I-751 February 2018 Filers

[GBOS 198]

16 minutes ago, ligiam1412 said:

Hello everyone! 

 

I’m pretty late to the party. I my I-751 was received on 2/7/18 at VSC, did my biometrics 3/26/18, received the 18 month extension in August 2018, and today got the notification that my case was being transferred to another office. 

 

I read in the thread that there was some time limit with drivers licenses, can anyone give me more information about it? I’m planning on getting my license early March, but now I worry I might not get it or they’ll give me a hard time. 

 

Also, does anyone know if we have to share the extension letter and later the new GC with our current employers? 

@ligiam1412 - Every State DMV has its own rule.  Some doesn’t impose any restriction on the proof of legal presence (aka green card).  Some do say that they need to see 6 months or longer period of authorized stay left as of the date you apply for your DL (for example, if you apply today, some States like PA, will say that you need to show that you have been authorized to stay in the US beyond 8/13/19 or 6 months from today).

 

Most States do not care about that (because it is such a dumb rule).  All States issuing a real ID are required to run your A# through DHS database to confirm your permanent residency status.  So as long as you have an extension letter or a passport stamp that is valid on that day, they will run it just to confirm.

 

Now in terms of your DL validity, about half of the States in the US issue a DL based on the expiration date of your green card, so if your letter say you have 18 months extended from your green card expiration, that will also be your DL expiration date.

 

The remaining half of the US States issue a DL based on their standard validity (4-7 years), regardless of your green card expiration date.  This is a smarter approach and more fair to us.  These States assume that the permanent resident status will continue in perpetuity, so there is no need to be a jerk about the expiration date.  At most that same person has to come back and renew it in 4 to 7 years depending on where they live.

 

I live in MA and we follow the latter model.  I renewed mine when I had three months left on my green card, and my DL was issued and is valid for 5 years.

Edited February 13, 2019 by GBOS

[Heley 52]

9 hours ago, Alex08 said:

I have no idea! They have been doing the same since I’ve started my immigration process and this is the third time I’ll be paying for renewal in the last 4 years. What makes me mad is that this time, they are only open to extending the license for 6 months because  the GC didn’t come in yet 

Oh wow, that’s stressful . I got my DL little after I got my 2 years GC but my DL was Issued for 8 years. I feel lucky  thankful lol

Edited February 13, 2019 by Heley

[Fr8dog 312]

There is no exact rule for licenses, they are state specific and the hassle comes from people not knowing what they have to enter into the system to check your current status. Check your local DMV  site about what is accepted, take the day off and go in with the paperwork.

 

[Fr8dog 312]

15 minutes ago, Fr8dog said:

There is no exact rule for licenses, they are state specific and the hassle comes from people not knowing what they have to enter into the system to check your current status. Check your local DMV  site about what is accepted, take the day off and go in with the paperwork.

 

And some additional info:

- Licenses are not allowed to be issued for a longer period than you are allowed to stay in the country (that is where the, incorrect , Green-card expiration date comes from). This is meant for visas and not for LPR (we are allowed to stay as long as we want to but need to keep renewing our card (subtle difference, but a big one)

- All non-citizens have to be verified in the Federal system to check their legal status. This system needs names and codes entered to help it along. Here is where problems start. If you show up with documents they do not see everyday, they do not know what code to enter in to the system. There is a book, it's a great book and they have the book. The challenge is to get them to go get the book and get the correct code matching your presented documents.

- Our situation is different than most. As we are conditional we did have an end date (unless you file the I751) so that's why most states issues a license with the same end date. Ones you get your NOA you are thrown back into the allowed to stay pile. (They just need to enter that code.

- Not every DMV has the same internal software. Virginia is able to verify your status, but the end date has to be approved by Richmond (Or Richmond got so fed up by DMV's calling them for the correct code, they told them "sent it our way"). So we get to make 2 trips but than get a 10 year license.

[fascinating123 38]

I'm glad Virginia is relatively reasonable, since that's where we live. My wife's DL is good through the end of this year, so no urgent need to worry. I feel for everyone else though. 

[ligiam1412 7]

1 hour ago, GBOS said:

@ligiam1412 - Every State DMV has its own rule.  Some doesn’t impose any restriction on the proof of legal presence (aka green card).  Some do say that they need to see 6 months or longer period of authorized stay left as of the date you apply for your DL (for example, if you apply today, some States like PA, will say that you need to show that you have been authorized to stay in the US beyond 8/13/19 or 6 months from today).

 

Most States do not care about that (because it is such a dumb rule).  All States issuing a real ID are required to run your A# through DHS database to confirm your permanent residency status.  So as long as you have an extension letter or a passport stamp that is valid on that day, they will run it just to confirm.

 

Now in terms of your DL validity, about half of the States in the US issue a DL based on the expiration date of your green card, so if your letter say you have 18 months extended from your green card expiration, that will also be your DL expiration date.

 

The remaining half of the US States issue a DL based on their standard validity (4-7 years), regardless of your green card expiration date.  This is a smarter approach and more fair to us.  These States assume that the permanent resident status will continue in perpetuity, so there is no need to be a jerk about the expiration date.  At most that same person has to come back and renew it in 4 to 7 years depending on where they live.

