I AM SO MAD!! This is total BS...

[Marilyn. 340]

it is weird because it totally contradicts whet it says on their site....

like people have suggested I would print off the info from the site and if possible take it and go to a different DMV...

I dont think it totally contradicts what it says on their site. Their site just doesnt tell the whole story. (Which it should.)

I bet that if I print that off the internet and take it to another DMV, they'd say that yes, an I-551 is proof of LPR status, but that a "Conditional" I-551 is not. Which is BS, but thats what the DL laws in TN seem to say. It seems to me that I'd probably have more luck petitioning my elected representatives for a change in the laws than I would have arguing with people in the DMV over what the current laws say....

what I meant was that on thier site it says this...

Acceptable Proof of Residency Documents

*Form I-94 issued to the applicant by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

or

*Employment authorization document (E.A.D.) issued to the applicant by the INS

or

*I-551 issued to the applicant by the INS

if you submit one of them along with one of these proofs...

# Current utility bill including telephone, electric, water, gas, cable, etc. (Must include postmarked envelope bill was mailed in) initial deposit receipt is NOT acceptable

# Current bank statement (not checks)

# Current rental/mortgage contract fully signed and executed, or receipt including deed of sale for property

# Current employer verification including paycheck/check stub, work ID or badge, etc.

etc....

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/driverlicense/dlproof.htm

Edited August 9, 2007 by MarilynP

[SirLancelot 1]

elgringo, your state laws regarding DL is indeed very draconian. I don't think I've seen a more restrictive state law yet.

On the other hand, I'm not understanding why you're making such a big deal about a DL when TN makes available this CFD. Most other states don't have this CFD and that's why other people complain. For example, in CA, there's only the State ID and the DL, no such thing as a CFD. And we grumble because without a GC or EAD, we can't get a DL for the purpose of driving. But your wife can get a CFD to drive. And her GC is a legal federal ID. So what's the big deal? I'm not understanding why you're so mad.

This draconian law your state has must have been recently implemented. I highly doubt you'll get the law reversed. The anti-immigration sentiment across America is quite high now and it seems TN has spoken quite loudly. Your only real course of recourse would be to move out of TN if you're truly so very bothered by this restriction. But if I were in your place, I'd be satisfied with a CFD. We're more concerned about my wife's ability to legally drive than by some ID. The GC itself will more than suffice as an ID.

Just my thoughts. Good luck trying to obtain your wife a DL for ID purposes.

[Nancy2015 2]

For example, in CA, there's only the State ID and the DL, no such thing as a CFD. And we grumble because without a GC or EAD, we can't get a DL for the purpose of driving.

We can get a regular DL in CA with a passport and a valid I-94.

A DL is good to have not just for driving, but for ID purposes as well. The worst thing in all that is that Elgringo's wife can't even get a regular State ID. This is unfair and doesn't make sense.

[SirLancelot 1]

For example, in CA, there's only the State ID and the DL, no such thing as a CFD. And we grumble because without a GC or EAD, we can't get a DL for the purpose of driving.

We can get a regular DL in CA with a passport and a valid I-94.

A DL is good to have not just for driving, but for ID purposes as well. The worst thing in all that is that Elgringo's wife can't even get a regular State ID. This is unfair and doesn't make sense.

The DL you get in CA expires on the date of expiry of the I-94. For a K1, at most you get 90 days on that CA DL. My wife has a CA State ID that expired on the date her I-94 expired. Completely useless.

[Dr_LHA 3]

On the other hand, I'm not understanding why you're making such a big deal about a DL when TN makes available this CFD. Most other states don't have this CFD and that's why other people complain. For example, in CA, there's only the State ID and the DL, no such thing as a CFD. And we grumble because without a GC or EAD, we can't get a DL for the purpose of driving. But your wife can get a CFD to drive. And her GC is a legal federal ID. So what's the big deal? I'm not understanding why you're so mad.

