Am I allowed to take written driver's test in Ca with expired I-94?

[Matiola 8]

I'm K-1 visa holder waiting for adjustment of status. My I-94 form expired 7 months ago.

However, I have NOA1 from USCIS (filed for the new last name I got through marriage) and SSN (for my maiden name). I have been waiting for EAD for 5 months now and still have not gotten it, not mentioning the GC that I might wait up to 2 years to be issued.

 

I know that DMV will not allow me to take 'behind the wheel test' but I wonder if they allow me to take the written driver's test on the base of NOA1, SSN, birth certificate, marriage certificate, proofs of residency. I know that different states have different rules. I wonder if it is possible in California.

I have never driven a car, so I don't have any foreign driver's license.

 

Maybe someone has a similar experience...

 

thank you!

 

 

[Alabamak1 688]

i would doubt that they accept an expired I-94. Most states is not even possible to apply for DL w/o EAD.

[Sunnyland 639]

You will need to check this with your local DMV. Probably they will need at least your EAD or GC.

[usmsbow 801]

1 hour ago, Matiola said:

I'm K-1 visa holder waiting for adjustment of status. My I-94 form expired 7 months ago.

However, I have NOA1 from USCIS (filed for the new last name I got through marriage) and SSN (for my maiden name). I have been waiting for EAD for 5 months now and still have not gotten it, not mentioning the GC that I might wait up to 2 years to be issued.

 

I know that DMV will not allow me to take 'behind the wheel test' but I wonder if they allow me to take the written driver's test on the base of NOA1, SSN, birth certificate, marriage certificate, proofs of residency. I know that different states have different rules. I wonder if it is possible in California.

I have never driven a car, so I don't have any foreign driver's license.

 

Maybe someone has a similar experience...

 

thank you!

 

 

 

CA requires an AP/EAD card*. Once you have that, you can get a DL. When my wife applied for her drivers permit in CA (which you have to do before the driving test if you've never had a license), someone else was turned away with just their NOA1, and told to come back once they had the AP/EAD or green card. 

 

*Undocumented residents are able to get a DL in CA, but I am not sure what the requirements are. 

 

[A&H2018 146]

Disagree. California does not need an EAD. States which need it allow an international drivers license for a while.

 

In California you goto the dmv and ask for an AB-60 license. You will need an SSN card, a valid foreign passport, your lease/gas bill. California is mental about residence of the state. You will take the written test and then road test like everyone.

 

Your ID will say “Federal Limits Only”. This means you guessed it you can drive in California but the ID is worthless otherwise. Once you get EAD go back to DMV get “Real ID”. If not sure what “Real IDL”, feel free to google.

 

The documents all need to match your name. So yea if foreign has diff name may need marriage certificate etc...

 

Edited July 1, 2018 by A&H2018

[A&H2018 146]

1 hour ago, usmsbow said:

 

CA requires an AP/EAD card*. Once you have that, you can get a DL. When my wife applied for her drivers permit in CA (which you have to do before the driving test if you've never had a license), someone else was turned away with just their NOA1, and told to come back once they had the AP/EAD or green card. 

 

*Undocumented residents are able to get a DL in CA, but I am not sure what the requirements are. 

 

NOA1 does not mean “state residence”. They do not care about that, they want to see you hav proof of living in California. Its a weird state.

[Matiola 8]

1 hour ago, A&H2018 said:

NOA1 does not mean “state residence”. They do not care about that, they want to see you hav proof of living in California. Its a weird state.

thank you, I did not think that NOA1 means state residencee. Obviously, it does not.

NOA1 means that I am awaiting of adjustment of status and my marriage license proves that I followed requirements of my K-1 visa (got married within 3 months after entering the country).

 

I have my name in a lease agreement+ health insurance bills for my name and address where I live in Ca. These are my proofs of residence.

 

I don't want to get a DL now. First, it is impossible since I have neither EAD, nor GC, second, I am not ready for real driving.

 

I just wonder if I am allowed to take a written test (to get learner's permit) based on papers that I have:

 

1)passport with photo

2)NOA1 but my I-94 is expired as I mentioned before

3)SSN

4)birth certificate with translation

5) marriage certificate

6)proofs of residency (lease agreement+ health insurance bills).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Matiola 8]

4 hours ago, Alabamak1 said:

i would doubt that they accept an expired I-94. Most states is not even possible to apply for DL w/o EAD.

I read different stories from different states.... some people could take written exam with NOA1 but most of them could not. That is why I wanted to know if someone had such experience in Cali.

However, I have a feeling it will not be possible here, I tried to change my maiden name on SSN to my name in marriage and they rejected me, said to come with EAD or GC.

 

I will be really busy searching for work when I get EAD, so I just wanted to take a written test (only written test, I am not talking about obtaining DL) while I have time for this. Learner's permit is not an ID as DL is, so I thought they might allow me to do it.

