Minneapolis-St. Paul MN Office AOS Filers

[Larenn&Loda 58]

On 5/7/2019 at 7:21 AM, pamawemo said:

MSP April 2019 filer here so a long way to go. But I thought I would ask here if anyone has experience with obtaining a MN driver's permit and license.

 

We have our NOA1s for the I-485, I-131 and I-765. My wife's I-94 expires June 6. Since we are not expecting her EAD until August or September, she'd like to work on learning to drive this summer. She has never had a license or really driven at all. As I look at the MN requirements, it looks like we might have an issue. Her passport and I-94 are in her maiden name, her SS number is in her maiden name, her health insurance and joint bank statement are in her married name. And we obviously have the marriage certificate.

 

But DPS requirements say she has to have applied for a name change on her SS before they will accept it. But it's my understanding SSA won't change her card into her married name until her I-765 is approved. Is there a way around this so she can obtain her permit and hopefully her license this summer? Thanks for any insight!

go with the all the NOA1s and the other documents. it will be accepted.

[payxibka 10,045]

On 5/7/2019 at 7:21 AM, pamawemo said:

MSP April 2019 filer here so a long way to go. But I thought I would ask here if anyone has experience with obtaining a MN driver's permit and license.

 

We have our NOA1s for the I-485, I-131 and I-765. My wife's I-94 expires June 6. Since we are not expecting her EAD until August or September, she'd like to work on learning to drive this summer. She has never had a license or really driven at all. As I look at the MN requirements, it looks like we might have an issue. Her passport and I-94 are in her maiden name, her SS number is in her maiden name, her health insurance and joint bank statement are in her married name. And we obviously have the marriage certificate.

 

But DPS requirements say she has to have applied for a name change on her SS before they will accept it. But it's my understanding SSA won't change her card into her married name until her I-765 is approved. Is there a way around this so she can obtain her permit and hopefully her license this summer? Thanks for any insight!

A recent read of the MN DMV requirements show that the I797 (NOA1) is now a usable document.   Its is kinda hidden in the document list.  That is what we plan to use

[pamawemo 78]

3 hours ago, payxibka said:

A recent read of the MN DMV requirements show that the I797 (NOA1) is now a usable document.   Its is kinda hidden in the document list.  That is what we plan to use

I saw that on a previous link to the Real ID required docs so we are going to try it and apply for the Real ID permit. First, we need to try to change her social security card into her married name since the MN DMV is clear about getting your SS card name change done before applying. Going to head to SSA Tuesday. Do you have that issue as well?

Edited May 23, 2019 by pamawemo

[payxibka 10,045]

9 minutes ago, pamawemo said:

I saw that on a previous link to the Real ID required docs so we are going to try it and apply for the Real ID permit. First, we need to try to change her social security card into her married name since the MN DMV is clear about getting your SS card name change done before applying. Going to head to SSA Tuesday. Do you have that issue as well?

We will so keep me advised.  You are about a month in front of us so I will watch your progress carefully.   We live in Woodbury BTW

[pamawemo 78]

4 hours ago, payxibka said:

We will so keep me advised.  You are about a month in front of us so I will watch your progress carefully.   We live in Woodbury BTW

I'll let you know how it goes. We will go in with her current card, all her other documents and three I-797s to show she is in AOS pending status. We plan to tell them she was told by DMV she has to change her name with SSA and she needs the new name card to get her Real ID. We live outstate MN so will head to the St. Cloud SSA and try our luck. We also plan to ask for a temporary printout of her "new" card info so she can take that to the DMV and not wait 10 days. 

 

She thinks she is ready to take the written test but has never driven so we have some work to do! 

[pamawemo 78]

On 5/23/2019 at 12:46 PM, payxibka said:

We will so keep me advised.  You are about a month in front of us so I will watch your progress carefully.   We live in Woodbury BTW

Well, best-laid plans...we couldn't get to the SSA office Tuesday so headed there yesterday (St Cloud office) only to find out when we arrived at 12:05 the office closes at noon on Wednesdays. Really? Guess my bad for not checking. Can't get there until Monday next week so still no answer on changing her name. 

