Georgia Driver's License Investigation on EAD

[mollenne 11]

I tried to search for any pre-existing discussions about this, but I couldn't find anything. Maybe someone has also experienced this?:

On Friday I took my husband to a Georgia DMV (or DDS = Department of Driver Services) office to take his knowledge/written test (first step in the process of getting a state of Georgia driver's license). We brought all necessary documentation: EAD (Form I-766, which he received the previous week, as it had been expedited), his unexpired foreign passport, his social security card, his birth certificate, and a few pieces of mail with his name and our address.

When the DDS employee was inputting his data into the computer, she said that due to his EAD card status (C-9) his profile needs to be investigated by the main DDS office. She gave me a case number and the head office phone number and told me to call them within 3-5 business days. She could not say (because she didn't know) why his profile was "flagged", but it had to do with his C-9 status on the EAD card. She said she sees this from time to time but didn't know what it means. He is not able to proceed with earning his Georgia driver's license until his profile is no longer flagged.

My husband and I checked, and "C-9" status indicates that he is still pending Adjustment of Status. He earned his EAD because we successfully received an expedite, but the green card is still being processed/adjustment of status is still not fully approved.

Has anyone else had this experience (either in Georgia or in another state)? Everything should be in order with his paperwork (we haven't received any RFE's, etc.) but we aren't sure what to expect?

Thanks in advance!

[andy78 178]

I have not experienced this during AOS. Got the EAD and was able to renew the driver's license for the duration of the EAD. But in my case, I already had a driver's license and I was renewing it (I was already living in the US, not K1). May be the c-9 gets flagged when the driver's license is being issued for the first time?

Edited March 14, 2016 by andy78

[Caryh 5,206]

Their documentation requirements for a drivers license in your state is rather vague on their web page. But from reading it, as long as he has an SS number and EAD he should be able to get his license. I don't know what you can do if they won't follow their own rules. Sounds like they're putting a new rule in place that prevents K-1's from getting a license until the green card is in hand.

http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/dldata.aspx?con=1741471757&ty=dl

[yuna628 9,676]

What this means to me is that the employee had no idea what they are doing, and is putting you through a SAVE or some other verification for no reason.

[beccajayne93 17]

My EAD had to be reviewed too. I went in to the DMV basically a day after getting my EAD card and the lady ran it through SAVE and had to submit a case inquiry to verify it because it wouldn't show it up as verified. I'm not sure if that is standard procedure, or if they didn't really need to do that as yuna628 is suggesting above. Regardless, it took them 3 weeks to call me back but everything turned out fine in the end. This was in New Jersey. Hope it helps!

Editing to add: Neither myself nor the DMV, before or after verification, knew why it needed to be verified!

Edited March 20, 2016 by beccajayne93

[Roy&Chanel 109]

I tried to search for any pre-existing discussions about this, but I couldn't find anything. Maybe someone has also experienced this?:

On Friday I took my husband to a Georgia DMV (or DDS = Department of Driver Services) office to take his knowledge/written test (first step in the process of getting a state of Georgia driver's license). We brought all necessary documentation: EAD (Form I-766, which he received the previous week, as it had been expedited), his unexpired foreign passport, his social security card, his birth certificate, and a few pieces of mail with his name and our address.

When the DDS employee was inputting his data into the computer, she said that due to his EAD card status (C-9) his profile needs to be investigated by the main DDS office. She gave me a case number and the head office phone number and told me to call them within 3-5 business days. She could not say (because she didn't know) why his profile was "flagged", but it had to do with his C-9 status on the EAD card. She said she sees this from time to time but didn't know what it means. He is not able to proceed with earning his Georgia driver's license until his profile is no longer flagged.

My husband and I checked, and "C-9" status indicates that he is still pending Adjustment of Status. He earned his EAD because we successfully received an expedite, but the green card is still being processed/adjustment of status is still not fully approved.

Has anyone else had this experience (either in Georgia or in another state)? Everything should be in order with his paperwork (we haven't received any RFE's, etc.) but we aren't sure what to expect?

