New Permanent Resident getting California Driving License

[JeanneAdil 6,693]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

Despite having an I-485 receipt, and a combo card, my wife was not permitted to have a REAL ID California DL. Even though she possessed a California REAL ID state ID      
 

Indeed when I moved to California, despite presenting a green card, I was denied a REAL ID California DL.  
 

AB60 documents get issued to millions of lawfully present citizens and aliens every year and this will continue forever.  
 

REAL ID is useless and I predict will always be useless.

Tennessee does not require one if u have a valid passport but my niece in NYS says everyone who flys (or enters federal building or military base) needs it or to cross into Canada even with a passport

so,  unless its nationwide ???? it is useless

another government brainstorm that will fizzle 

[Mike E 11,742]

21 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

  to cross into Canada even with a passport

so, 

That’s a fairy tale. Canada doesn’t care about REAL ID 

[JeanneAdil 6,693]

26 minutes ago, Mike E said:

That’s a fairy tale. Canada doesn’t care about REAL ID 

i know Canada doesn't but NYS cares about the extra $30 fee 

 

[Mike E 11,742]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

i know Canada doesn't but NYS cares about the extra $30 fee 

 

Sounds like Enhanced ID which is a great investment, especially for upstate NYers.  

[Scandi 4,186]

8 hours ago, SoniaKaur said:

Hi,

I will be entering LAX next month as a permanent resident (CR-1) status from the UK. I am slightly confused as to whether I am required to get a Californian driving license within 10 days of landing (I do hold a valid UK driving license).

I have copied the requirements below from the CA DMV webite:

If you become a California resident, you must get a California DL within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents.

As a permanent resident can i vote in the California election? There doesn't seem to be a clear consensus online regarding state elections.

If I need to obtain a driving license within 10 days how is this even possible??! I need to wait for my green card and SSN which i believe is taking some people 3 months! Also I am aware that there are delays with getting behind the wheel test.

Additionally, I can see the new requirement for the real ID. Could i just apply for a real ID straight away, or do i need to apply for DL and then convert to the real ID? 

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Likely you won't even be able to get a CA DL in just 10 days even if those are the rules. Every single DMV within a 25 mile radius had a 2 month wait for the behind-the-wheel test back when I got my DL, it's likely not any better now. You CAN find available appointments (I got one after just two days, likely someone else's cancellation), but be prepared that it could be a long drive to get there (I drove for 40 miles to get to the DMV with the only available appointment, which turned out great as it was a very easy area to drive in despite never being there before).

Imagine crazy ### Hollywood, that would be fun to take the test. I'd rather pick a DMV where the traffic isn't as crazy. 

 

You don't need a SSN to get a CA DL, you do however need it to get a Real ID (you need to bring the actual card, not just the number. They also checked so I had the correct address on my SS card, that it matched the other documents I had with me). For legal presence you just show the stamp you received in your passport when you entered the US, that's your "temporary greencard" while waiting for the physical card.

 

A "Real ID" just means the card has extra info embedded in it, for extra security. It could be a DL or a ID. It's not something you need, for flying you can use your greencard or passport. Real ID is not necessary, especially for a greencard holder who is already carrying around the greencard in their wallet everywhere anyway. 

 

Stay away from everything voting related until you are a citizen. Don't even sign petitions etc. 

Edited July 27, 2022 by Scandi

[top_secret 2,540]

This is my wife's actual recent first hand experience arriving in California with a CR1 Visa and a foreign (Philippines) drivers license and applying for a California Real ID drivers License.  My CR2 stepdaughter (9/yo) also concurrently applied for a California Real ID State ID card. 

 

They received their SS cards 7 days after arrival.  I know some people aren't as lucky but many do get SS cards quickly.  Social Security number IS NOT required for a full unrestricted California Drivers license.   However, Social Security number IS required if you want a Real ID.  Neither of them had problems qualifying for the Real ID using their endorsed CR1/CR2 visas, SS cards and some insurance and/or bank mail in my wife's name that was sent to our address.

