Drivers Licence - Experiences

[Cristy 4]

My licence expires the day my 90 days expires....well it was supposed to, because legally after that I have to provide info that I am allowed to stay longer. But the lady extended it to January to be nice.

I had to do a written but not driving test.

[Justdazed 1]

I googled I-551 and Resident Alien card and all my hits came back with information regarding a green card - so I can't say for certain.

and the I-94 - is this that piece of paper/card that they give us on the plane and/or before proceeding to customs to fill out? if so, then customs has always kept mine... they have never given it back to me.

You can get replacement I-94 from this site:

INS Form I-94 Records

[Waiting in Vancouver 6]

I was researching Driver License requirements in Nevada (where I will be moving to) and it lists several documents I can use as proof of identity together with my SSN (when I eventually get it). These three, I feel, are the only ones I may be able to use (once I get my hands on them):

- Resident Alien Card or I-551 Receipt

- Valid Foreign Passport stamped “Processed for I-551”

- Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) with Visa or Passport

Can anyone explain, at what point in this whole K1/K3 Visa-to-AOS process will I receive any of the above documents? (i.e. what is the I-551? do we receive a resident alien card? do I have to apply for an I-94 or will this be issued at the POE?)

Okay this is how I understand it and I am sure someone with correct me if I am wrong ...

- The Resident Alien Card is the actual green card.

- The Stamped "Processed for I-551" is a stamp they put in your passport if you are approved for your green card at your interview but are waiting for the green card to arrive.

- The I-94 is an extra form you fill out at your POE which is very important in this whole process for AOS and what not (the office stapled mine inside my passport). I told the United customer service guy at YVR that I was activating a K-1 Visa and he asked me if I needed an I-94 so I told him I did and he gave me one to fill out while I was waiting in Customs line ... Otherwise they will give you one at customs to fill out ...

[Our Mao 0]

I moved down from Vancouver to San Francisco and the DMV in California made me re take the writte hand driven.. it's easy though so no worries!! just hassle and $ but u gotta go what you gotta do!!!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Each State DMV has different requirements, can be a huge pain for some!!

[Justdazed 1]

long story short I called the WA Licensing place and I do need to do the written and road test to get my drivers License

[Eli 0]

long story short I called the WA Licensing place and I do need to do the written and road test to get my drivers License

This is true, and I was disappointed when I first learned this but as my fiancé puts it, Washington is crazy about licensing ("If the didn't have to recognize licenses from other states they would probably refuse those too"). I am also moving from BC to Washington. Let me know how those tests go!!

[Justdazed 1]

long story short I called the WA Licensing place and I do need to do the written and road test to get my drivers License

This is true, and I was disappointed when I first learned this but as my fiancé puts it, Washington is crazy about licensing ("If the didn't have to recognize licenses from other states they would probably refuse those too"). I am also moving from BC to Washington. Let me know how those tests go!!

I will!

I've been doing the online practice for the written exam and some questions are a tad confusing (the ones related to laws etc) but other then that I'm sure it will be ok.

[Krikit 1,164]

I'll try that, but they can easily say "out of state" being a US state other then WA, I'm sure.

It wouldn't hurt to try, just a visit to the DMV, which you would do any way, US/Canada tend to share database with regard to things like driving records. A friend of mine ran through one of those electronic toll booths in Toronto a while back they ran his NY plate, and called up address data from the NY DMV and sent him a fine. So I suspect they wont have a problem with replacing your BC license.

Hi YuAndDan. Your friend was probably referring to using Highway 407, which is a toll road. As there are no staffed booths.... and if there is no transponder in the vehicle.... they simply mail the charge to the address associated with the license plate.

[Reba 2]

I was researching Driver License requirements in Nevada (where I will be moving to) and it lists several documents I can use as proof of identity together with my SSN (when I eventually get it). These three, I feel, are the only ones I may be able to use (once I get my hands on them):

- Resident Alien Card or I-551 Receipt

- Valid Foreign Passport stamped “Processed for I-551”

- Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) with Visa or Passport

Can anyone explain, at what point in this whole K1/K3 Visa-to-AOS process will I receive any of the above documents? (i.e. what is the I-551? do we receive a resident alien card? do I have to apply for an I-94 or will this be issued at the POE?)

