

Hope this may help.

Thanks very much for the info. Yes, we've applied for AOS the first week of September.