WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

Ok so here i am with a vailid Social Security number and a valid Employment Authorization card (I-688B), so i thought that it maybe a good idea to go down to the DMV (in California) and apply for a state ID and a drivers licence.
The people who work at my local DMV were very helpful and polite. I filled out the correct paper work for the state ID and the drivers licence no problem. Took the theory test for the drivers licence and passed, i was given a learners permit as i have no other USA drivers licence. this was fine and was to be expected.
I was then told by the helpful people at the DMV that the state ID card would take 3-6 months to be posted to me, and when i passed my driving test that me licence would take the same ammount of time. When i questioned why was this i was told that the DMV has to check with the INS to make sure i am who i am. My Employment Authorization card has my photo on it, date of birth, finger print and signature. So they could of checked me out then and there.
It just seems like if you go through the correct way of doing things the more walls are put up in your way. Looks like the only way to go is to get forged documents, I was wondering if anyone else has come across this situation or am i an issolated case?
Any help in this matter would be of great help

Zippy

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

Zippy wrote:
    >
    > Ok so here i am with a vailid Social Security number and a valid
    > Employment Authorization card (I-688B), so i thought that it maybe a
    > good idea to go down to the DMV (in California) and apply for a state ID
    > and a drivers licence.
    > The people who work at my local DMV were very helpful and polite. I
    > filled out the correct paper work for the state ID and the drivers
    > licence no problem. Took the theory test for the drivers licence and
    > passed, i was given a learners permit as i have no other USA drivers
    > licence. this was fine and was to be expected.
    > I was then told by the helpful people at the DMV that the state ID card
    > would take 3-6 months to be posted to me, and when i passed my driving
    > test that me licence would take the same ammount of time. When i
    > questioned why was this i was told that the DMV has to check with the
    > INS to make sure i am who i am. My Employment Authorization card has my
    > photo on it, date of birth, finger print and signature. So they could of
    > checked me out then and there.

This seems odd. My wife, who has an SSN and a greencard, received a
North Carolina state ID in minutes after applying approximately 30 days
after entering the US to live permanently.

I am not aware of a DMV having to check with INS before issuing an ID or
license. All the NC DMV cared about was that she had an SSN and that she
was a resident of the state.

Does CA have some special rules? I would question it.

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

Don't worry, I had this happen too. I received my driver license about 3
days before my temporary one was expired. You'll still be allowed to drive
and get insurance etc. with the temporary permit.

Maarten

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

Yes this is the rule in California.
I had to leave a photocopy of my green card (which is illegal in theory)
at the DMV and they had to check with the INS.
I got my DL in 5 months!
R

"L D Jones" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Zippy wrote:
    > >
    > > Ok so here i am with a vailid Social Security number and a valid
    > > Employment Authorization card (I-688B), so i thought that it maybe a
    > > good idea to go down to the DMV (in California) and apply for a state ID
    > > and a drivers licence.
    > > The people who work at my local DMV were very helpful and polite. I
    > > filled out the correct paper work for the state ID and the drivers
    > > licence no problem. Took the theory test for the drivers licence and
    > > passed, i was given a learners permit as i have no other USA drivers
    > > licence. this was fine and was to be expected.
    > > I was then told by the helpful people at the DMV that the state ID card
    > > would take 3-6 months to be posted to me, and when i passed my driving
    > > test that me licence would take the same ammount of time. When i
    > > questioned why was this i was told that the DMV has to check with the
    > > INS to make sure i am who i am. My Employment Authorization card has my
    > > photo on it, date of birth, finger print and signature. So they could of
    > > checked me out then and there.
    > This seems odd. My wife, who has an SSN and a greencard, received a
    > North Carolina state ID in minutes after applying approximately 30 days
    > after entering the US to live permanently.
    > I am not aware of a DMV having to check with INS before issuing an ID or
    > license. All the NC DMV cared about was that she had an SSN and that she
    > was a resident of the state.
    > Does CA have some special rules? I would question it.

