AB60 and California drivers license

[Crazy Cat 41,837]

1 hour ago, Loren Y said:

The real ID is just a gold star on your license that shows you proved residency, it does not mean you are here legally?

Are you sure about that?  https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/real-id-act-text.pdf

 

Edited May 8, 2019 by missileman

[Loren Y 2,755]

23 minutes ago, missileman said:

Are you sure about that?  https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/real-id-act-text.pdf

 

Give me 30 minutes, within my next 4-5 traffic stops I'll find a gold star on a license someone is holding without legal status in the United States. It may be when the license is issued they were legal, maybe on an I94 that was expiring soon, but I can guarantee just having that star on your license will not keep you out of the ICE paddy wagon. Seen many a person detained by ICE even with the real ID on their license. So, I don't consider it a way to prove your current legal status. At least it won't fly with the ICE agents, they want I94, Visa stamps, green card, proof of AOS. I've never seen them let someone go with just the real ID on their license.

[Crazy Cat 41,837]

Just now, Loren Y said:

Give me 30 minutes, within my next 4-5 traffic stops I'll find a gold star on a license someone is holding without legal status in the United States. It may be when the license is issued they were legal, maybe on an I94 that was expiring soon, but I can guarantee just having that star on your license will not keep you out of the ICE paddy wagon. Seen many a person detained by ICE even with the real ID on their license. So, I don't consider it a way to prove your current legal status. At least it won't fly with the ICE agents, they want I94, Visa stamps, green card, proof of AOS. I've never seen them let someone go with just the real ID on their license.

What do you, personally, carry that would satisfy ICE?   It seems to me that , at the time of issuance, a Real ID driver's license did indicate that the holder was legally present in the US. 

[Loren Y 2,755]

6 minutes ago, missileman said:

What do you, personally, carry that would satisfy ICE?   It seems to me that , at the time of issuance, a Real ID driver's license did indicate that the holder was legally present in the US. 

Yes, at the time of issue, they may have been legally present, but status changes faster than a license can keep up with. From what I have seen, your A-number is the magic number. They can run an A-number and immediately know your current status. So I think anything with your A-number on it would be what you want on your person. Prefrebly with a photo, but your photo comes up on the computer with your A-number, so they would know it is you or not.

[Crazy Cat 41,837]

7 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

Yes, at the time of issue, they may have been legally present, but status changes faster than a license can keep up with. From what I have seen, your A-number is the magic number. They can run an A-number and immediately know your current status. So I think anything with your A-number on it would be what you want on your person. Prefrebly with a photo, but your photo comes up on the computer with your A-number, so they would know it is you or not.

Back to the original point.  You stated that the "star" on the driver's license "shows you proved residency"........when it actually shows a person proved lawful status....  at least when issued.....

 

You are correct on one point....my wife has a conditional Green Card.......yet her Real ID Texas driver's license is good for 6 years.....

Edited May 8, 2019 by missileman

[Loren Y 2,755]

Just now, missileman said:

Back to the original point.  You stated that the "star" on the driver's license "shows you proved residency"........when it actually shows a person proved lawful status....  

I guess it proves both, you have to have a verifiable address also, so I guess it would prove both, but even then your address can change, status can change, so I will agree it proves legal status, and where you live when issued. But if the real ID was so good at proving your legal status, why would anyone carry their green card along with their real ID. I believe if you are a permanent resident you are supposed to have your green card on you, I don't think you get a choice of green card or your real ID state issued license. I mean, that would be great for employment also, just show your real ID for employment and start working tomorrow. I believe you still need another form showing you can legally work. I an just saying the gold star in the long run isn't going to be able to prove your immigration status.

[TBoneTX 45,267]

3 hours ago, Loren Y said:

if you are a permanent resident you are supposed to have your green card on you

No matter how some might wish otherwise or want to get around it, it's the law.

[Mike E 11,739]

17 hours ago, Biffa said:

Update: So I went to the DMV with all of my paperwork, i94, visa, ssn, proof of addresss. All to be told I am not eligible for a drivers license or a real id because I don’t have more than 60 days on my k1 “so the computer automatically denies it”. 

 

So there we go. Maybe I’ll give the AB60 a go after all, another day. 

Sorry about that. Before we went, I read on visa journey that at less than 60 days and no AOS NOA1, the CA dmv would issued a REAL ID. We went to the dmv with 61 days left and got one in the mail two weeks later.  

 

Next week she will go for her instructional permit. We have her AOS NOA1 and hopefully the permit will be good for 5 years.  

[Mike E 11,739]

13 hours ago, redvines said:

I am from Australia and kind of going through this (I am going through this with a SSN and green card as I came here on CR1) .

 

First, figure out if you are going to have to take the exam and a practical test to get your AB60 licence, if you have to take a practical test you can do it by appointment only - at my local appointment centre the current wait time is about 3 months out and multiple centres near me have no appointments available at all. Plus you need to have a licenced california driver at your test, so you also need to find a time that fits in with two work schedules etc.

 

Second, in California you can legally drive on a foreign licence as long as it is valid. They say you must get a California licence within 10 days on their website if you are a California resident, but that is physically impossible given it takes months to get an appointment https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/hdbk/ca_dl

 

I was able to register my car, for insurance reasons though I put it in both my and my wife's name and she added the car and me as an additional driver to her policy. I was able to use my car registration documents as proof of address, as well as a phone bill and a health insurance bill. 

 

If you have a CR1 why would you get an AB60 license or ID? You qualify for REAL ID/DL.  

[Mike E 11,739]

20 hours ago, Boiler said:

I thought CA was pretty clear about what you can get as a DL, ID I have no idea.

CA is pretty clear about ID and DL. 

[Mike E 11,739]

I wrote this just now. https://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php?title=California_state_identification_cards_for_K-1_visa_holders 

 

Feel free to create a VJ wiki account and make edits.

[Mike E 11,739]

2 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

No matter how some might wish otherwise or want to get around it, it's the law.

It is a good law too.

 

A few weeks ago a green holder texted me:

 

Quote

Some people broke into my car while I was hiking, took my wallet to that had all my credit and debit cards and drivers license and green card

 

When I had one, my green card was always with me, in my wallet. Now my passport card is with me.

[TBoneTX 45,267]

Most people here over the years have used "fear of theft" as an excuse to not carry the green card.  This excuse doesn't overcome the legal requirement to carry the card.

 

Now back to OP's topic.

[Biffa 89]

Thanks for everybody’s discussion on the topic. 

 

It seems that if you don’t get your real ID and or drivers license within the first 30 days of landing in the US on the K1 as the DMV will not issue you anything with less than 60 days on your visa/i94. The only other option is the AB-60 which currently is taking 6 months to sit the drivers test for. So... In light of that info I guess I may as well wait for the EAD. 

Edited May 8, 2019 by Biffa

[Crazy Cat 41,837]

2 minutes ago, Biffa said:

The only other option is the AB-60 which currently is taking 6 months to sit the drivers test for.

So, it's a shorter wait for the non AB-60 test?