PA Driver License - philapa and Cinta please help!

R

rajeshp2001

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

I moved to Philadelphia, PA recently from another state. My 485 is pending and I am on EAD. I am going to try to get my PA Driver
license this weekend.

I read lot of posts in this forum posted by both of you about the problems in DMV. Can you please suggest me a DMV office where they know about I-485 pending.

Philapa, where did you get your PA driver's License? Did you go to Norristown office.


Thanks in Advance!
 
Originally posted by rajeshp2001
Hi,

I moved to Philadelphia, PA recently from another state. My 485 is pending and I am on EAD. I am going to try to get my PA Driver
license this weekend.

I read lot of posts in this forum posted by both of you about the problems in DMV. Can you please suggest me a DMV office where they know about I-485 pending.

Philapa, where did you get your PA driver's License? Did you go to Norristown office.


Thanks in Advance!
Click to expand...

Try the Norristown office. They should accept your EAD. The duration maybe a year on your DL or the EAD duration. The supervisor is Ronald (Ron) Brown. He is a decent guy and you can ask to speak with him if you find any difficulties. Good luck.

Note: you may need employer's letter, recent utility bills, paycheck, SS card,...
 
I have recently renewed my driver's license in the Norristown office. What I did is:
I went to a auto tag place, they issued me a new licence w/o picture (valid for a few months). They are private companies and don't really care about your status.
Then, I walked in the Norristown office,they took my picture and gave me the license. The only thing they asked for is SSN (just the number, not the card itself)
At your place I would try to do as much as possible at a auto tag place if possible.
 
cinta and ar13, Thank you very much for your IMMEDIATE reply.


ar13, can you please give me the name of the auto tag place? The guy who gave me the insurance told me that he can only give license plate to my car. So I didn't get the license plate from him. I just got my insurance from him.

Can I go to AAA?


Thanks
 
List of documents needed to obtain a PA DL:

https://www.dot4.state.pa.us/licensing_master/identity.shtml

Like if you are on H1B visa you have to bring your SSCard, valid Passport, I-94, proof of residency from List B, visa and "written verification from your employer". It does not say verification of what? Employment, I guess... Plus all INS documents you have ...

Nothing about AOS.

I am going to DL center today to renew my PA DL. I did pay for DL renewal on-line and they sent me a card w/o picture valid for 3 months. So I'll try to upgrade it for a picture DL.
 
I know everybody is in the rush to get new driver's license when you move to the new state as per the law of 30 days or else?

I would say.. why not continue on you old license and get your state license when you get your green card approval.

When you are pulled over then you could explain to the officer that DMV did not give you license because your case was pending at the INS.

I had similar situation when in South Carolina i was refused becuase my H-1 was pending and my GC was pending. I don't have EAD.

It's always the intent. You could always tell the officer that you here on short term project and you intend to move back to different state etc!!!

As long as you have valid driver's license in USA... you are good to go...........!!!
 
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tufan,

The insurance company expects you get drivers license from the state where you are living with in 60 days. That is the reason I am trying to get my PA drivers License. I will try to get it. If I couldn't I will drive with my old drivers license.
 
That's true, and i knew you would bring up that point. However, all insurance company is concerned about is the premium. If you are paying the premium of the city that you are living in then they don't bother which state license you have. They could deny the insurance if you don't tell the right city. (It's all about intention).

It's good to be consistent. However, if you have a license that's valid for longer period and you don't expect your green card anytime sooner then it's better to stay with the old license. Because the new rule is that even immigrants will get license less than 2 years or something even if your GC is valid for 10 years. I know it's sucks and discremination.
Atleast that's what posted in South Carolina DMV office.

For ex. I have Virginia License it's valid till 2008, and then i have south carolina plates and insurance.

If i go based upon my H-1 and try to renew my license then they will give me South Carolina for 1 year.

Nowdays in South Carolina they are giving a paper license until your papeworks is verified with BCIS then only they send you 1 year license.
I had to do that for my wife since he license got expired.

However, i am still driving on VA license.
 