[payxibka 10,045]

1 hour ago, pamawemo said:

Well, best-laid plans...we couldn't get to the SSA office Tuesday so headed there yesterday (St Cloud office) only to find out when we arrived at 12:05 the office closes at noon on Wednesdays. Really? Guess my bad for not checking. Can't get there until Monday next week so still no answer on changing her name. 

I be waiting for the good word

[pamawemo 78]

Well, we struck out at the SSA office trying to change my wife's name. And it seems like it is a timing issue. Had we come in at least 14 days before her I-94 expired, we could have changed it. We thought this only applied to the initial application for a SS card but apparently not. So her SS card is still in her maiden name and the MN Driver's License website seems pretty clear that if you have had a name change, you must change it on your SS card before applying for a permit or license. So frustrating!

 

Do you think we should still try at the DMV? Just go in there with what we have including all of her NOA1s which have her married name of course. I think they ask on the application which you can do ahead online if you have a SSN so it's kind of hard to hide the fact. Ugh. Any advice?

[elmers 293]

Got an email about half an hour ago saying "We have taken an action on your case". Logged into the account to find out that interview has been scheduled! Our PD was July 13, 2018.

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

On 6/4/2019 at 8:32 AM, pamawemo said:

Well, we struck out at the SSA office trying to change my wife's name. And it seems like it is a timing issue. Had we come in at least 14 days before her I-94 expired, we could have changed it. We thought this only applied to the initial application for a SS card but apparently not. So her SS card is still in her maiden name and the MN Driver's License website seems pretty clear that if you have had a name change, you must change it on your SS card before applying for a permit or license. So frustrating!

 

Do you think we should still try at the DMV? Just go in there with what we have including all of her NOA1s which have her married name of course. I think they ask on the application which you can do ahead online if you have a SSN so it's kind of hard to hide the fact. Ugh. Any advice?

My humble 2 cents - Just get the Driver's permit in her maiden name. Bring all the documents and let them do the talking. Try to go to a location where they see a immigrants often. Do not go to a location where they've never seen an I-797. I am positive that your wife should be able to get a driver's permit in her maiden name. You can take care of the name change later. Focus on getting her an ID for now. 

 

All the best,

 

USC4SPOUSE

Edited June 5, 2019 by USC4SPOUSE
*typo

[pamawemo 78]

2 hours ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

My humble 2 cents - Just get the Driver's permit in her maiden name. Bring all the documents and let them do the talking. Try to go to a location where they see a immigrants often. Do not go to a location where they've never seen an I-797. I am positive that your wife should be able to get a driver's permit in her maiden name. You can take care of the name change later. Focus on getting her an ID for now. 

 

All the best,

 

USC4SPOUSE

Thanks, we are going to hit up the Chicago Ave. office and see what happens. Hope it works out. Will post once we get it done!

[pamawemo 78]

7 hours ago, elmers said:

Got an email about half an hour ago saying "We have taken an action on your case". Logged into the account to find out that interview has been scheduled! Our PD was July 13, 2018.

Congratulations! When is your interview? I am blanking - what is PD?

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, pamawemo said:

Congratulations! When is your interview? I am blanking - what is PD?

Priority Date 

[elmers 293]

39 minutes ago, pamawemo said:

When is your interview?

Guessing it will be about 5 weeks from now as that seems to be the norm. I'll find out once the letter makes it to us... hopefully it gets here by early next week.

And thank you! ☺️ Glad things are moving again.

Edited June 5, 2019 by elmers

[dhsa4 1]

On 12/31/2017 at 8:56 AM, USpatial said:

So it took them about 80 days to schedule an appointment of an application with a priority date one day apart...

Hi All

update on my case

Interview - 06/25/2019.

PD - 07/2017

I-485 submitted - 12/06/2018

EB1A based