Help, I want to keep on driving! (I-797?)

[sudhany]

I'm applying in the next week or two to adjust status based on marriage to a USC. My current status as an F1 student will expire at the end of August and I hope to have applied for AOS by then.

Now, my CA drivers license, since it is based on my F1 status, also expires on 8/31. I have received a notice from the California DMV that informs me that I can extend my drivers license if I "submit satisfactory proof that [my] presence in the United States has been extended or reauthorized by federal law." Among the items that are supposed to count as proof is a "Notice of Action (I-797, Approved Petition)." What exactly is this document? Is this the notice that petitioners for family-based green cards get when their petition is accepted? If so, how long does it take for the notice of action to arrive after you apply? And what does the DMV mean by "approved petition"? (Surely they don't mean approved green card, right? Otherwise, why not just ask for the green card?)

The letter from the DMV also notes that other documents can also be presented to prove legal presence. If the notice of action isn't relevant, any idea what else I could submit to prove legal presence?

Thanks so much for all your help with my many questions. And good luck on your journey!

[candyattitude]

right after you submit your docs and your checks are cashed you will get notices from USCIS, you should get a notice for whatever docs you submit, like a notice for I-485 (this is the I-797).....it might come quick or might take 2-3 weeks....who knows...so you can show this. i did when i applied for college as a resident, and they accepted the notices even though i haven't gotten an interview letter yet and don't have a green card.
i don't know what other docs would help. i think it has to be something from the govn.
and i dont think your marriage certificate will help either.

[Terracotta]

send your receipt notice and fp notice.
I applied for dl in california with fp notice.
hope this helps

[TheInquisitor]

i myself got an id and could get a license with the i-797 and i-485 receipts. it appears that is also the case in CA. so send those in and good luck.

[sudhany]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I just went to the DMV in person (it's only a few blocks from our house) to ask what documents I needed and -- guess what -- they renewed my license until mid-November. I'm not really sure if they should have done that, but I for one am certainly not complaining! It's only a temporary license and, apparently, I should get the picture license in the mail when the "government" has verified my legal presence. I don't know what exactly they have to do to verify that, but at least my poor husband won't have to start chauffeuring me around everywhere. And by mid-November, I should have at least the I-797, which you all tell me is enough to get the license renewed. Yay, what a relief!

[Terracotta]

I am so happy for you