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

"Zippy" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
.. trimmed ...
    > I was then told by the helpful people at the DMV that the state ID card
    > would take 3-6 months to be posted to me, and when i passed my driving
    > test that me licence would take the same ammount of time. When i
    > questioned why was this i was told that the DMV has to check with the
    > INS to make sure i am who i am. My Employment Authorization card has my
    > photo on it, date of birth, finger print and signature. So they could of
    > checked me out then and there.
There seems to be a logical disconnection between the paragraph above and
the one below where you mention using forged documents. Obviously it is
BECAUSE of all the forged documents (again - that you mention below) that
your application needs to be painstakingly researched. The people at the DMV
are not qualified to check for forgeries, and there have been problems with
them taking bribes to get licenses to illegals. By taking the security check
out of the office and putting it in the hands of someone you never meet,
then security is obviously increased somewhat.

    > It just seems like if you go through the correct way of doing things the
    > more walls are put up in your way. Looks like the only way to go is to
    > get forged documents,

I usually try to be polite in posts, but this time I will make an exception.
****-YOU! Are you really so one dimensional that you can't understand why
these precautions are put into effect? And what the hell is the skin off
your back anyway? You got your temporary license, and even though it doesn't
have your picture on it you seem to think your EA card is fine for that and
you probably have other picture ID also.

Your complaints are obviously disengenuous ramblings of someone who would be
happier elsewhere - if a better place would take you.

What is britishexpats anyway? Is it a continental synonym for Jackass? I
am starting to suspect that.

    > I was wondering if anyone else has come across
    > this situation or am i an issolated case?
    > Any help in this matter would be of great help
    > Zippy
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

Derk wrote:
    >
[ ... ]
    > What is britishexpats anyway? Is it a continental synonym for Jackass? I
    > am starting to suspect that.

It's just a website. Your overraction to his post is strange. Where in
his post did he say he used forged documents? Those regulations in CA
are stupid

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

He suggested/endorsed forged documents as reasonable. It's like saying -
"Next time I/You go to work in the munitions factory it's ok to smoke
cigarettes".

Some people may take him up on that endorsement and get away with it -
people all over the world read these newsgroups. I don't appreciate a
newcomer suggesting to people they can come here and trample our laws. Lots
of people are looking for rationalizations to cheat also. He provided one.
His rational was clearly invalid and insincere as I pointed out.


"L D Jones" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Derk wrote:
    > >
    > [ ... ]
    > > What is britishexpats anyway? Is it a continental synonym for Jackass?
I
    > > am starting to suspect that.
    > It's just a website. Your overraction to his post is strange. Where in
    > his post did he say he used forged documents? Those regulations in CA
    > are stupid

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

Derk,
If you live in California you would know that either a state ID or a drivers licence is the ONLY form of acceptable ID. So far i have done everything by the book.
I have never used or never would use forged documents, but if you take a look around California it makes you wonder how the illegal immigrants that work in the state got their jobs/driving licences. An example of this is 82 Illegal immigrants were caught working at LAX airport in security positions and were only found out because they changed the jobs to a federal position and did background checks. I imagine that they had forged/stolen documents which would of checked out ok with the DMV,
If you read my post i was'nt complaining about the security checks i was questioning the length of time it took to do the check and to see if other people had experienced the same thing. I am sure that you would question if you tried to make a purchase on your credit card and the store worker said it would take 3 months for us to make sure you are who you say you are before we gave you the item?
When i started reading your reply i thought you were intelligent and articulate, but you went and proved your self wrong by being rude to me. Do your self a favor before you start making comments READ THE POST PROPERLY.

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

Derk wrote:
    >
    > He suggested/endorsed forged documents as reasonable. It's like saying -
    > "Next time I/You go to work in the munitions factory it's ok to smoke
    > cigarettes".

No it isn't like that at all. It seemed to me to be simply an "off the
cuff" remark.

    > Some people may take him up on that endorsement and get away with it -

That's their problem

    > people all over the world read these newsgroups. I don't appreciate a
    > newcomer suggesting to people they can come here and trample our laws. Lots

Get over it. This sort of thing happens all the time. "Our laws" are
trampled by plenty of "non-newcomers." Your reply was irrational based
on what was written. And "the law" can be stupid, as in the case
discussed here

    > of people are looking for rationalizations to cheat also. He provided one.
    > His rational was clearly invalid and insincere as I pointed out.