You get the I-94 at the POE when you enter the US. The I-551 and green card have been explained.

To prove "residence" at the state level, you Do Not need to have a green card. "Residence" as it pertains to state laws, just means that you live there. To prove residence in most states you just need to show that you receive mail at a physical address (not a PO box) When I went for my license I took the NOA from my EAD. In most states you do need to prove that you entered the country legally, and that you are legally permitted to stay, so you'll need to take your passport with you to show your visa stamp.

In NC, their law is that out of state and Canadians can be waived the road test at the examiners discretion. So I knew ahead of time to take an Ontario driver's abstract (driving record) with me. It was clean for 2 years, so they waived the road test.

Some states will require that you have an SSN apparently, and K3s cannot get an SSN until they have EAD, which is a pain in the #######, but check the DMV website for info.

Edited September 17, 2006 by Reba

[onesassygirl 0]

You get the I-94 at the POE when you enter the US. The I-551 and green card have been explained.

To prove "residence" at the state level, you Do Not need to have a green card. "Residence" as it pertains to state laws, just means that you live there. To prove residence in most states you just need to show that you receive mail at a physical address (not a PO box) When I went for my license I took the NOA from my EAD. In most states you do need to prove that you entered the country legally, and that you are legally permitted to stay, so you'll need to take your passport with you to show your visa stamp.

In NC, their law is that out of state and Canadians can be waived the road test at the examiners discretion. So I knew ahead of time to take an Ontario driver's abstract (driving record) with me. It was clean for 2 years, so they waived the road test.

Some states will require that you have an SSN apparently, and K3s cannot get an SSN until they have EAD, which is a pain in the #######, but check the DMV website for info.

thanks for the info!

[Cassie 8]

I was researching Driver License requirements in Nevada (where I will be moving to) and it lists several documents I can use as proof of identity together with my SSN (when I eventually get it). These three, I feel, are the only ones I may be able to use (once I get my hands on them):

- Resident Alien Card or I-551 Receipt

- Valid Foreign Passport stamped “Processed for I-551”

- Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) with Visa or Passport

Can anyone explain, at what point in this whole K1/K3 Visa-to-AOS process will I receive any of the above documents? (i.e. what is the I-551? do we receive a resident alien card? do I have to apply for an I-94 or will this be issued at the POE?)

You get the I-94 at the POE when you enter the US. The I-551 and green card have been explained.

To prove "residence" at the state level, you Do Not need to have a green card. "Residence" as it pertains to state laws, just means that you live there. To prove residence in most states you just need to show that you receive mail at a physical address (not a PO box) When I went for my license I took the NOA from my EAD. In most states you do need to prove that you entered the country legally, and that you are legally permitted to stay, so you'll need to take your passport with you to show your visa stamp.

In NC, their law is that out of state and Canadians can be waived the road test at the examiners discretion. So I knew ahead of time to take an Ontario driver's abstract (driving record) with me. It was clean for 2 years, so they waived the road test.

Some states will require that you have an SSN apparently, and K3s cannot get an SSN until they have EAD, which is a pain in the #######, but check the DMV website for info.

Of course, Oklahoma has to be different! Oklahoma requires either the actual EAD card (and even that depends on the office, if they do accept it the DL is only valid as long as the EAD card is valid), or the green card. The office I went to consulted the official rulebook in front of me, and it specifically said that K-1s needed Permanent residency status (as defined by USCIS), so I was out of luck at that point. I was allowed to drive around using my Canadian DL until I had my card, then I went and exchanged my DL for an OK DL. Only had to fill out some paperwork, do the eye test, have my DL verified by Nova Scotia, and that was it.

[Reba 2]

yeah, but I'm K3, a whole different animal

K3s and K1s are treated differently by a lot of government offices, not just USCIS. Myabe because the K1 is only valid 90 days, and the K3 is valid 2 years.

That said...I think my driver's license is valid 8 years!

[Flames9_RN 358]

I'm cr-1 in VA and my VA drivers license expires the same day my cr-1 does-dec 2006. Got to get that I-751 in the mail !!