Married, but K-1 visa is about to expire

[ggourde 0]

So, we are married, and filed the AOS paperwork, got a letter saying they received it- and went to the Biometrics appointment. However we never received anything that extends her K-1 visa which expires in 10 days. Are we supposed to?

The only reason why we are worried is because we tried to get her a (MO) driver's license, but the lady at the DMV said that she can't do it because there is no extension date for the visa.

Thanks,

Gregg

[agrabs 250]

So, we are married, and filed the AOS paperwork, got a letter saying they received it- and went to the Biometrics appointment. However we never received anything that extends her K-1 visa which expires in 10 days. Are we supposed to?

The only reason why we are worried is because we tried to get her a (MO) driver's license, but the lady at the DMV said that she can't do it because there is no extension date for the visa.

Thanks,

Gregg

You will not get anything extending it. She will not be able to get her MO driver's license until she has her EAD.

I just went through this with my husband. That is the bad part of K1 visa- you are in kind of a limbo until you get your EAD. The MO dmv will not accept NOA1 for AOS . I posted lots of about this when we were going through it - very frustrating

[Asia 2,499]

Her visa has (kinda) expired the moment she entered the US.

[Darnell 8,479]

Congrats on the marriage ! Please to fill out yer timeline, over at http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=146843 sometime soonish?

[agrabs 250]

Her visa has (kinda) expired the moment she entered the US.

I'm pretty sure the OP was referring to the I94

[Chris and Preschy 0]

Just like agrabs said. Don't worry about it. The D.L. thing threw me and my spouse off here in OK. I asked about the EAD at out AOS interview and the employees looked it up and stated that it was still processing. I believe that they were waiting for the results of the AOS interview.

[HeidiShawn 0]

Hi! I'm also living in MO (Springfield) and I was just about to go next week to DMW to apply driving license. So it's not gonna happen and I need to drive with my European license, is that correct? How about opening a bank account etc? Cause I know many banks only accept American ID to open account. So am I now pushed to keep using my Finnish bank card etc until I will get my GC? is this only for MO DMW? Cause I now I have friends living for example in Virginia and they got temporary driving license for 6 months with no problems...

Thanks for answers!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

All K-1 people should understand that K-1 is a non-immigrant visa, and gives the K-1 visaholder privileges about the same as a tourist visa holder. A K-1 is entitled to a SSN, but one is not able to work, travel internationally (one-time use visa for entrance to the US), or get a DL in most cases. You can check with your state regulations to see what documents you need to show to get a DL, but most people have to wait for the EAD or even the Greencard.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hi! I'm also living in MO (Springfield) and I was just about to go next week to DMW to apply driving license. So it's not gonna happen and I need to drive with my European license, is that correct? How about opening a bank account etc? Cause I know many banks only accept American ID to open account. So am I now pushed to keep using my Finnish bank card etc until I will get my GC? is this only for MO DMW? Cause I now I have friends living for example in Virginia and they got temporary driving license for 6 months with no problems...

Thanks for answers!

Banks usually require a passport of foreigners, not American ID (I don't know where you heard/read that but SOME banks prefer American ID, not "most"). I opened a Wells Fargo account with my passport. They asked for a SSN but it wasn't actually required and i didn't have one at the time.

Go to a bank and apply.

[agrabs 250]

Hi! I'm also living in MO (Springfield) and I was just about to go next week to DMW to apply driving license. So it's not gonna happen and I need to drive with my European license, is that correct? How about opening a bank account etc? Cause I know many banks only accept American ID to open account. So am I now pushed to keep using my Finnish bank card etc until I will get my GC? is this only for MO DMW? Cause I now I have friends living for example in Virginia and they got temporary driving license for 6 months with no problems...

Thanks for answers!

I can tell you our experience

We had checked the MO DMV website and it states that K1 visas are eligible to get their drivers license. We called Jefferson city to verify what he needed to bring - passport and I94 - they said he would have to take both written and driving test - he did that - paid the fee and passed both - gave him the paper with his scores to take to DMV - they issued a temporary paper license that would expire same day as 1-94 (we had applied for AOS but he had about 6 weeks left before i94 expired)

They said his regular license would come in the mail in a couple of weeks after verifying his immigration documents. Instead a few weeks later we got a letter in the mail revoking his license because i94 was expired and stating he could reapply when he had new documentation.

to make a long story short - i called the dmv - who really didn't understand k1 visa and then jefferson city again - the person I talked to first was very snotty and tried to tell me that it was immigration that didn't approve it and that he is here illegally and I should be grateful she wasn't reporting him as an illegal. I finally got through to a supervisor who explained that they will only issue id or driver license for the duration of i94 and that since it was going to expire it was denied. She said he would need to come back when he got his EAD - (they won't accept noa from aos) and he could reapply. Also, since the temporary permit they game him expired he would have to take the drivers test all over again and repay the fees.

My biggest problem with that is they should not have on their website that you are eligible with K1 - since all k1 visa i94 expire in 90 days. So none of them are going to be approved.

its so frustrating because we were trying to do things the right way. After talking to the supervisor - as she explained it to me - basically they have to verify the immigration documents and when they do - its USCIS that says no - this i94 is going to expire.

That is the downside to k1 visa - you are in this limbo once 194 expires until EAD is approved with nothing to show your legal status.

You should be able to get a bank account with your ss and passport.

My hubby drove with his romanian license until he could get his missouri license - i'm just saying that is what he did - not giving that as advice

Also I called my insurance company the day he arrived here to make sure he was covered on my car insurance.

Good luck and welcome to Missouri

my bff lives in springfield - I love it there!

Edited January 5, 2013 by agrabs

[Arinlars 19]

A silly question but is it necessary to get an MO drivers licence ? My fiance worked in a bank he told me most banks accept passports to open an account

[agrabs 250]

A silly question but is it necessary to get an MO drivers licence ? My fiance worked in a bank he told me most banks accept passports to open an account

well, you need a driver's license if you plan on driving.

per MO DMV your passport is not a diver's license - you can drive with an international license and passport as long as your i94 is valid

which brings us back to the original dilemma - i94 expires 90 days after entering the country

Edited January 5, 2013 by agrabs

[agrabs 250]

Edited January 5, 2013 by agrabs

[HeidiShawn 0]

Oh boy, getting in to America is so complicated!!! I guess I just will drive with my European lisence.. If I don't drive, I'm pretty much wrapped to my house cause here is not public transportation at all. I just hate to carry m passport all over, I'm scared to loose it, or if someone would steal my purse in the bar or so.

I based my experience to opening account to my own experience. I used to live here for 1 year when i was working and my company helped me to open account with UMB-bank. On that point I just had my passport. After I returned to Finland, I didn't know that my account went to minus-balance; just for like 40$ but before I got the info of that, they already closed my account since it was minus more than 30 days. In that time my fionce paid it off right away and they promised to re-open it when I'm back in USA. Well we tried, but then they told me that they don't accept passport anymore, needs to be American ID. So otherwise there wasn't problem to open it again, but they wanted to see American ID. And since I didn't have it, they told me come back with that and they would gladly re-open it... So that was my experience. Now I don't know what I should do. Maybe join to my husband's bank account? Using my Finnish card is not expensive at all, but still would like to have local card as well.