I don't get your point here. In every other state (that I know of) a person with a Green Card or a Work Visa can get a regular drivers license. This CFD thing isn't available to people who in other states aren't eligible for a DL, it seems like people here on work visas and conditional Green Cards are treated like 2nd class citizens at the TN DMV. Doesn't make any sense at all to me.

This draconian law your state has must have been recently implemented. I highly doubt you'll get the law reversed.

Well it flies in the face of the REAL ID Act, so if that is ratified by the state of TN then they will have to issue proper IDs to all aliens who are here legally.

The anti-immigration sentiment across America is quite high now and it seems TN has spoken quite loudly.

By not giving drivers licenses to people who are here legally? What sort of message is that sending?

Your only real course of recourse would be to move out of TN if you're truly so very bothered by this restriction. But if I were in your place, I'd be satisfied with a CFD. We're more concerned about my wife's ability to legally drive than by some ID. The GC itself will more than suffice as an ID.

I thought you were all about "fight the power", now you're happy about being screwed over by a stupid state law? Some idiot in the TN state legislature thought this was a good idea, its time to contact your representatives to tell them that is stupid. Why punish legal aliens like this?

Well a quick look around the net shows that there are class action lawsuits filed against this law.

If you want to see what's wrong with this CFD have a read of this article:

http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/0...ent_ID=64110024

A choice quote:

People seeking car insurance with their driving certificates also are having trouble, said David Lubell, state coordinator of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

''There are a lot of insurance companies who will not accept a driving certificate, and others are charging extremely high rates,'' he said.

State Farm is among the companies that won't insure certificate holders.

''In order to obtain insurance through State Farm, you must have a valid U.S. driver's license (and) a Social Security number,'' State Farm spokesperson Louann Burkeen said.

Edited August 10, 2007 by Dr_LHA

[Dr_LHA 3]

Oh and if you have a CFD you can't rent a car either. I've got some friends who are here on a work visas who just got jobs at Vanderbilt, they going to be pretty pissed when I tell them about this.

[Caladan 19]

It says that in the rush to keep illegals from breathing American oxygen, people who have no clue how residency and visas work are designing licensing laws which preclude legal visitors, workers, and residents from getting what they need.

[Rob & Jin 0]

So today we went to the DMV to get my wife's driver's license. She has had her CFD permit for a few months now. (She got it right after she got her EAD.)

She has her green card now, but its the 2 year conditional one, which, silly me, I thought was the same as the 10 year one so she would be able to get a real driver's license. Thats not the case anymore here in TN. They would only let her get a CFD for driving, not a real license. She cant even get a state ID with a GREEN CARD.... Isnt that crazy? The only thing you can get with the 2 year conditional resident card is a freaking CFD.

I was so mad. Is TN the only state dumb enough to do this? I am almost certain that in other states you can easily get a real license or state ID with a 2 year green card, but not in TN.... I'm really mad too because according to the guy at my bank I need a state ID to get my wife's name changed on the account to her married name. Now if she goes to pay with her card and they ask for her ID, she's gonna show them her green card which has a different name on it than her credit card. What a load of #######....

Anyone else know of any state thats as stupid as Tennessee?

Oh very strange, I got my drivers license with a green card, but to be be honest i dont think they even asked to look at it

[SirLancelot 1]

I thought you were all about "fight the power", now you're happy about being screwed over by a stupid state law? Some idiot in the TN state legislature thought this was a good idea, its time to contact your representatives to tell them that is stupid. Why punish legal aliens like this?

My my, how quick you are to piss on government when it doesn't fit your ideas. Some idiot? Singular? More true to life would be the majority of TN state legislature, along with the TN Governor, approved such legislation.

The TN people, through their elected Reps, have already sent a pretty loud message. You live with it, or leave TN.

Why punish legal aliens for not carrying a GC when their status is clearly a permanent resident even if they don't carry the GC? According to you, it's called THE LAW. And that is TN law. So respect it while it's the law.