Not so.

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

...trimmed....

    > Derk,
    > If you live in California you would know that either a state ID
    > or a drivers licence is the ONLY form of acceptable ID. So far i
    > have done everything by the book.
You got one - your temporary license is an acceptable form of ID. I have had
them and it's no problem to cash checks or deal with the government.

    > I have never used or never would use forged documents, but if you take
    > a look around California it makes you wonder how the illegal
    > immigrants that work in the state got their jobs/driving licences. An
    > example of this is 82 Illegal immigrants were caught working at LAX
    > airport in security positions and were only found out because they
    > changed the jobs to a federal position and did background checks. I
    > imagine that they had forged/stolen documents which would of checked
    > out ok with the DMV.

Thanks for pointing out they paid a big price for their fraud. They were
arrested, charged, handcuffed, barred from ever entering the airport grounds
again, Etc. I believe the police across the country will be required to do
immigraton checks at arrests and traffic stops in 2003 - then we will start
whittling down the number of illegals in the country.

    > If you read my post i was'nt complaining about the security checks i was
    > questioning the length of time it took to do the check and to see if
    > other people had experienced the same thing. I am sure that you would
    > question if you tried to make a purchase on your credit card and the
    > store worker said it would take 3 months for us to make sure you are who
    > you say you are before we gave you the item?

Doesn't happen in 99% of the places. If it does call Master Card / Visa and
file a complaint because the merchant is violating the contract by not
accepting a temporary license.

    > When i started reading your reply i thought you were intelligent and
    > articulate, but you went and proved your self wrong by being rude to
    > me. Do your self a favor before you start making comments READ THE
    > POST PROPERLY.

I did read the post very carefully, I have re-read it and still believe I
have properly responded to a statement that might have encouraged more
people to use forged documents. Perhaps that was not your intention - in
that case please accept my regrets that you were upset, but I still had to
get the thought out.

Some people think that immigration and document fraud are things everyone
winks at in this country. That is particularly true for countries where "The
Law" is a joke - like Mexico. By my posts I mean to convey that it IS NOT A
JOKE HERE! Tens of thousands of illegal aliens need to get compasionate
legal admittance to the U.S. Millions more need to get busted and
parachuted back into the countries they came from.

I was spurred to action after picking up a hitch-hiker near UCSB. After
driving for a while he admitted to me he was here illegally - like he
expected me to laugh about it. I stopped the car so fast that papers in the
back seat flew onto the dashboard. Then I ordered him out of the car.

    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

For what it's worth the renewal is less painful. About three years after I got my license I was sent a new one with a letter of explanation, it said the DMV had given up checking that a license holder was still a legal resident and that they were sending me a new license to run to the expiry date I had already paid for.

In California the drivers license may be the normal acceptable ID, however I never had any problems using a UK passport in its place.

Derk,
I respect your opinion that you thought i was misleading in opening post about using forged documents, this was never my intention.
I am here in california legaly through marrage,filed the correct paper work with the INS, and waited to get my legal documents. I agree with your opinion that the police should be able to do immigration checks on traffic stops and arrests. Maybe it's time to lobby congressman to change the documents that the INS issue like adding hollograms,elctronic chips. These methods are not totaly fool proof but will stop the majority of fraudsters.
My orginal post was to see if the 3-6 month wait for a state ID/Driver Licence was normal practice in Califonia, because i have read other threads regarding the INS and THE DMV and processing and waiting times vary alot from state to state. Waiting for the DMV to check me out with the INS will take longer than the whole immigration process which took 1 month.


Zippy

Re: WTF the DMV has to check with the INS?
 

3-6 mos sounds totally unreasonable.

Typically License in California takes 2-4 weeks,
they actually do two levels of checking
1. INS, verify for your legality
2. SSA, verify your SSN.

Why do they verify? Think people have short memories,
In past DL was used to get Welfare, FoodStamps, etc..So
the CA Govt decided to put a stop to the fraud and abuse
by instituting the above checks.

Both look-ups take no more then a day. Unless, they
are having problem, which they have had in past.

Everyone in my family got license in less then 2-3 weeks
(we are either PR or H1s).

Hope this helps.

H