Thanks in advance!

Hey mollenne!

Yeap Georgia does not accept EAD to get DMV. I tried too, same thing happened to me, I was told to come back after green card.

I wasn't flagged though, I just enquired if I can get do my DMV with EAD but they said I need to wait for Green card.

I just got approved yesterday, so I'm waiting for my green card to arrive and I'm going to take the written test.

Edited March 31, 2016 by Roy&Chanel

[mollenne 11]

** UPDATE **

My husband's application was handled by the Investigations portion of the Georgia DDS (Department of Driver Services), and we had to scan and email them a few extra documents: the I-94 and the receipt he received from USCIS when they received his green card/AOS application (Form I-797C).

It took them about 10 business days to process everything (I called them after 4 business days, as instructed, and every day after that). They finally let us know he was cleared and could continue with the driver's license application process.

We went back to the DDS office earlier this week and he took the knowledge test (it's a "written" test, taken before the practical road test) and passed. He now has a permit (he can only drive when I'm in the car) and scheduled to take his road test next week.

We still do not have his green card (his AOS application is still being processed), but in this case the Work Permit (Form I-766) sufficed. You need to make sure to bring in the foreign passport (it must still be valid) and the social security card, and 2 pieces of mail that prove the address.

[Roy&Chanel 109]

Hey mollenne, THANK YOU SO MUCH, so I can bring EAD Along? I called them yesterday, they told me to wait for green card to arrive..

Which DDS did u go to?

[mollenne 11]

@Roy&Chanel:

Hey you're welcome -- We went to the one in Acworth off of Old Hwy 41 (it's next to North Cobb High School). It's a newer facility and generally I've had better experiences there than any other DDS place in Georgia -- though nobody there is an immigration expert.

We brought in my husband's EAD card (Form I-766, says so on the back), his valid (non-expired) foreign passport, his social security card, and a few pieces of mail proving his address. I would also recommend bringing your receipts from the USCIS concerning AOS and EAD packets (one of them is the I-797C for the EAD, I forget the title of the other Form but it's the AOS counterpart). This proves that you're working on adjusting status and that you're here legally.

I should also share with you that I visited the same DDS office a few weeks before to change my name on my GA license and I did enquire about my husband's process. One of the greeters gave me a form for non-US citizens sharing which documents and which statuses are acceptable. I could not find the same info on the official DDS site except for maybe this: http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/dldata.aspx?con=1741471757&ty=dl but this doesn't have quite the same detailed information. I'll see if I can find the copy I got and upload it here... but it said on this form that a valid I-766 would be fine along with a valid foreign passport.

[Roy&Chanel 109]

Thanks mollene, I have checked my USCIS status, I will be getting my green card in few days, will be using green card instead.

Its good info for all GA residents. I should've gotten my DL long ago if this did not happen!

[Georgia16 2,858]

@Roy&Chanel:

Hey you're welcome -- We went to the one in Acworth off of Old Hwy 41 (it's next to North Cobb High School). It's a newer facility and generally I've had better experiences there than any other DDS place in Georgia -- though nobody there is an immigration expert.

We brought in my husband's EAD card (Form I-766, says so on the back), his valid (non-expired) foreign passport, his social security card, and a few pieces of mail proving his address. I would also recommend bringing your receipts from the USCIS concerning AOS and EAD packets (one of them is the I-797C for the EAD, I forget the title of the other Form but it's the AOS counterpart). This proves that you're working on adjusting status and that you're here legally.

I should also share with you that I visited the same DDS office a few weeks before to change my name on my GA license and I did enquire about my husband's process. One of the greeters gave me a form for non-US citizens sharing which documents and which statuses are acceptable. I could not find the same info on the official DDS site except for maybe this: http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/dldata.aspx?con=1741471757&ty=dl but this doesn't have quite the same detailed information. I'll see if I can find the copy I got and upload it here... but it said on this form that a valid I-766 would be fine along with a valid foreign passport.