 

To our understanding the 10 day rule absolutely applies but it took my wife longer and we chose to find some ambiguity in how we interpreted the 10 days of residency was determined.  DMV never questioned it and accepted her Philippine drivers license as still fully valid at several relevant points.

 

AB60 Licenses are specifically ONLY for persons who cannot prove legal presence in the US but CAN meet California DMV requirements for proof of California residence.  A US Permanent Resident certainly CAN prove legal presence in the US and is therefor ineligible to go the AB60 route.

 

DMV has a great online queuing feature here where you can "get your number" online before you go down to the DMV office. https://mt-cadmvoas.us.qmatic.cloud/

 

I walked my stepdaughter through for her Real ID application as my wife was taking the written test.  Stepdaughter passed, wife failed. The next day my wife came back and took the written test two more times.  Finally passing on the third attempt.  They issued her a paper learners permit, valid for driving with another licensed driver in the car.  At the same time they still accepted her Philippine drivers license as valid for her to drive solo.

 

I had to check a few times to get her an appointment for the behind the wheel test but within a day appointments opened up for the following week.   She failed the driving test.  (ran a stop sign at high speed IN THE DMV PARKING LOT).  Rescheduling again there was no availability any time soon but after a few days checking some immediate dates opened up at a different DNV office about 40 minutes drive away.  She passed the second attempt at the behind the wheel test and they issued her a fully valid temporary paper license that day.

 

Stepdaughters Real ID card arrived in the mail at about 2 weeks.  Wife's Real ID did not arrive in the mail until after an extensive delay but that was bureaucratic incompetence rather than any legal issue.  She finally got her card at about 60 days but she was fully licensed in the mean time with the temporary paper license so the delay was just an annoyance.

Edited July 27, 2022 by top_secret

[Family 4,254]

15 minutes ago, top_secret said:

AB60 Licenses are specifically ONLY for persons who cannot prove legal presence in the US but CAN meet California DMV requirements for proof of California residence.  A US Permanent Resident certainly CAN prove legal presence in the US and is therefor ineligible to go the AB60 route.

Excellent , detailed and realistic description. Thank you 

 

Please humor my insistence to clarify that any all CA residents may use the AB-60 to License…including LPRs who find themselves in limbo …

 

https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/ab_60_4_27_15.pdf

[top_secret 2,540]

7 minutes ago, Family said:

Please humor my insistence to clarify that any all CA residents may use the AB-60 to License…including LPRs who find themselves in limbo …

 

I'm thinking that during the review process, once they found out someone WAS a LPR and therefore not in limbo, DMV would just issue that person a regular drivers license albeit after the very extensive time delay processing an AB60 review entails.

[Family 4,254]

1 minute ago, top_secret said:

I'm thinking that during the review process, once they found out someone WAS a LPR and therefore not in limbo, DMV would just issue that person a regular drivers license albeit after the very extensive time delay processing an AB60 review entails.

They are way smarter (?) and refuse to let them get past go at the window. Have logged in many many visits at DMV helping some less fortunate members of community of all status variations 
 

[top_secret 2,540]

https://save.uscis.gov/casecheck/SearchCases.aspx

 

CA DMV runs a USCIS SAVE check on foreign passports.  If you look up a few that applied for CA drivers licenses you will see the cases if you do a search by foreign passport number.  CA DMV can and does check.  If someone IS an LPR, CA DMV will instantly know.

 

[Family 4,254]

4 minutes ago, top_secret said:

If someone IS an LPR, CA DMV will instantly know.

Yes they do, but they MUST and DO grant to ALL , including those UNABLE to prove up/ document their status because AB-60 = “regardless of status “. 

Thank you and I believe I have answered OP’ s query and she will find your post was MOST helpful! Thanks to your wife and daughter! 

[Ponder 2]

10 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Tennessee does not require one if u have a valid passport but my niece in NYS says everyone who flys (or enters federal building or military base) needs it or to cross into Canada even with a passport

so,  unless its nationwide ???? it is useless

another government brainstorm that will fizzle 

Definitely do not need real Id to get into Canada. I’ve been 5 times this year. I do. Ot have real Id. They have never once asked to see my DL