Has anyone been denied a driver's licence while lifting conditions?

[mdunlap24 0]

My husband went to the Rhode Island DMV in order to change his licence from a MA licence after our move.

They denied him a driver's licence on the basis that he doesn't have a valid visa. He does. He showed them the stamp in the passport to which she said wasn't a visa. She saw his original stamp from when he entered the country CR-1 and said it was expired. Idiot. He spoke to a supervisor who told him that he wasn't able to get a driver's licence and when he asked what he was supposed to do in 20 days when, by RI law, you should transfer over your information, her repsonse was, "Don't drive. It was your choice to move to this country."

I called Congressman Kennedy's office to see what I could do. Guess what? She was under the impression that he couldn't drive on a Conditional Green Card even and that Massachusetts was wrong in giving him one in the first place! At least she did say that she would look into what the law is and get back to me today.

Where can I turn to?

Melissa

[Gringa 0]

Oh God!

Did you have your NOA1 showing green card extended for 12 months? if so go with it.

I still in chock with the congressman, what an answer

Keep us updated and good luck.

Edited June 19, 2007 by Gringa

[Lance27 19]

Wow... those people at the RI DMV seem ignorant.

[Jenn! 918]

She was under the impression that he couldn't drive on a Conditional Green Card even and that Massachusetts was wrong in giving him one in the first place!

I don't know anything about RI, but I can tell you that the above is definitely incorrect. The MA RMV site is very explicit about the requirements.

[YuAndDan 153]

Check with RI DMV website

Edited June 19, 2007 by YuAndDan

[mdunlap24 0]

She was under the impression that he couldn't drive on a Conditional Green Card even and that Massachusetts was wrong in giving him one in the first place!

I don't know anything about RI, but I can tell you that the above is definitely incorrect. The MA RMV site is very explicit about the requirements.

Yes, the RMV in RI is extremely ignorant. We are going to go to the main branch in Pawtucket (now I have to take time of work ) with all of our paperwork. The application to lift conditions, the NOA, the passport with the stamp in it, etc.

It was the Congressman's staff who said that Mike shouldn't even have been able to get a DL with his Conditional Green Card. Idiots.

I don't have much hope for the main branch in Pawtucket, but I'm prepared to take names and open a can of whoopass. Basically what that means is take names of ignorant staff and use my DC connections (I have a cousin who works for the FBI who is originally from RI. He has many, many connections and is in the process of finding the perfect one) and get things done.

This is outrageous. Mike is a LPR with all of the rights. Apparently RI thinks they know better than the Federal government who let him work and travel internationally on his I-551.

[mdunlap24 0]

Check with RI DMV website

I did and couldn't find *any* mention of USCIS or visas or immigration. Except on their forms of ID to bring.

http://www.dmv.ri.gov/licenses/id_reqs.php#residency

[YuAndDan 153]

Check with RI DMV website

I did and couldn't find *any* mention of USCIS or visas or immigration. Except on their forms of ID to bring.

http://www.dmv.ri.gov/licenses/id_reqs.php#residency

A few things, the CR-1 visa is a one time use visa and is voided as soon as it is used, the green-card replaces the visa and shows legal presence, the expired green-card and I-751 NOA1 letter proves legal presence after green-card expires, not the Voided Visa in the passport. The passport should only be used as ID, and the Biometrics page in the front is all that they should be looking at.

Calling Kennedy's office won't help, his office handles problems at the federal level such as USCIS, and State Department and only for residents of MA. The DMV is a state's rights thing and is handled by the individual states, calling the RI govenor's office or the DMV at the state capital may be more usefull.

One last note: Since you did move, don't forget to file AR-11, and I-865 forms reporting the move to USCIS, and also call them about the move to get it changed on the pending I-751.

[mdunlap24 0]

Check with RI DMV website

I did and couldn't find *any* mention of USCIS or visas or immigration. Except on their forms of ID to bring.

http://www.dmv.ri.gov/licenses/id_reqs.php#residency

A few things, the CR-1 visa is a one time use visa and is voided as soon as it is used, the green-card replaces the visa and shows legal presence, the expired green-card and I-751 NOA1 letter proves legal presence after green-card expires, not the Voided Visa in the passport. The passport should only be used as ID, and the Biometrics page in the front is all that they should be looking at.

Calling Kennedy's office won't help, his office handles problems at the federal level such as USCIS, and State Department and only for residents of MA. The DMV is a state's rights thing and is handled by the individual states, calling the RI govenor's office or the DMV at the state capital may be more usefull.

One last note: Since you did move, don't forget to file AR-11, and I-865 forms reporting the move to USCIS, and also call them about the move to get it changed on the pending I-751.

Right on nearly all of it.

