Calif. ID and Driver's License

[JohnL 4]

I thought that when Digna recieved her permanent resident card issued on 3/28/07 that our struggles would be over for a little while.

When Digna entered on her K1 Visa and we got married, she qualified for a photo ID or drivers license for 3 months while we were going thru the immigration process. She does not want to drive just yet, so we dd not try for a license, too. After 3 months her ID expired but she got her resident card so we went down to apply for another ID and a learner's permit so she could learn how to drive. Now, I find out from DMV that nothing with a picture can be given to her until Homeland Security enters it into a computer system that DMV can access and verify that the card they sent her is real. That can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months!!!!!

This will not prevent her from driving when she passes the test. She will be issued a paper license that says this is not a verified ID. This has prevented me from adding her to any additional accounts with bamks and credit unions I do business with. For a Permenant Resident card, they also require a Calif ID. When she gets her Resident Alien card in 2 years she does not need a state ID. I just cannot believe that they issue a card and a welcome letter and then you have to wait another 3 to 6 months before you can do anything.

[florida_guy07 0]

I thought that when Digna recieved her permanent resident card issued on 3/28/07 that our struggles would be over for a little while.

When Digna entered on her K1 Visa and we got married, she qualified for a photo ID or drivers license for 3 months while we were going thru the immigration process. She does not want to drive just yet, so we dd not try for a license, too. After 3 months her ID expired but she got her resident card so we went down to apply for another ID and a learner's permit so she could learn how to drive. Now, I find out from DMV that nothing with a picture can be given to her until Homeland Security enters it into a computer system that DMV can access and verify that the card they sent her is real. That can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months!!!!!

This will not prevent her from driving when she passes the test. She will be issued a paper license that says this is not a verified ID. This has prevented me from adding her to any additional accounts with bamks and credit unions I do business with. For a Permenant Resident card, they also require a Calif ID. When she gets her Resident Alien card in 2 years she does not need a state ID. I just cannot believe that they issue a card and a welcome letter and then you have to wait another 3 to 6 months before you can do anything.

That's outrageous !!!!!!

I would be going somewhere "higher" in the chain to get this figured out. Have you tried going to a different DMV office ? My wife was able to get a DL here in Florida for 1 year with nothing but NOA1.

[eau_xplain 2]

John, I'm thinking your local DMV is talking about the SAVE, which is a system used to verify immigration status of applicants. This system is also used by SSA.

Under SSA procedure, they're supposed to do an electronic request to USCIS for verification in the event an applicant's status is not updated on SAVE. If after two weeks SSA has not received a response, they're supposed to send a manual verification.

Perhaps you can check with your local DMV (or state DMV) if they also have the same verification procedures in place. That way you can follow up with them to make sure they follow their procedures correctly and in a timely manner.

Hopefully, your wife's status will soon be updated on SAVE and your local DMV will be able to issue her the proper driver's license.

[ucla_cutie26 0]

I am so sorry John, we can relate to your experience. Here's what happened to us . . .

We went to the DMV last week to get an ID card for my Juan. He wanted an ID card so he could have some form of identification here. So we went and the woman told us that she could not issue him an ID card because his I-94 expires on July 7th. She explained that the documents you use to prove you are here in the U.S. need a minimum of 60 days of validity. Basically, since his I-94 expires in about 5 weeks, he is no longer eligible to get an ID card. She told me that if we had gone right away after his arrival to get his social security number right away and then gone right away to DMV, we would have made it just in time to get his ID card. (Since we got married in Vegas, we waited some time to get his SS#.) But also, she told me that once he receives his EAD card, we can use that to get an ID card for him because that has a validity longer than 60 days. Now, I'm hoping that we don't have to wait 3-6 months for them to check the card is real. By the way, I asked to speak to a supervisor and she confirmed all of this.

[Anna C. 4]

It takes time till stuff is in the SAVE system. I had my EAD already for 2 weeks when I went to the SSO to change my name (I already had a SSN because I came with a work visa). Anyway, they could not find my name in the SAVE system (I might add that we sent in our AOS 3 months before I received my EAD). So the lady sent a letter to USCIS to verify my immigration status. After 6 weeks we received a letter that it was now verified and it took another 3 weeks for them to finally send me my new SSC with the changed name. I hope the DL won't be such a problem... (our insurance accepts my EU DL... in case I get pulled over it's just $40)

Edited May 27, 2007 by Anna C.