 

I live in MA and we follow the latter model.  I renewed mine when I had three months left on my green card, and my DL was issued and is valid for 5 years.

Thank you so much for such an informative and helpful response! 

 

I’m in MA as well, do you know if this applies to the real ID or just the standard DL? 

[peetee91 7]

Hey Guys! 

 

Just received an update that my case has been transferred to another USCIS office and that office now has jurisdiction over your case. 

 

I hope this is a positive notification and case will be approved soon.

[GBOS 198]

28 minutes ago, ligiam1412 said:

Thank you so much for such an informative and helpful response! 

 

I’m in MA as well, do you know if this applies to the real ID or just the standard DL? 

@ligiam1412 - The proof of legal presence (visa, green card, US citizenship) is only applicable if you need a Real ID.  MA does not require it for a standard ID.

 

But remember that you may not use a standard ID to get through the airports and Federal facilities (USCIS included) beginning in 2020 (not sure exact timing).

 

BUT hopefully, by that time you would have already have your 10-year green card, or better yet a US passport.  Then you can return to MA RMV to get a real ID without any issue.

[Fer00 7]

33 minutes ago, ligiam1412 said:

Thank you so much for such an informative and helpful response! 

 

I’m in MA as well, do you know if this applies to the real ID or just the standard DL? 

I got mine 3 years ago here in FL, and it expires in 2022. I’ve never had to deal with that. 

[tennnis123 14]

14 hours ago, ligiam1412 said:

Hello everyone! 

 

I’m pretty late to the party. I my I-751 was received on 2/7/18 at VSC, did my biometrics 3/26/18, received the 18 month extension in August 2018, and today got the notification that my case was being transferred to another office. 

 

I read in the thread that there was some time limit with drivers licenses, can anyone give me more information about it? I’m planning on getting my license early March, but now I worry I might not get it or they’ll give me a hard time. 

 

Also, does anyone know if we have to share the extension letter and later the new GC with our current employers?  

As for the employers what I did is that when I got my 2 year green card I went to the SSN office so they could remove the conditions on it, it was pretty easy, after that I only use my DL which expires in 2024 and my "clean" SSN. The expiration of the DL depends on your state.

[Cosmos22 51]

Hi Everyone! I been seeing so many posts about transfers! I am literally right behind all of you, so I cringe daily that we might hear the same news. I don't understand why the service centers have people wait for almost a year without any news to just transfer a case. Why not do it sooner? Anyway - my main question for all you guys that heard of your transfer or approvals, did you receive notice via text or email if you were signed up for those alerts OR did you just receive your letter in the mail without any notice? I am signed up on the old and new USCIS site for text and email alerts but I still check the site daily to see of any new activity lately. Just curious if the site updated. Hopefully good news for all soon!

 

P.s. Happy Valentines Day!

[Unidentified 2,930]

16 hours ago, ligiam1412 said:

Hello everyone! 

 

I’m pretty late to the party. I my I-751 was received on 2/7/18 at VSC, did my biometrics 3/26/18, received the 18 month extension in August 2018, and today got the notification that my case was being transferred to another office. 

 

I read in the thread that there was some time limit with drivers licenses, can anyone give me more information about it? I’m planning on getting my license early March, but now I worry I might not get it or they’ll give me a hard time. 

 

Also, does anyone know if we have to share the extension letter and later the new GC with our current employers? 

I've heard that we do not need to share that info to our current emoloyers and that they are not allowed to ask. We are lprs now regardless of card status. 

Edited February 14, 2019 by Unidentified

[GBOS 198]

3 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

I've heard that we do not need to share that info to our current emoloyers and that they are not allowed to ask. We are lprs now regardless of card status. 

Yes, that is correct if you are with the same employer and you have first produced your green card as a proof of work authorization, the employer may not ask for proof again as long as you continued to be employed, or that would be considered discrimination based on the country of origin.

 

If you do change your employer, or if you did not use your green card (instead use your EAD, for example), the new employer or the current employer (whom you showed the EAD to) may ask for proof of work authorization as a condition for continued employment.

 

That is the law.  You can read Form I-9 instructions.

[redstripe54 42]

Hi everyone, especially Starsky (so you can update your table) (CSC) 

 

Today I will receive a RFE dated Feb 9th. I can't believe they want more evidence, I already gave them loads, has anybody else on here from the original filers got one of these yet?? 

 

 

[redstripe54 42]

On 2/10/2019 at 3:23 AM, ALIENRJ187 said:

Im sorry to hear that Red.  What types of evidences did you submit with your application?  I remember talking about how much my paperwork weighed with sone other members and thinking our application at a little over two pounds of paperwork seemed on the light side, especially when some people were sending 4 pounds or more.

Hi Alienrj187

I sent in everything you can imagine, we have been living in the same address since I first got here on the K1 visa, we have 2 cars with both our names on, life insurance, property taxes, 3 years worth of tax returns (married filing jointly), bank accounts, driving licences, 4 x affidavits from friends,payslips  etc, etc............unbelievable they want further evidence!