drivers license

[Thermite 3]

For Kansas I just checked my wife would need 2 valid ID's Passport and EAD then she would also need proof of residency so I could bring a bank statement. Most likely I would have to bring marriage license too as Passport name is different then married name this is what I had to do at Bio metrics yesterday

[Patrick and Lily 1]

FYI for those in Texas, k1 or i94 will not work. You need something like the green card that says you are legally here for At least 6 months. Thats been a tough one for us as im the only licensed driver in the house! Hopefully the EADs will how any day....

[moemac59 193]

In NY state, they will issue you a temporary license until your K1 Visa expires. You then have to go back to the DMV to get a permanent DL once the green card has been issued. I tried to take in the NOA1 for my I485 aplication as well as my EAD/AP card but no dice. The people at the DMV wanted to see the GC before issuing a permanent DL.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

i live in Arkansas

Here's Arkansas http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/driverServices/Pages/FAQ's.aspx

It says:

INS Documents, as follows:

Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N-570, or N-578).

Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561, or N-645).

Resident Alien Card (I-151, I-551, AR-3, AR-3A, or AR-103).

The I-551 is the greencard.

For the rest of the states, Left Coast Lady made a spread sheet with links to the various state agencies you might need, including DMV. Find yours.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0Alp-hKNFww4IdDZ4eWtmRnhDVWw4d1JYV2p6RVExTnc

[ladyblue 11]

Thanks so much

[Rob & Monika 87]

Aside from green card, you can use either one of these:

1. passport, visa and I-94 -> license will expire on the date stamped on I-94

2. EAD card --> license will expire on the date on the card

1. Seems silly to get a license that lasts less than 3 months when the GC takes 6.

NY has theirs expire in 1 year.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

As part of combatting illegal immigrants, the federal government put pressure on the states to modify their driver license requirements so no non-US citizen gets a state license that extends beyond their immigrant status. Prior to some of this reform, a person on a visa could get a license that lasted a number of years. Once their visa ran out, many stayed and having a driver license for ID made them appear legal. They could go to the next state, and get another by showing the unexpired previous license and get a few more years.

Each state has their own requirements, but things that could prove you are legal

I-94 from a K1: 90 days

EAD card: 1 year

Greencard (I-551): 2 or 10 years

Some states won't bother with giving a 90 day license. Some will. Some might require a greencard, while others will give a one-year license on the basis of EAD. Some want proof that you reside in the state. Probably all require a SSN. Everybody has to look up their state requirements.

Some people drive on their foreign license until USCIS grants them residency (greencard). And in most cases each time you go to extend your license, you pay a new fee. So maybe you get a 90 day license, which won't be a full 90 days because you have to wait on your Social Security card. Maybe 70 days at best. It expires before your EAD. You go back after EAD and pay again. Then you get your greencard in 2-3 months and go pay again to get a longer license. At some point you have to decide is it worth it to keep going back to DMV and paying again. It's whatever you think suits you and what your state allows.

[newacct 688]

As part of combatting illegal immigrants, the federal government put pressure on the states to modify their driver license requirements so no non-US citizen gets a state license that extends beyond their immigrant status.

But the unfortunate thing is, most states do not count some statuses that are perfectly authorized to stay in the U.S., as valid for driver's license, like I-485 pending and F1 grace period.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

But the unfortunate thing is, most states do not count some statuses that are perfectly authorized to stay in the U.S., as valid for driver's license, like I-485 pending and F1 grace period.

The thing about the "pending" is there is nothing on paper that gives an end date. Anything pending could be abandoned, denied, etc, so is more of a courtesy period than actual immigrant status. I don't know anything about F1. We were as annoyed as the rest of you when we found out Texas changed their procedures 10-01-08, the day following my fiance's POE. If he had only made reservations for a week earlier, he could have had a six year license.

But I have come to understand the reasoning. It fits almost everybody just fine... except the K1. That's why I call the K1 the step-child visa. They kinda don't fit a lot of things. A lot of Social Security workers don't know how to process them. Banks refuse to open accounts for some. There is an awkward period where a K1 is in limbo. Four years down the road, the injustices you feel at first, lessen as you slip into a normal life.

