About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

Hi,

I moved to Gerogia in November 2006 with a fiancee visa. I have
applied for the I485 and the application is still pending. The I94 in
my passport is due in Feb 2007.

I have a canadian driver's license and would like to get my driver's
license here. I called DDS and they said I cannot get a driver's
license here unless I have the documentation to prove I can live
here. What can I present them in my situation?

THanks

Re: About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

Usually DMV will accept your EAD and SS card as proof. Every state is different, though, so do a search for what DMV requirements are in Georgia.

Do you have those documents?

Rene

Re: About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

On Jul 13, 1:29 pm, Noorah101 <[email protected]>
wrote:
> > Hi,
>
> > I moved to Gerogia in November 2006 with a fiancee visa. I have
> > applied for the I485 and the application is still pending. The I94 in
> > my passport is due in Feb 2007.
>
> > I have a canadian driver's license and would like to get my driver's
> > license here. I called DDS and they said I cannot get a driver's
> > license here unless I have the documentation to prove I can live
> > here. What can I present them in my situation?
>
> > THanks
>
> Usually DMV will accept your EAD and SS card as proof. Every state
> is different, though, so do a search for what DMV requirements are
> in Georgia.
>
> Do you have those documents?
>
> Rene
>
> --
> Posted viahttp://britishexpats.com

I am sorry but what are the EAD and SS card?

Re: About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

EAD = Employment Authorization Document (plastic card which gives you permission to work in the USA)

SS card = Social Security Card

Rene

Re: About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

> > On Jul 13, 1:29 pm, Noorah101 <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> > > > Hi,
> > >
> > > > I moved to Gerogia in November 2006 with a fiancee visa. I have
> > > > applied for the I485 and the application is still pending. The
> > > > I94 in
> > > > my passport is due in Feb 2007.
> > >
> > > > I have a canadian driver's license and would like to get my
> > > > driver's
> > > > license here. I called DDS and they said I cannot get a
> > > > driver's
> > > > license here unless I have the documentation to prove I can live
> > > > here. What can I present them in my situation?
> > >
> > > > THanks
> > >
> > > Usually DMV will accept your EAD and SS card as proof. Every
> > > state
> > > is different, though, so do a search for what DMV requirements are
> > > in Georgia.
> > >
> > > Do you have those documents?
> > >
> > > Rene
> > >
> > > --
> > > Posted viahttp://britishexpats.com
> >
> > I am sorry but what are the EAD and SS card?
>
> EAD = Employment Authorization Document (plastic card which gives you
> permission to work in the USA)
>
> SS card = Social Security Card
>
> Rene

This came from Georgia's DMV website (Department of Driver Services
(http://www.dds.ga.gov/))

Requirements

-Exchange a Valid Out of State License for A Georgia License (or an
expired out of state license if not expired more than 2 years)
-Surrender a valid out of state license or an out of state license
expired less than two years. An out of state license is defined as one
issued by one the other 49 states and District of Columbia. By
surrendering a license as described above, you are exempt from the
written and road test, but will -need to pass the eye exam.
-Be at least 18 years of age.
-Have a social security number or certification from the Social Security
Administration that you are not eligible for issuance of a social
security number due to an alien status and not authorized to work in the
United States.
-Your social security number will be verified with the Social Security
Administration. You do not have to have the actual card with you but
information must be consistent with both Agencies to be issued a
license.
Provide proof of Georgia residency by presenting a bank statement issued
within the past 60 days; a utility bill issued within the past 60 days;
current valid rental contracts and/or receipts for payments made within
the last 60 days for rent payments with valid Georgia residence address;
or an employer verification (letter from employer on company letterhead
stating applicants full name and home address).
-Provide proof of identity such as an original birth certificate;
certificate of birth registration; certified copy of birth certificate,
certified copy of court records (adoption, name or sex change);
certified naturalization documentation; immigration ID Card, valid
passport or a military identification card issued by the United States
armed forces.
-Provide proof of citizenship, which for most customers is satisfied
using a birth certificate issued by a U.S. state or territory or
immigration documentation. All documents must be originals and cannot be
faxed copies.


