Texas Driver's License Debacle

[shikarnov 7]

Hi All,

My wife just got her first NOA extending her green card by a year. She went to the DPS to renew her driver's license (which Texas automatically expires on the day the GC does). But the bureaucrats there wouldn't accept the NOA document as proof of her extension. They want a GC with the new expiration date...

Anybody have any suggestions where I can turn to get this resolved. USCIS seems disinclined to intervene in a "local matter" and time's ticking until she won't be able to drive (and get to work, etc)

Thanks,

Z

[Mike B. 231]

You've probably already thought about this, but perhaps making an infopass appointment and getting the stamp in her passport would convince the DMV bureaucrats to issue the license? Does anyone know what the stamp itself says? If it says "Approved I-551" or "Processed for I-551" then it should be acceptable to Texas, as per http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/LawfulStatusDLID.htm I just recently filed the I-751 so I am definitely not the knowledgeable one here.

Edited February 27, 2012 by Mike B.

[Mike B. 231]

Just hunting around it looks like the I-551 stamp is the one that they put in your passport, although they might not do it until the one-year extension is up since you already have, in the mind of USCIS, a "valid" I-551: her green card + NOA that extends it. Maybe if you make an appointment you could explain to them that the State of Texas is screwing her on her drivers' license and will continue to do so unless they can see the stamp. I don't know, but it might be worth a shot if the alternative is your wife losing her job. I would think that if you were armed with a stamped passport and a print-out of that page from the Department of Public Safety you could get a DL issued.

[Bern` 0]

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/documents/ImmigrationStatusChart.pdf

[Bern` 0]

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/documents/ImmigrationStatusChart.pdf

I just called my local DPS office, and they said all they need is the I-797 saying that her status has been extended, worst comes to worse, they have to call USCIS to verify that I'm in limbo. If anything, go back and talk to a supervisor or call ahead and speak to a supervisor.

[AmberOctober 25]

Got mine in Texas for 6 years (until 2016) with work permit back in 2010, so probably depends on the county, not the state.

Edited February 28, 2012 by AmberOctober

[TBoneTX 45,329]

Ask for a supervisor, or visit a different office.

[naksah 1]

Try a different DMV office in a different town. Sometimes it depends on who you get to speak with.

[shikarnov 7]

Thanks, everybody for your responses. I've printed out the PDF of lawful statuses and will go back to the DPS today. I'll report back with the latest...

Z

[Bern` 0]

Good luck! I just went and renewed my DL with just the I-797, the only had to call INS to confirm something. Your wife should be fine!

[shikarnov 7]

Following up: My wife has her license.

We went to the DPS office, yesterday, and although the clerk initially rejected the NOA document again, when my wife whipped out the DPS' own status chart, the clerk sighed, but, acquiesced.

Thanks for all your help!

Z