Can't get a Driver's License in KY!

[LondonGooner 0]

I just went to apply for a driver's license today and was told that my Receipt for the I-485 is not sufficient enough for them to grant me a permit. The Kentucky DMV employs the most obnoxious, snotty and self-righteous people I have ever come across and I used to work alongside the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK so that is saying something! Essentially this woman insinuated that I am illegal alien because my I-94 expired last December and she wouldn't accept the I-485 as evidence of immigration and nor could I show her the letters I have from my Senator stating that my case is stuck in a name check. Grrrr ! I am getting so sick and tired of this whole immigration thing. I have no confidence or optimism left that I will ever be allowed to live a life over here. I never thought I'd say this but I am beginning to hate America.

[Nancy2015 2]

I just went to apply for a driver's license today and was told that my Receipt for the I-485 is not sufficient enough for them to grant me a permit. The Kentucky DMV employs the most obnoxious, snotty and self-righteous people I have ever come across and I used to work alongside the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK so that is saying something! Essentially this woman insinuated that I am illegal alien because my I-94 expired last December and she wouldn't accept the I-485 as evidence of immigration and nor could I show her the letters I have from my Senator stating that my case is stuck in a name check. Grrrr ! I am getting so sick and tired of this whole immigration thing. I have no confidence or optimism left that I will ever be allowed to live a life over here. I never thought I'd say this but I am beginning to hate America.

Do you have an EAD? Kentucky DMV will accept it as proof of legal presence:

http://www.kytc.ky.gov/drlic/non_us/non_us_ctzns.htm

Edited August 31, 2007 by Sid and Nancy

[LondonGooner 0]

I just went to apply for a driver's license today and was told that my Receipt for the I-485 is not sufficient enough for them to grant me a permit. The Kentucky DMV employs the most obnoxious, snotty and self-righteous people I have ever come across and I used to work alongside the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK so that is saying something! Essentially this woman insinuated that I am illegal alien because my I-94 expired last December and she wouldn't accept the I-485 as evidence of immigration and nor could I show her the letters I have from my Senator stating that my case is stuck in a name check. Grrrr ! I am getting so sick and tired of this whole immigration thing. I have no confidence or optimism left that I will ever be allowed to live a life over here. I never thought I'd say this but I am beginning to hate America.

Do you have an EAD? Kentucky DMV will accept it as proof of legal presence:

http://www.kytc.ky.gov/drlic/non_us/non_us_ctzns.htm

Nope. Unfortunately not. We decided not to file for the EAD because we foolishly believed that I would get the Green Card sometime this year. To be honest I was grateful for the break from work and we had false optomism that I would have been working by now. We are going to file for the EAD in the near future and kiss goodbye to another three-hundred bucks but we are kind of nervous about doing that because the AOS might be approved within the time it takes them to process the EAD. Perhaps we have been naive but I can't believe just how incredibly difficult it is to do anything in this country without paperwork and the whole bureaucracy is just so painfully slow.

[rebeccajo 14]

Look at my timeline. My husband is from the UK as well.

File for the EAD. You might not end up like us but you might end up worse.

PS - I wouldn't wish this on anybody but you better buck up and get over it. Many from the UK get caught in namecheck.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Yes, bite the bullet and file for the EAD as soon as you can. It's a drag to have to spend $340 when you didn't think you'd have to, but as you know, life here can be tricky without the right forms of ID. A lot of states (AZ included, where we live) won't issue a driver's license to a non-citizen without a green card or EAD. My husband has already had to renew his license because AZ will only issue it for the duration of the EAD validity. Fortunately, it's only $15 here.

As soon as you allow yourself to accept that your situation is beyond your control, the easier it is (sorry, this sounds like AA). I know it's tough to develop a philosophical attitude when you feel so helpless--in fact, I think that's the worst part--but you'll feel better when you can work, drive, etc.

Believe me, every now and then I just get really pissed off at the whole thing. We've encountered our fair share of uninterested, unhelpful functionaries, but you just have to get on with it.

I suggest applying for AP too. Also get yourself a nice six-pack of Stella and watch some soccer on TV.

For what it's worth, my husband has nearly the most white-bread English name in the book, first, middle, and last.

[Mrs. B 0]

we had the same problem here (wisconsin), EVEN with the EAD and showing them the print out of their own site they still hinted i was "illegal" cos the I-94 was expired and they told me to just go to immigration and get a new one! we got tired of explaining them that i came on a K1 visa so they cannot RENEW it...

to make story short, husband (US citizen) call Madison DMV (capital) and he spoke with someone and sais that it was almost as being racist, once he said that they freak out, they call milwaukee office, got us appointment with a manager and VOILA!, we got the learners permit... otherwise they wanted me to wait to get the green card...

and i hear you about starting to hate this place... and all the immigrant laws... and trouble to the people that are trying to do things the way law wants... such a headache..

[LondonGooner 0]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the words of encouragement and support. It is good to reach out and know that there are other people encountering the same difficulties. I am just frustrated by the injustice of the whole system but one tiny little voice isn't going to do much good I guess so the wife and I have decided to file for the EAD and hope that the AOS comes sooner rather than later.

[igomo 0]

Bureaucracy is indeed a problem. My case was delayed because they wouldn't accept my USC wife's birth certificate. The same certificate that has always been good enough to get social security, a driver's license and ultimately pay taxes wasn't good enough to prove to USCIS that she's a U.S. citizen. We had to waste precious time and money to get another copy (she was born in another state). So it doesn't only apply to us immigrants, the government is good at harassing its own citizens too.

I have the same problem with the driver's license issue. When I finally get my EAD, I won't be able to have a driver's license for another 3 months as New Jersey changed the laws and I have to be on a permit for 3 months before I can drive by myself. Sadly here in suburban New Jersey with no public transportation it means I am likely to be unemployed for another 3 months after the EAD.

It's stuff but just hang in there. Someday it'll all the troubles will be a distant memory.

[thetreble 19]

A receipt from a 485 saying you filed does nothing for you. You are status pending which really only means you can stay here until it all pans out. No DMV, to my knowledge, will give you a license with that. It sucks I know. File for that EAD!