codearchitect

Hello,

I'm in the middle of having my conditional residence status removed (I751) and have received the letter from the Government extending my green card for 1 year while they process my application.

So here I go trundling off to the local Texas DMV to apply for a learners permit (I lived in London all my life so I never had a UK license). The lovely lady checks my papers and tells me they cannot accept my letter as proof.

Does this mean I have to wait until my actual renewed green card arrives before I can get a learners permit (or even drivers licence)??? I need to drive for a new job I just got!

Can anyone help?

Rodney you plonker

I had a similar problem when I first applied, but I only had copies of my H1-B petition, I was told I had to get the original documents from my lawyer in order to get a license. I know in some states certain DMV's are geared up for international applicants where as others aren't, when I found the right DMV it was easy, they made some phone calls to whoever and came back and processed my application that day, I was in and out of DMV's for a couple of weeks until I was told to try a certain DMV, when I got there they didn't even want the H1-B petition and looked confused as to why I had even brought it.

I had a UK license at the time.

Try a different DMV just to see if they give you different information.

ladygwennie

Same here, had some wonderful fun, with learning to drive, and getting my permit. Don't know about Texas at all, so can't really help, but i wish you the best of luck in learning and getting the permit

Toontje

Ask to speak to the uniformed State Trooper. The civilians behind the desk may only follow the rules, only the Trooper can use his/her discretion to bend them.

Bob

Try another office, there a bunch of muppets anyway...

g1ant

Why get a Learner's permit? Go for the full driving test. As long as you can point the car in a straight line and stop at stop signs, you will pass easily.

Just remember, the little pedal on the right makes the car go. The big one in the middle makes it stop. And the wheel thing in front of you lets you point the car where you want to go. Dead easy really.

alex.

codearchitect

The question is can they accept my "letter" instead of the actual green card? Is it legal or are they being bureaucratic and stupid?

I just want to know if I am right and the DMV are wrong!

Ray

Basically yes.. unless you can get the I-551 stamp in your passport ..

Toontje

Trooper wouldn't simply accept that stamp because it was only valid for a few months. He wanted proof that I was here to stay so Amy and I had to show him proper IDs (passports) and our wedding certificate. But mind you, only the Trooper has that authority, not the civilians manning the front desk.

Duncan Roberts

After many arguments at my local one, they accepted the receipt for my green crad which was only a about 3 inches by 1.5 and looked like something from a 80's till. If they don't budge, make them call the head office fro the state, they will tell them to accept it.

ScousePete

Ain't that the truth! When I lived in Colorado I thought I would be smart by going to a smaller rural DMV because there would be no lines. There were no lines, but they didn't have a clue what they were talking about. Didn't know what a I-551 stamp was, and wouldn't give me a DL.

Ending up going to the downtown Denver office, waited 2 hours in line, but got a 10 year DL within 2 minutes of getting to the desk!

So, go to another office, preferably an urban one where they are used to seeing immigrants.

Bob

some states, you have to get the learners permit before taking the test though...

codearchitect

Well you know I really didn't think that the Mckinney DMV, Texas which is about 30 miles north of Dallas would be so backwards! I guess I try the more urbane Dallas DMV!

Wish me luck

TruBrit

haha welcome to texas m8y
oh and good luck

Rodney you plonker

???????? you start seeing rednecks 1/2 a mile outside of the city where I live