Hey,

So just to make sure this is what I'll need to get the DL here in GA:

EAD card

My passport

SSN card

Few pieces of mail showing my address

NOA1 paper (I-797C) for AOS ?

I-94 (mine will expire before I get the EAD though)

And that should be it?

Sorry VERY impatient about not being able to drive here when my 30 days are over and then have to wait for a very long time! (Till EAD comes!)

Thank you!

[mollenne 11]

@Georgia16 --

Yes, your list sounds right. Definitely bring the NOA/I-797C showing you have applied for AOS. I had to bring in my marriage certificate when I went to the DDS on a separate occasion to change my name, you might want to bring that too, just in case they ask for it, since it looks like you came here on a K1 visa.

Do not be surprised if they escalate your application/process to be investigated, this is what happened with my husband. It's nothing serious, it's just a further investigation to make sure you have applied for AOS. There is a division within the department of driver services that handles this. I think this happens to people who want to earn a driver's license in Georgia who do not yet have a green card.

The standard employees of the DDS are definitely not knowledgeable about the immigration processes and statuses, they literally enter data into their computer.

When the worked told us his application had been flagged for investigation, she gave me a case number and told me to call and follow up with them in 3-5 business days (ugh), but we kept on top of it. I believe they requested a scanned copy of the I-797C and his EAD for verification. Just stay on top of them to follow up.

This delayed my husband from getting his license by about 10 business days, but he took the learner's test and scheduled his practical/road test and passed it all within one month. It may be a little more challenging to schedule something now that it's summer and this is a busy time for the DDS because kids are out of school and this is when many people book their license exams.

Good luck!

[Georgia16 2,858]

@Georgia16 --

Yes, your list sounds right. Definitely bring the NOA/I-797C showing you have applied for AOS. I had to bring in my marriage certificate when I went to the DDS on a separate occasion to change my name, you might want to bring that too, just in case they ask for it, since it looks like you came here on a K1 visa.

Do not be surprised if they escalate your application/process to be investigated, this is what happened with my husband. It's nothing serious, it's just a further investigation to make sure you have applied for AOS. There is a division within the department of driver services that handles this. I think this happens to people who want to earn a driver's license in Georgia who do not yet have a green card.

The standard employees of the DDS are definitely not knowledgeable about the immigration processes and statuses, they literally enter data into their computer.

When the worked told us his application had been flagged for investigation, she gave me a case number and told me to call and follow up with them in 3-5 business days (ugh), but we kept on top of it. I believe they requested a scanned copy of the I-797C and his EAD for verification. Just stay on top of them to follow up.

This delayed my husband from getting his license by about 10 business days, but he took the learner's test and scheduled his practical/road test and passed it all within one month. It may be a little more challenging to schedule something now that it's summer and this is a busy time for the DDS because kids are out of school and this is when many people book their license exams.

Good luck!

Unfortunately I'm stuck in the SAVE verification also .... They did however let be do the written test and driving test all they need now is the SAVE verification before they can give me they DL. Waiting since Friday now hope it comes soon!

[mollenne 11]

@Georgia16 - Best of luck! I am sure you will be fine. It just seems like it was an extra verification step. Definitely call the number they should have provided you when they first informed you about the verification; I am glad I stayed on their case and followed up consistently.

At least all of the tests are out of the way!

[Georgia16 2,858]

@Georgia16 - Best of luck! I am sure you will be fine. It just seems like it was an extra verification step. Definitely call the number they should have provided you when they first informed you about the verification; I am glad I stayed on their case and followed up consistently.

At least all of the tests are out of the way!

Well the number there is on the paper is just for the DMV I called Friday and they just said I should call back next Friday (This upcoming Friday)

if I still wasn't verified. I found a e-mail and number for the SAVE department but they didn't want to help haha.

also I took the written test and the did the SAVE check got approved on the spot and then took the driving test 2 days later and that's the one still pending for over a week now.

Edited December 20, 2016 by Georgia16