Information for non US Citizens
To obtain a Georgia driver's license or identification card, a non US
citizen must present one of the following immigration documents that
prove legal presence in the US:

Valid (not expired) passport with I-94 or I-551
Temporary resident alien card
Permanent resident alien card
Employment Authorization Card
A Georgia driver's license or identification card may be issued with an
expiration date that matches the immigration documentation expiration
date, but no longer than 5 years. If there is no expiration date on the
immigration documentation, a license/identification card can only be
issued for a period of 1 year. The cost of the license/ID is $20.

A non US citizen must present their immigration documentation every
time service is requested pertaining to a driver's license or
identification card. This includes renewal, replacement or name and
address changes, as well as all other transactions performed by Georgia
Department of Driver Services.

---

You have to prove that you are in the country legally so you may have to
wait until your green card gets approved (b/c they won't accept pending
apps)or you get an EAD and SS. There is no harm in going to the office
with your passport/i-94(if it hasn't expired) and see what they will do
but it will only be issued/valid until you i-94 expires. When my AOS was
pending I still had to show all my student visa stuff to get my GA
license, and it's only valid until my student visa expires. Hopefully
it won't be too much longer til your case is approved.

--

Re: About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

On Jul 13, 12:07 pm, [email protected] wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I moved to Gerogia in November 2006 with a fiancee visa. I have
> applied for the I485 and the application is still pending. The I94 in
> my passport is due in Feb 2007.
>
> I have a canadian driver's license and would like to get my driver's
> license here. I called DDS and they said I cannot get a driver's
> license here unless I have the documentation to prove I can live
> here. What can I present them in my situation?
>
> THanks

Welcome to Georgia!

I left Ontario in March 2004, on a 1 yr. NAFTA TN Visa, renewed it in
2005, and working and residing in North Carolina until June 2006.
Since I was maintaining a residence in Canada (required for TN Visa) I
kept my Ontario drivers license and insurance and plates. In fact, it
expired while I was on my 2005 Visa renewal and I renewed it by mail.
Shortly after renewing it, I was ticketed for speeding in NC. I was
driving a company vehicle with NC tags at the time and as a result
when I presented my Ontario license the trooper became suspicious. I
told him I was living in NC now and working for this company. He asked
how long and when I told him the truth, since over a year, he became
quite belligerent and wrote me up for not acquiring a NC drivers
license, "you have been living here for over a year and you have not
got a NC drivers license? I'm gonna have to write you up for that
too!". He would not let me explain, he said "all I heard was you have
been driving in NC for over a year without proper license, you can
explain it all you want to the judge".

I talked to an attorney and he strongly suggested I immediately get a
NC license and that he would plead my speeding ticket down to a faulty
equipment fine. The company needed this as well - for insurance
purposes.

My I-95 departure record and passport, bank statement for address
verification and proof of Canadian license and NC liability insurance
was all that was required to get a NC license. I had to write an exam
and pass an eye. The license expired on the same date as my Visa. They
let me keep my Ontario license.

In 2006 I moved to Georgia to live with my fiancee. After getting
married we filed for AOS and the EAD card. As soon as that card came
in I applied for Georgia license. All I had to do was pass an eye
exam, provide my EAD card and a bank statement for address
verification. They took my NC license and issued a Georgia one.

Simple.

My Georgia license and tags expire on the same date as my EAD. So, I
will need to renew my EAD soon in case my conditional perm. res. is
not approved by the time my license and tags expire. A $340.00 hit...
sigh.

I still have my Ontario license as well... :-)

I think your I-94 should be your proof that you have permission to
live here. When I used mine in NC, they had to make a call and enter a
number off of it and it came up as valid , that was a few years ago
and a different state but I would think it is worth a try. Have you
not applied for your Social Sec. card yet?

Did you enjoy your first winter in Georgia?