[Matiola 8]

3 hours ago, Sunnyland said:

You will need to check this with your local DMV. Probably they will need at least your EAD or GC.

thank you. But I would like to know for sure what my chances are before going to DMV and sitting in the long line

[Matiola 8]

1 hour ago, A&H2018 said:

NOA1 does not mean “state residence”. They do not care about that, they want to see you hav proof of living in California. Its a weird state.

Do you think they will allow me to take the written test with expired I-94 and without EAD if I show them proof of residence(my name in lease agreement/health insurance bills)? 

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

18 minutes ago, Matiola said:

I read different stories from different states.... some people could take written exam with NOA1 but most of them could not. That is why I wanted to know if someone had such experience in Cali.

However, I have a feeling it will not be possible here, I tried to change my maiden name on SSN to my name in marriage and they rejected me, said to come with EAD or GC.

 

I will be really busy searching for work when I get EAD, so I just wanted to take a written test (only written test, I am not talking about obtaining DL) while I have time for this. Learner's permit is not an ID as DL is, so I thought they might allow me to do it.

A learner's permit is an ID, just like a driver's license or state non-driver ID is (and they all look pretty similar in most states). You can't use it to drive without another adult who meets the requirements in the car, but you can use it to prove your identity (say, to prove you're over 21 to buy alcohol).

 

My impression previously was that AB-60 licenses (and so state ID cards and learner's permits) were intended for illegal aliens, but the documents available to prove you're eligible for one include things that a K-1 recipient should have. Which is somewhat interesting, because I was thinking my fiancée couldn't even start learning to drive until she got EAD (though she's passed a few online written tests already, she doesn't drive in Russia).

[Alabamak1 688]

43 minutes ago, Matiola said:

I read different stories from different states.... some people could take written exam with NOA1 but most of them could not. That is why I wanted to know if someone had such experience in Cali.

However, I have a feeling it will not be possible here, I tried to change my maiden name on SSN to my name in marriage and they rejected me, said to come with EAD or GC.

 

I will be really busy searching for work when I get EAD, so I just wanted to take a written test (only written test, I am not talking about obtaining DL) while I have time for this. Learner's permit is not an ID as DL is, so I thought they might allow me to do it.

Unfortunately since 2001 they made things a little more stringent, and expired anything, is very unsual to get a DL. I used to live in Oregon and Washington state. They used to allow for anyone, meaning documented and undocumented people to get DL, because no REAL ID was impossed on drivers in those states. Nowadays is a different matter and CA is one of those exceptions for DL. You might be lucky there. Worst is you can try. A VJ'er in Georgia got DL with NOA1, but according to USCIS that was a mistake.   

Edited July 2, 2018 by Alabamak1

[Matiola 8]

19 minutes ago, Alabamak1 said:

Unfortunately since 2001 they made things a little more stringent, and expired anything, is very unsual to get a DL. I used to live in Oregon and Washington state. They used to allow for anyone, meaning documented and undocumented people to get DL, because no REAL ID was impossed on drivers in those states. Nowadays is a different matter and CA is one of those exceptions for DL. You might be lucky there. Worst is you can try. A VJ'er in Georgia got DL with NOA1, but according to USCIS that was a mistake.   

thank you) yeah, I am going to try but have a feeling that you are right) I am just tired of going everywhere and being rejected.

 

I even could not volunteer where I wanted. I needed to give my fingerprints but they did not accept my passport/fingerprints and asked for American ID.

I also had problems with sending money to my sister in Ukraine via Moneygram because they also wanted to see American ID. Eventually, I did it but it cost me a lot of efforts. The same problem with changing the name on SSN.

 

I am not complaining, I know these difficulties are temporary but I feel like a second-class person even in small situations and even with the best intentions((((

[Alabamak1 688]

4 minutes ago, Matiola said:

thank you) yeah, I am going to try but have a feeling that you are right) I am just tired of going everywhere and being rejected.

 

I even could not volunteer where I wanted. I needed to give my fingerprints but they did not accept my passport/fingerprints and asked for American ID.

I also had problems with sending money to my sister in Ukraine via Moneygram because they also wanted to see American ID. Eventually, I did it but it cost me a lot of efforts. The same problem with changing the name on SSN.

 

I am not complaining, I know these difficulties are temporary but I feel like a second-class person even in small situations and even with the best intentions((((

wire transfers are best with Transferwise.com I used that with my wife, when i send her to Privat Bank account. 

 

Don't give up...according to your timeline you are close to getting your EAD

Edited July 2, 2018 by Alabamak1

[Matiola 8]

13 minutes ago, Alabamak1 said:

wire transfers are best with Transferwise.com I used that with my wife, when i send her to Privat Bank account. 

 

Don't give up...according to your timeline you are close to getting your EAD

thank you!  I appreciate your support! I found my ways to send money, I just was not able to do it as fast as I needed.

 

Of course, I am not going to give up! I live in a beautiful place, I have great husband and friends here) and I have been on 'vacation' for 9 months (as I can not work yet). So I just try to enjoy life and free time! And after all, I found a place to volunteer without American ID.

Edited July 2, 2018 by Matiola