Drivers License During AOS

[AstroCanada 206]

My advice for now is to just continue using your Canadian driver's license for now.  It's in a grey area, but no one is going to ticket you if you explain the situation.  

 

It seems no one is trained on how to deal with immigrants.  My bank would not allow me to add my spouse as an LPR with the endorsed visa in his passport that functions as a green card until the plastic card arrives.  The sympathetic banker could see the computer said it was valid documentation, but there was nowhere to enter it into the computer.

[Ksenia_O 696]

23 hours ago, Becci391 said:

K1 visa holder here and I have the same problem. Been living in Georgia since January 16th and I cannot get a driver's license until I have at least my EAD. The only thing I could apply for was my SSN.

What I do is that I have the Uber app in my phone. Helps a little bit to get out of the apartment. 

Try another DMV - my friend lives in Georgia, also K1. She was able to get her first DL, valid til her I-94 expiration date. And when she received her NOA1, another DL was issued  - only for 4 months, but this term should cover an EAD "expectation time".  

[Becci391 339]

7 hours ago, Ksenia_O said:

Try another DMV - my friend lives in Georgia, also K1. She was able to get her first DL, valid til her I-94 expiration date. And when she received her NOA1, another DL was issued  - only for 4 months, but this term should cover an EAD "expectation time".  

Thank you. I have never been to the DMV before so I just want to make sure I have everything with me that I need to apply for my DL without getting rejected...

[Becci391 339]

I already have my SSN but my maiden name is on my Social Security card.

Can I let the DMV know that I would like to have my new last name on the DL? Or do I have to change the last name before I go to the DMV?

[shayden10 78]

1 minute ago, Becci391 said:

I already have my SSN but my maiden name is on my Social Security card.

Can I let the DMV know that I would like to have my new last name on the DL? Or do I have to change the last name before I go to the DMV?

You will have to change it at the Social Security Administration at least 48 hours prior to applying for your driver's license. They will be unable to issue it in your married name because it has to match with your name in the system they use. 

[Becci391 339]

10 minutes ago, shayden10 said:

You will have to change it at the Social Security Administration at least 48 hours prior to applying for your driver's license. They will be unable to issue it in your married name because it has to match with your name in the system they use. 

Thank you for the information.

But I only have to change the last name on my Social Security card? My maiden name is still on my passport and I-94.

[shayden10 78]

The DMV appear to be really under trained and have no clue what they are doing here. After looking on the website for my state's DMV prior to visiting their office I know that I will have to take the vision test and written test again, drive for as little as ten days with a learners permit, and then take the road test to get my full license. When I tried to apply the lady said I could schedule my road test while I was there, before she said I couldn't get a license. When I called their main office about it, I was told the reason they "don't accept an I-94 as documentation is because it takes at least three months to get a license because I will have to learn how to drive". But I don't need that long, I can do my road test in ten days, and an I-94 is a valid document to get a license according to them. They just don't make sense to me! I still have a valid Canadian driver's license so I am going to keep driving on it for now, like the DMV told me to do!

[shayden10 78]

5 minutes ago, Becci391 said:

Thank you for the information.

But I only have to change the last name on my Social Security card? My maiden name is still on my passport and I-94.

Yes it is only your SS card. Just make sure you take your marriage license with you to the SSA and to the DMV to prove the different last names, it shouldn't be an issue. The SSA may require your EAD with your married name on it as proof of your name change, I know that mine here does because I asked when applying originally what I would need to change my last name, so you may want to find out what you need to do the name change

[Becci391 339]

1 minute ago, shayden10 said:

The DMV appear to be really under trained and have no clue what they are doing here. After looking on the website for my state's DMV prior to visiting their office I know that I will have to take the vision test and written test again, drive for as little as ten days with a learners permit, and then take the road test to get my full license. When I tried to apply the lady said I could schedule my road test while I was there, before she said I couldn't get a license. When I called their main office about it, I was told the reason they "don't accept an I-94 as documentation is because it takes at least three months to get a license because I will have to learn how to drive". But I don't need that long, I can do my road test in ten days, and an I-94 is a valid document to get a license according to them. They just don't make sense to me! I still have a valid Canadian driver's license so I am going to keep driving on it for now, like the DMV told me to do!