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How about Harrisburg, PA? The "DMV" (also known as PennDOT in Pennsylvania) headquarters are there and they are usually very fast. It is a 2 hour drive, though... Just a suggestion, not sure on the details, but this place certainly has the jurisdiction to issue any documents such as a DL.
 
Just got my PA DL renewed for 5 more years.

The DL Office was packed with people but if you have a "CAMERA CARD" by renewing your DL on-line then there is no wait whatsoever! Took me 5 minutes at most.

And, BTW, no immigration status questions asked either on-line or during the picture taking process. I guess they did not think of that?! :D
Even though I had all documents ready, I did not have to use any of them.


EB1-OR
ND: 04-02-2003
 
Gegemon,

Thanks for your update. I think your case is different from mine. Since you already had PA license, they won't check lot of things. I think ar13's case is also like that. I called BEST TAG, they said they cannot give me a drivers License.
 
Here is one more story

One of my has this problem.
His 6 th year H1 is expiring on Aug 16 2004. His labor is pending since 29 July 2003. He will be eligible to apply for H1 in August 2004. Now He moved from Texas to NJ recently. NJ is giving him DL till Aug 16 2004. He has to apply for DL renewal before Aug 16 this year to get new DL. But his H1 will be pending by that time. His company may or may not do premium H1. If they does not do the premium he will be without DL until gets his H1.

He is in NJ. Because of this problem he want get house in PA or have PA Driver license with some friend's address.
They need to issue DL for at least for six months after the expiry if applied for renewal of Visa
 
Originally posted by rajeshp2001

ar13, can you please give me the name of the auto tag place? The guy who gave me the insurance told me that he can only give license plate to my car.
Click to expand...

I went to this place: http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypMap.py?Pyt...=nht8jq1o2TxlPdnh7D6xvYKrzktsnr2uSlwtvTvLXWI4
I'm sure that most tag places do license renewal. I have no idea about license transfers. I would recommend giving them a call, if they can find a way of getting you a photo card, the rest is easy
 
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life really sucks up there in all the DMVs . YOu can use your license of different state only you hv to tell your insurance company u r here for temparory work if they agree its ok or else someone else will definately insure u. I used my NJ license for full validity in CA then just before expiry went and got CA license , did write a test. But i guess CA laws are different then NJ/PA . NY used to be pretty cool earlier just surrender ur different state license and get NY license but i do't know laws might hv changed there too .
 
Everything is almost becoming impossible in US. Instead of making our lives easier they(all government offices) are making it even more miserable.

When i came as a student in 1991, life was COOL. Went on H1 after 5 years of college (F-1 opt). Until the 9/11, the entire way of living in the country has changed.

I mean we cannot go to the terminal gates to say somebody goodbye. Before, i used to catch a flight in 10 mins before the plane leaves and now they close the counters 30 mins before the flight.

I can understand the security, but uncessary they are making our lives hell. I have lived in Chicago, San Francisco, LA, Atlanta, Virginia and now South Carolina...............each state is different. before 9/11 driver's license was not a problem, but now it has been living hell.

"Just frustrated........" can't tell you how humiliated i had felt when after serving this country for 14 years i was refused for license because i did not have a valid status in the country and my H-1 was pending. (That day it felt like I don't have any identity here until i have permanent residency or citizen ship).

It really sucks you know.........!! :mad:

Can very well imagine what you people have to go through in New Jersey and PA.
 
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Re: Transferring Lic with DMV play with the system

Guys...

This is for ppl who have Travel Docs approved, just take that approved letter to the DMV guys if they ask for the status, show that, don't even show your EAD, there is no need, they might ask for the proff of emplyment in that states which u can take from your employer, for Payrolees and Assylees DMV gives 5 years Lic. Thats what I did and got it for 5 years..

Hope this helps
 
Tufan

I understand ur frustration.. I guess they are doing their job to keep things under control, catching a flight in 10 mins is always a bad thing no matter which country it is period. I hope they do it consistently in each state, I guess every migrant needs to go through this, afterall we are all second citizens here...
 
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