[moemac59 193]

But I have come to understand the reasoning. It fits almost everybody just fine... except the K1. That's why I call the K1 the step-child visa. They kinda don't fit a lot of things. A lot of Social Security workers don't know how to process them. Banks refuse to open accounts for some. There is an awkward period where a K1 is in limbo. Four years down the road, the injustices you feel at first, lessen as you slip into a normal life.

Nich-Nick, you hit the nail right on the head. That is exactly how I felt when I was adjusting from K1-AOS.

[newacct 688]

The thing about the "pending" is there is nothing on paper that gives an end date. Anything pending could be abandoned, denied, etc, so is more of a courtesy period than actual immigrant status.

I agree. But the end result is that a lot of people who are legal are prevented from driving, and have no recourse.

[redvelvet 12]

I have read about this drivers license situation with K1 visa holders when I was waiting for NOA2. What I did was I applied for an International Driving Permit in the Philippines. It was about $30 and 2-day processing. So now I can drive around while waiting for EAD/GC.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I agree. But the end result is that a lot of people who are legal are prevented from driving, and have no recourse.

You are correct and that's one of the drawbacks about a K1 visa. It takes extra time to become a permanent resident and get all the privileges. There's a lot who can't work either. Had you done the spouse visa, there would have been no wait. My husband drove as a "visitor" on his UK license. My thoughts, until you get something from USCIS that grants you a longer time in the US, then you are no more than a 90 day visitor. Some disagree. He was even stopped twice and showed his UK license. One was his first day in the US for expired inspection. Our town had been shut down because of a hurricane when I left for the UK. When we returned together, it was Oct 1. That was our first outing to get his car inspected. As luck would have it, we got stopped between home and the inspection place.

I have read about this drivers license situation with K1 visa holders when I was waiting for NOA2. What I did was I applied for an International Driving Permit in the Philippines. It was about $30 and 2-day processing. So now I can drive around while waiting for EAD/GC.

I want everybody to understand that the International Driving Permit does NOT give you driving permission in any of the states. It is merely a small booklet translating your home country driver license into many different languages. If you intend to drive as a visitor in the US and your foreign license is in a language other than English, then it helps the police translate what your license says.

[redvelvet 12]

The International Driving Permit I have can be used in almost 200 different countries. There is a list of those countries in the booklet. It is not merely a translation but I have to use it with my Philippine Drivers License (which is in full English).

Permit = permission

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

The International Driving Permit I have can be used in almost 200 different countries. There is a list of those countries in the booklet. It is not merely a translation but I have to use it with my Philippine Drivers License (which is in full English).

Permit = permission

I just wanted people to be aware that by itself, it gives you no privileges. It is a translation. Some references:

IDP Scams

Individuals or companies not authorized to issue IDPs sell fakes on websites, through unsolicited email, and in person for prices ranging from $60 to $400.

If you buy a fake IDP, not only will you be paying for a worthless document, but you also could face legal problems or travel delays if youre detained for using it to drive in a foreign country.

Many local operations target non-native speakers through ads in foreign-language newspapers that direct people to websites or local storefronts. The marketers falsely claim that their documents:

*authorize people to drive legally in the U.S., even if they dont have state-issued licenses or if their state-issued licenses have been suspended or revoked

*can be used as photo ID in the U.S.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0050-international-drivers-license-scams

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What is it?

The IDP translates your license into a standard format, and a host of languages, that allows foreign officials to better understand your driving privileges. It does not replace your license. The IDP, in and of itself, confers no driving privileges to you, although you must provide a valid license to obtain one. It's important to remember to carry both your driver license and your IDP with you whenever you make another foray on the roads of a foreign country. http://www.dmv.org/international-driver-permits.php#What-is-it

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An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a document recognized by many countries which allows the permit-holder to drive a private motor vehicle in that country. To be valid the IDP must be accompanied by a valid license from the home country. The document is slightly larger than a standard passport and is essentially a multiple language translation of the permit-holder's normal driver's license, complete with photograph and vital statistics. In most countries however, short term visitors do not need to posess an IDP since the licence of the home country is recognized and permits one to drive in the host country. (Wikipedia)

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Short-Term Visitors

If you plan to drive when you visit the United States, check the driving rules in the state(s) you'll be visiting to verify that you can use your non-U.S. driver's license. You should get an International Driving Permit (IDP), which translates the information contained on your official driver's license into 10 languages.

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign-Visitors-Driving.shtml