It's not that I don't know how to drive or that I need more practice. I already have  a German driver's license and it's vaild for the rest of my life ?

[Becci391 339]

1 minute ago, shayden10 said:

Yes it is only your SS card. Just make sure you take your marriage license with you to the SSA and to the DMV to prove the different last names, it shouldn't be an issue. The SSA may require your EAD with your married name on it as proof of your name change, I know that mine here does because I asked when applying originally what I would need to change my last name, so you may want to find out what you need to do the name change

That means I would have to wait until I have my EAD. I applied for my AOS, EAD and AP almost 3 weeks ago...

Ugh...that would take 3 more months...

[Lemonslice 4,841]

5 minutes ago, shayden10 said:

The DMV appear to be really under trained and have no clue what they are doing here. After looking on the website for my state's DMV prior to visiting their office I know that I will have to take the vision test and written test again, drive for as little as ten days with a learners permit, and then take the road test to get my full license. When I tried to apply the lady said I could schedule my road test while I was there, before she said I couldn't get a license. When I called their main office about it, I was told the reason they "don't accept an I-94 as documentation is because it takes at least three months to get a license because I will have to learn how to drive". But I don't need that long, I can do my road test in ten days, and an I-94 is a valid document to get a license according to them. They just don't make sense to me! I still have a valid Canadian driver's license so I am going to keep driving on it for now, like the DMV told me to do!

You might want to double check that your insurance will cover you. They usually cover visitors on foreign license only for a short period.

[shayden10 78]

1 minute ago, Becci391 said:

It's not that I don't know how to drive or that I need more practice. I already have  a German driver's license and it's vaild for the rest of my life ?

Lol exactly, that is exactly what I said. Not only do I have a valid driver's license in my country, but I visited my husband here for the past two years and drove every time I visited, plus I have been driving for the past two and a half months I have been here! I think I am okay. But hey, if you want to come get your license in Delaware they have a reciprocity agreement with France and Germany so you wouldn't have to take any tests at all! Haha

 

2 minutes ago, Becci391 said:

That means I would have to wait until I have my EAD. I applied for my AOS, EAD and AP almost 3 weeks ago...

Ugh...that would take 3 more months...

I know, it's super frustrating. I applied at the beginning of February so we should be getting ours around the same time, it feels like forever. But if your DMV is willing to let you get a license with your NOA1 (some of they do) you can always get it in your maiden name and change it after you change your name on your SS card. 

[shayden10 78]

1 minute ago, Lemonslice said:

You might want to double check that your insurance will cover you. They usually cover visitors on foreign license only for a short period.

My insurance is covering me, they will happily make me pay an outrageous amount to cover me. Haha. They just ask that I keep them posted on my DL situation, as soon as the process gets moving they will switch me over and charge me way less.

[Becci391 339]

1 minute ago, shayden10 said:

Lol exactly, that is exactly what I said. Not only do I have a valid driver's license in my country, but I visited my husband here for the past two years and drove every time I visited, plus I have been driving for the past two and a half months I have been here! I think I am okay. But hey, if you want to come get your license in Delaware they have a reciprocity agreement with France and Germany so you wouldn't have to take any tests at all! Haha

 

I know, it's super frustrating. I applied at the beginning of February so we should be getting ours around the same time, it feels like forever. But if your DMV is willing to let you get a license with your NOA1 (some of they do) you can always get it in your maiden name and change it after you change your name on your SS card. 

Been waiting on my NOA1 for almost 3 weeks now...frustrating.

[shayden10 78]

4 minutes ago, Becci391 said:

Been waiting on my NOA1 for almost 3 weeks now...frustrating.

It is frustrating, I only waited 2 weeks and I was frustrated, but at least you know there are a ton of people in the same boat as you, and hopefully your NOA1 comes complete with all of the information. I received my letter for biometrics yesterday, but still can't track my case online. I would suggest calling (did you get tracking on your package, has it for sure arrived?) to see if they can look to see what is going on. It can take a few weeks to get your NOAs but I know a couple people have considered resending theirs because of how long it has taken