:-)

Re: About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

On Aug 4, 12:06 am, horseman <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Jul 13, 12:07 pm, [email protected] wrote:
>
> > Hi,
>
> > I moved to Gerogia in November 2006 with a fiancee visa. I have
> > applied for the I485 and the application is still pending. The I94 in
> > my passport is due in Feb 2007.
>
> > I have a canadiandriver'slicenseand would like to get mydriver's
> >licensehere. I called DDS and they said I cannot get adriver's
> >licensehere unless I have the documentation to prove I can live
> > here. What can I present them in my situation?
>
> > THanks
>
> Welcome toGeorgia!
>
> I left Ontario in March 2004, on a 1 yr. NAFTA TN Visa, renewed it in
> 2005, and working and residing in North Carolina until June 2006.
> Since I was maintaining a residence in Canada (required for TN Visa) I
> kept my Ontario driverslicenseand insurance and plates. In fact, it
> expired while I was on my 2005 Visa renewal and I renewed it by mail.
> Shortly after renewing it, I was ticketed for speeding in NC. I was
> driving a company vehicle with NC tags at the time and as a result
> when I presented my Ontariolicensethe trooper became suspicious. I
> told him I was living in NC now and working for this company. He asked
> how long and when I told him the truth, since over a year, he became
> quite belligerent and wrote me up for not acquiring a NC driverslicense, "you have been living here for over a year and you have not
> got a NC driverslicense? I'm gonna have to write you up for that
> too!". He would not let me explain, he said "all I heard was you have
> been driving in NC for over a year without properlicense, you can
> explain it all you want to the judge".
>
> I talked to an attorney and he strongly suggested I immediately get a
> NClicenseand that he would plead my speeding ticket down to a faulty
> equipment fine. The company needed this as well - for insurance
> purposes.
>
> My I-95 departure record and passport, bank statement for address
> verification and proof of Canadianlicenseand NC liability insurance
> was all that was required to get a NClicense. I had to write an exam
> and pass an eye. Thelicenseexpired on the same date as my Visa. They
> let me keep my Ontariolicense.
>
> In 2006 I moved toGeorgiato live with my fiancee. After getting
> married we filed for AOS and the EAD card. As soon as that card came
> in I applied forGeorgialicense. All I had to do was pass an eye
> exam, provide my EAD card and a bank statement for address
> verification. They took my NClicenseand issued aGeorgiaone.
>
> Simple.
>
> MyGeorgialicenseand tags expire on the same date as my EAD. So, I
> will need to renew my EAD soon in case my conditional perm. res. is
> not approved by the time mylicenseand tags expire. A $340.00 hit...
> sigh.
>
> I still have my Ontariolicenseas well... :-)
>
> I think your I-94 should be your proof that you have permission to
> live here. When I used mine in NC, they had to make a call and enter a
> number off of it and it came up as valid , that was a few years ago
> and a different state but I would think it is worth a try. Have you
> not applied for your Social Sec. card yet?
>
> Did you enjoy your first winter inGeorgia?
>
> :-)

Guys, these are great information. I still haven't got my driver's
License yet. I did call DMV and they told me I could drive but if the
police stops me, I will have to explain and give them the proof. But
now after I read your post, I doubt I would do that again. Who knows
if the police that day is in good mood or not. Luckily I received a
mail from USCIS after I applied for AOS back in January 2007. They
sent me a letter saying I will be receiving my 'Permanent Resident
Card' in the mail within 3 weeks. The interesting thing is I have
been expecting an interview but it doesn't say so. The only thing I
need to do is to apply to remove those conditions.

Now I have some other questions.
How am I suppose to get I551 or do I need that to apply for removing
the condition?
Now can I travel with the permanent resident card, which is good for 2
years with my Canadian Passport?
When shall I start applying to remove the condition??

Many thanks!

Re: About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

Do you actually have a green card yet? The green card *is* the I-551.


You should not have a problem re-entering the US using your GC and your Canadian passport.


You *must* file to remove conditions within the 90 day window immediately prior to the expiration date on your green card.

Ian

Re: About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

I received a letter from USCIS saying that they will send me the
permanent resident card in 3 weeks and it also said my application for
I 485 is approved. So I guess the permanent resident card is called
Green Card. But one thing I don't know about is that why do I not
need to do the interview. I thought its part of the procedure.

Thanks

Re: About getting a driver's license in Georgia
 

Yes. The "green card" isn't actually green... it's cream colored. The one before that was pink... but I think the one before that was actually green... and that's the name that stuck.


It's certainly rare to receive approval without an interview, but it does happen from time to time.

Ian