His Social Security card has the disclaimer on it, which is why he brought his passport. Otherwise, he would have only needed to bring his MA licence.

The woman behind the counter started leafing through which is when she found the expired CR-1. Mike then tried to explain what it was and showed the I-551.

I called *Patrick* Kennedy's office (RI Congressman) to help since I wanted to know what they thought i should do. My cousin has connections with the former speaker of the house in RI, so if need be, I can perhaps pull some strings there.

Thank you for the reminder, but I already changed our address with USCIS. In the process they give you the option to change your address for your pending cases also.

[Aymerlu 3]

I'd talk to someone else that knows what they are talking about. We were told by a few people here that my husband could not even get his permit!!! Finally one day when I had to do something at the DMV I asked someone who had been there a while and knew what she was talking about. He hasn't had a problem since then. Best of luck.

[YuAndDan 153]

Right on nearly all of it.

His Social Security card has the disclaimer on it, which is why he brought his passport. Otherwise, he would have only needed to bring his MA licence.

The woman behind the counter started leafing through which is when she found the expired CR-1. Mike then tried to explain what it was and showed the I-551.

I called *Patrick* Kennedy's office (RI Congressman) to help since I wanted to know what they thought i should do. My cousin has connections with the former speaker of the house in RI, so if need be, I can perhaps pull some strings there.

Thank you for the reminder, but I already changed our address with USCIS. In the process they give you the option to change your address for your pending cases also.

Get the disclaimer removed form the SS card, you should have done that as soon as you got the green-card, take the green-card and NOA1 for the I-765 to the SSA office and get the card replaced. Green-card holders are entitled to the un-restricted SS card.

Edited June 19, 2007 by YuAndDan

[mdunlap24 0]

Right on nearly all of it.

His Social Security card has the disclaimer on it, which is why he brought his passport. Otherwise, he would have only needed to bring his MA licence.

The woman behind the counter started leafing through which is when she found the expired CR-1. Mike then tried to explain what it was and showed the I-551.

I called *Patrick* Kennedy's office (RI Congressman) to help since I wanted to know what they thought i should do. My cousin has connections with the former speaker of the house in RI, so if need be, I can perhaps pull some strings there.

Thank you for the reminder, but I already changed our address with USCIS. In the process they give you the option to change your address for your pending cases also.

Get the disclaimer removed form the SS card, you should have done that as soon as you got the green-card, take the green-card and NOA1 for the I-765 to the SSA office and get the card replaced. Green-card holders are entitled to the un-restricted SS card.

I discussed that with my husband too, but we weren't sure if you get your SS Card right away. If it takes more than 20 days to reach us we're out of luck there. I think we might stop into the local SS office tomorrow before heading to the RMV. Also, I'm worried we'll get the same ignorance we received at the RMV. I've heard stories here of that happening.

[miri 0]

This isn't the first time that I've heard about the morons in the RMV thinking they have the right to act as immigration officials. I know people here (Boston) who have been denied learner's permits because they aren't green card holders -- which is a complete crock. A friend of mine ended up going to a different office in a nearby town and was able to get one with no problem -- clearly, there are staff at some RMVs who need to be taken down a peg or two.

Having the disclaimer on the SS card shouldn't have anything to do with getting/not getting a DL (I got mine ok and my SS still has the disclaimer -- will get it fixed once my 10-yr card arrives). Best of luck with getting the DL, and putting the idiots at the RMV straight. I feel your frustration *insert expletive here*

[k1spain 0]

I almost lost my license in NJ 3 weeks ago!!!

I went to renew my license a couple of weeks back (for the 3rd time in 3 years, yeah, yeah, NJ invites you to visit its office often ....) with my expired GC, my extension letter NOA and you know the rest of the papers....

The lady checking the papers on the line didn't want to comment on my expired GC, the other lady at the desk tells me that she thinks they don't accept expired GCs anymore and after 5 mins she asks the guy next to her. This guy tells us that he thinks the USCIS is applying a new procedure to renew the GCs but that he hasn't seen any of this NOA letters yet (I know this for sure, now the 10 yrs. GC holders need to submit an application to the Service Centers and wait for processing same as we do, in the meanwhile they send them a NOA extension letter for a year I guess similar to ours. Before they used to get the renewal the same day.)

So luckily for me, I am positive that they mistook my extension letter for the letter the regular GC holders get nowadays and they renewed my license for one more year (this is the reason of my multiple visits to the DMV).

If it is not because this guy remembered having heard something about the new GCs, I am sure I lose my license.

My advise is that you visit another DMV office.

[Roster 0]

Hi All,

I was in the same situation, to renew my driver’s license in Georgia State. I shown them NOA with my expired 2-year GC. At 1st they have trouble to understand that, but they discussed with other officers and agreed to issue the license. I got it renewed for one year.