NC Driving

[FrankEPatrick 1]

My wife was only given a Drivers License to the end date of her K-1 Visa.

We are still waiting for the green card, and it is not coming any time soon.

 

How do we navigate the big wide world of the DMV?

 

We showed them all  the paperwork; the marriage license etc.

the only thing that has changed is that there is a receipt for the green card.

[ksaini1982 9]

They did not allow my wife to get her license until she had her Employment Authorization Document in Illinois.  Then it was valid for the period of EAD until she got her Green Card. 

[FrankEPatrick 1]

Lovely; I can believe you very easily.

[TNJ17 1,329]

35 minutes ago, FrankEPatrick said:

 

the only thing that has changed is that there is a receipt for the green card.

I’d start with that. Then ask what they require. 

[kris&me 572]

end of K1?

it expired at POE when she entered this country / it is a visa for 1 time entry into USA

[ksaini1982 9]

easiest way is to google non-citizen requirements for Driver's license in your state and I'm sure they won't issue one till she has EAD.

[FrankEPatrick 1]

1 minute ago, kris&me said:

end of K1?

it expired at POE when she entered this country / it is a visa for 1 time entry into USA

they issued the license for 90 days after her entry in the US and they did not accept the marriage certificate

[FrankEPatrick 1]

32 minutes ago, ksaini1982 said:

easiest way is to google non-citizen requirements for Driver's license in your state and I'm sure they won't issue one till she has EAD.

followed the advice and NC says it will accept an I-797 (all it says).

 

I have an I-797C, but it has not date other then the date for the biometrics appointment.

worth my time to go to the DMV or better to wait for the work permit/green card?

[TBoneTX 45,291]

Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the Moving to the US forum.

[Limey 551]

On 1/10/2018 at 10:26 PM, FrankEPatrick said:

followed the advice and NC says it will accept an I-797 (all it says).

 

I have an I-797C, but it has not date other then the date for the biometrics appointment.

worth my time to go to the DMV or better to wait for the work permit/green card?

As you say, I797 is mentioned as proof of legal residence in NC for drivers license

 

https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/examples/

 

I think there are however several occasions you receive a I 797C, one of which is after applying for Removal of Conditions (ie applying for 10 year green card when initial 2 year one expires). In that situation the I 797C extends your legal residence for a year from the date of expiry of the 2 year green card (to cover you until new GC is issued), and can therefore be used to renew drivers license (I did exactly this in November, in North Carolina).

 

Some other I797 do not extend legal presence (they are just a notification) eg the original NOA1 when applying for a K1.

 

North Carolina DMV will only ever extend your drivers license to the latest date of your legal residence. If your current documentation doesn't specify such a date in the future, you can't get a license, as far as I'm aware. I had the same issue after my I94 (90 days) that I originally entered on expired, and I'd applied for but not received green card and EAD/AP. Fortunately for me they came through around 2 weeks after my initial 90 days expired so I wasn't without use of a car for too long.

Edited January 15, 2018 by Limey