H1 about to expire, What happens to my Driving Licence?

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pkpkpkpk

Registered Users (C)
Hi guys,

My h1 is about to expire at the end of July 2006 and my lawyer is getting ready to file an extension. My 140 is approved and I am waiting to file my 485, so hopefully will get a 3 year extension...

My driving licence(VA) expires end of July, on the same day as my H1.
My lawyer tells me that these days, H1 extensions take about 6 months. So he is asking me about filing in premium processing and of course, I would pay the tab.

So, any experience in this situation, where in August 06, my current H1 expires, I would have filed for my H1 extension, which makes me legal to stay in this country BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DRIVER LICENCE EXTENSION?

Thanks!!
 
Try in the remote offices and they will make it for u. I know several cases. If they ask you then tell them that you have applied for it and it will be renewed.

Good Luck.

pkpkpkpk said:
Hi guys,

My h1 is about to expire at the end of July 2006 and my lawyer is getting ready to file an extension. My 140 is approved and I am waiting to file my 485, so hopefully will get a 3 year extension...

My driving licence(VA) expires end of July, on the same day as my H1.
My lawyer tells me that these days, H1 extensions take about 6 months. So he is asking me about filing in premium processing and of course, I would pay the tab.

So, any experience in this situation, where in August 06, my current H1 expires, I would have filed for my H1 extension, which makes me legal to stay in this country BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DRIVER LICENCE EXTENSION?

Thanks!!
Click to expand...
 
File under normal processing first; wait until July 2nd week, watch the processing time updates carefully and then decide to upgrade to premium if still not approved. Very too early to go for premium right away.
 
My employer filed my H1 during Dec 20, 2005. I got my approval email on March 6,2006. I should get my approval notice by mail within 15 days, thats what the message says. This is my timeline with NSC.
 
pkpkpkpk,
Usually when you are renewing driver licence,you just need to show the receipt no.They will extend your DL for 2 years.I did the same thing sometime year 2004.

smbaps
 
Since they allow us to continue working in H1B with just the receipt notice, you may make your point when they ask questions while renewing. Also, it is good to take a letter from your employer that you are still working and better the original letter and not the copies.
 
pkpkpkpk said:
I would have filed for my H1 extension, which makes me legal to stay in this country BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DRIVER LICENCE EXTENSION?
Click to expand...

This driving stuff it varies so much from state to state ... over here in Michigan they do not check H1b period or EAD period .. they just extend it for next 3 years.

Well in the states that does check the dates ... I do not think taking the employers letters or evidence of application for renewals might help... the only way I guess is to do a premium processing.

[They want some sort of END Date to put in there computers and absence of it will not allow them to go to next step.]


Good luck
 
which state are you in, smbaps?

Wow! As one reader commented, rule varies from state to state and I am now on a project in Arizona.
Let me know which state you are in...

Thanks!!

smbaps said:
pkpkpkpk,
Usually when you are renewing driver licence,you just need to show the receipt no.They will extend your DL for 2 years.I did the same thing sometime year 2004.

smbaps
Click to expand...
 
In South Florida I went to several different Driving License Offices and in all of them the first thing the front desk clerk asks you is: Are you Citizen or not?
If not you have to show your papers from UCSIS, If you don't have them you don't enter to the building.!.
When it's your time the official asks again the same question and
finally says: "Your new D.L. will be in your mail box in around a month and will be valid until the date mentioned in your immigration papers".
Do you know any other more flexible location I can go, please?
 
Interesting difference from state to state

When I got my driver license in Arizona back in 1994, I did it when I was with my F-1 and with a rental and got my driver license expiring in 2031...did not even have SSN in those days. I remember just going to the DMV to inquire about driver licenses...and ended up having a driver license a couple of days later in the mail. The bizarre thing for me was seeing that they had the test available like in 15 languages. I bet things have changed now...
 
I went to DL one month before expiration.After showing the H1B receipt,they gave me a white piece of paper which has all my DL information & mentioned that u will be getting your DL in mail.

I do not think it is worth spending extra 1000 bugs by doing it through premium.I remember my lawyer mentioning about 2 calendar years(DL), if the H1B petition is pending or AOS or notice of action.

smbaps
 
smbaps, pls explain the 2 calendar years thing

smbaps said:
I remember my lawyer mentioning about 2 calendar years(DL), if the H1B petition is pending or AOS or notice of action.

smbaps
Click to expand...
 
If your H1B extension is applied & pending,DL will be automatically extended to 2 years.After Sept 11,they started to issue DL based on your H1B validity.

smabps
 
smbaps said:
If your H1B extension is applied & pending,DL will be automatically extended to 2 years.After Sept 11,they started to issue DL based on your H1B validity.

smabps
Click to expand...


My H1b had expired 6 months back and I got my D/L extended last month .. I am on EAD now .

I am in Michigan and they gave me till 2009. Did not ask for EAD card or anything else. Whole process took under 5 mins.

State laws varies but the laws are not related to 9-11.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
smabps, Could you please point me to that law...?

smabps,

You have been of great help.
I reached a person on their helpline and that person had no clue whatsoever.
Well, you would'nt expect folks at places like Phoenix to understand how the USCIS works....

I was planning to take as much of documentation as I can to help smooth out the process. So, I was wondering if you can tell me which law or place I can get that...

Thanks very much!!

smbaps said:
If your H1B extension is applied & pending,DL will be automatically extended to 2 years.

smabps
Click to expand...
 
Before 09/11, they use to issue for upto 5 calendar years.That's what happened when i came initially & they exteneded upto 5 years.But my H1B was valid only for 18 months at that time.
(As one of the guy involved 09/11 did had his DL from FL state.)
 
pkpkpkpk,
I do understand your problem as i had to go through the same situation.It took me half an hour to explain my situation.I can gurantee you that there will be some officer who knows these rules for non-immigrant people.

My lawyer did know this problem & she told me to mention that if any H1B or AOS or notice of action is pending,u will be automatically extended to two years(DL).
Unfortunately i too don't know about what laws or rules that makes us eligible? I do know that they have some kind of table(i,e showing the validity to issue for upto how many years) under these conditions.

Just in case try again to call & may be visit some nearby office, explain your situation.
Does your attorney isn't any help?

smbaps
 
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