This is as stupid as the federal law which requires GC card holders to carry it at all times.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I thought you were all about "fight the power", now you're happy about being screwed over by a stupid state law? Some idiot in the TN state legislature thought this was a good idea, its time to contact your representatives to tell them that is stupid. Why punish legal aliens like this?

My my, how quick you are to piss on government when it doesn't fit your ideas. Some idiot? Singular? More true to life would be the majority of TN state legislature, along with the TN Governor, approved such legislation.

The TN people, through their elected Reps, have already sent a pretty loud message. You live with it, or leave TN.

What, we can't contact our local congressman and complain about legislation we think is bogus?

[SirLancelot 1]

I thought you were all about "fight the power", now you're happy about being screwed over by a stupid state law? Some idiot in the TN state legislature thought this was a good idea, its time to contact your representatives to tell them that is stupid. Why punish legal aliens like this?

My my, how quick you are to piss on government when it doesn't fit your ideas. Some idiot? Singular? More true to life would be the majority of TN state legislature, along with the TN Governor, approved such legislation.

The TN people, through their elected Reps, have already sent a pretty loud message. You live with it, or leave TN.

What, we can't contact our local congressman and complain about legislation we think is bogus?

Did I say that? Don't try to put words in my mouth.

Write as many letters as you want. Doesn't change the TN law as it stands and you either live with it or leave.

Trying to change the law doesn't in itself change the law. You still have to obey the current law.

And I'm sure this isn't an old law. If I had to bet, I'd wager that it was recently added within the past 5-10 years, perhaps even less.

I highly doubt TN will reserve course unless the courts null and voids it on Constitutional grounds.

[elgringo 0]

I'm not really opposed to having CFDs per se. Its cool if they want to give a CFD to someone who is here on a temporary visa or to someone who just has an EAD, because those things are temporary and dont really confer immigrant status.

However, I find it TOTALLY STUPID that TN wont accept a conditional green card as proof enough to get a real driver's license. As I stated above, a far more reasonable thing to do would be to issue the real driver's license but have it set to expire with the conditional green card. There's really no reason not to do it that way. Giving someone a CFD thats here LEGALLY with a PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD is just plain dumb. I've made up my mind, I am gonna be emailing my state rep and state senator tomorrow. I dont know how much good it will do, but I feel I have to at least make an effort to let my elected officials know how stupid this is....

[elgringo 0]

Well a quick look around the net shows that there are class action lawsuits filed against this law.

Can you point me to where you found that info?

[Dr_LHA 3]

My my, how quick you are to piss on government when it doesn't fit your ideas. Some idiot? Singular? More true to life would be the majority of TN state legislature, along with the TN Governor, approved such legislation.

Its a stupid law with that has no logical reason for existing. If you can give me a reason why this law exists, other than "the people wanted it" I'd be happy to debate it.

The TN people, through their elected Reps, have already sent a pretty loud message. You live with it, or leave TN.

I doubt the people were informed enough or care enough about the impact of this law on legal immigrants. Of course those affected can't vote.

Why punish legal aliens for not carrying a GC when their status is clearly a permanent resident even if they don't carry the GC? According to you, it's called THE LAW. And that is TN law. So respect it while it's the law.

It is the law, I'm not saying anyone should break the law am I? As you're being so kind to attack me again over something totally unrelated to this thread/post let me point out: I never said that the law that requires one to carry your Green Card at all times isn't a stupid law, I simply said people should obey this law and carry their green cards. I will never advocate breaking the law on this forum. Does that mean I can't come out and say that a some legislation is stupid? Obeying the law and respecting the law are not the same thing. To think you accused someone else of twisting your words!

This is as stupid as the federal law which requires GC card holders to carry it at all times.

No this is far stupider. The Green Card carrying law isn't really any more of a burden on legal aliens than the law that requires one to carry a drivers license when driving. This is a law that makes legal aliens 2nd class citizens when it comes to driving a car.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Well a quick look around the net shows that there are class action lawsuits filed against this law.

Can you point me to where you found that info?

http://www.nilc.org/immspbs/DLs/DL014.htm