CA Drivers Licence extention based on H1B Receipt Notice

[sbeyyala]

Hi,

Did any one of you manage to get CA drivers license extension based on H1B Receipt Notice?

CA DMV says that they would not be able to extend my driver's license based on the Receipt Notice. And it seems that they need the actual approval for extending the driver license, as you know H1 extension request take more then 3 months, and mean while my license will expire. Do any one of you aware on what options I have now?

Thanks for your advice in advance,

Worst case looks like I may have to pay $1000 for premium processing on H1B extension and then get my license extension. Looks like every year we should be prepared to spend near to $2500 to USCIS towards immigration fees.

[logiclife]

Well its exactly the same thing in Nevada.

My driver's license, issued by the state of Nevada expires on 7th April 2007. Exactly the same day my H1 expires. My renewal is filed and when I get the approval H1, with new I-94, that's the time my license will get renewed. And the new license will also have expiry date exactly the same as the expiry date of I-94.

And yes, I already asked DMV of Nevada, they said they dont do jack about renewals unless they see a new valid I-94. Reciept notices dont do the trick.

The law firm hired by my company could have filed H1 six months before it expires, however, like a very typical law firm, they procrastinated and filed in 3rd week of January. That leaves 2.5 months.

So I called them to ask what if my license cannot be renewed because you guys are too lazy to file renewals ahead of time?

They said they will upgrade it to premium if there are only 20 days left in expiry. At company expense ofcourse. I wish the company make them pay out of pocket for their procrastination.

[Arjun]

You shouldn't have to submit anything because you have SSN. If you recieved the renewal notice, check if you can renew it online. If you have to submit the H1 extension submit the current one. You can get atleast few months on that.

[sbeyyala]

Thanks logiclife for the response,

In fact I paid $1000 for I140 premium processing, so that I can file for 3 year H1 extension based on approved H1B, and similar to your case my law firm took more then 1 month to file my case. Unfortunately in my case I may have to pay the additional $1000 for H1 premium processing, since my company would not bear the cost for premium processing.

Worst thing is that every state has its own law on such cases, looks like FL, NJ extend the license based on Receipt Notice, and few states don’t even check the I94 expiry and issue 5 year license.

FYI, as per the DMV officers request, I spoke and sent a letter to legal presence department of DMV CA requesting them to consider my case. The lady at legal presence department told me that they would look into the case, she also told that she does not guarantee that they would extend the license. Hoping to hear back from them on my request.

I will update the forum once I hear back from them,

[canleo98]

Originally Posted by sbeyyala

Hi,

Did any one of you manage to get CA drivers license extension based on H1B Receipt Notice?

CA DMV says that they would not be able to extend my driver's license based on the Receipt Notice. And it seems that they need the actual approval for extending the driver license, as you know H1 extension request take more then 3 months, and mean while my license will expire. Do any one of you aware on what options I have now?

Thanks for your advice in advance,

Worst case looks like I may have to pay $1000 for premium processing on H1B extension and then get my license extension. Looks like every year we should be prepared to spend near to $2500 to USCIS towards immigration fees.

In California, renewal of Driving License is not tied to I-94. I renewed my Driving License online in July 2004, my H1B is valid till July 2007 and my Driving License was renewed upto August 2009.

[learning01]

These DMV folks have grown arrogant and don't underrstand anything. Don't come to CO on a H1 or H4 visa unless laws enacted last year are scrapped totally. For the past 3 days, I am running from pillar to post, all to get a DL renewed. It is now tied to I-94, Employers Letter, etc etc.

Originally Posted by Arjun

You shouldn't have to submit anything because you have SSN. If you recieved the renewal notice, check if you can renew it online. If you have to submit the H1 extension submit the current one. You can get atleast few months on that.

[WarEagle]

Dear learning01 -
I've been without my driver's license for about 2 months now in Colorado since my second 3-year H1B extension application was being processed. I received my approval notice finally just today and was gonna go to the DMV office tomorrow. However, my I-94 is the old one with expiry of Dec. 17 and cannot get a new one until I leave the US. Are you saying that they will not extend my license for this even though my new approval notice has an expiry of Dec '09? Can you please reply at your earliest convenience. Many thanks.

[whattodo]

Originally Posted by WarEagle

Dear learning01 -
I've been without my driver's license for about 2 months now in Colorado since my second 3-year H1B extension application was being processed. I received my approval notice finally just today and was gonna go to the DMV office tomorrow. However, my I-94 is the old one with expiry of Dec. 17 and cannot get a new one until I leave the US. Are you saying that they will not extend my license for this even though my new approval notice has an expiry of Dec '09? Can you please reply at your earliest convenience. Many thanks.

Your H1B approval should have I-94 with expiry of Dec 09 attached to it. Look at the bottom of approval.

[gveerab]

I got my DL extended till 2010, they didn't even ask about my visa status. I paid the money and got the DL renewed.

You can renew online, only requirement is SSN, renewal notice.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/online/dlrbi/dl_top2.htm

Thanks
Veera

[krishna.ahd]

Originally Posted by gveerab

I got my DL extended till 2010, they didn't even ask about my visa status. I paid the money and got the DL renewed.

You can renew online, only requirement is SSN, renewal notice.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/online/dlrbi/dl_top2.htm

Thanks
Veera

In PA system tracks your status and does not allow renew online for non perm residence.

[senthil]

some states they tie the DL expiry to your birth date, and some go by I-94. Similar situation, i remember reading posts like this on other forums, i guess immigrationportal. this is what i have to say. im on similar boat too, expires soon and waiting for H1B extn approval.

I guess the difference it makes is when you speak to a DMV branch where they understand a little about this H1B stuff. folks have told, they have already file for H1B extn like 3/6 months ago and they were just waiting for the approval. so what they finally came up with is by getting an assurance letter from employer stating they will track the outcome of this and will let the DMV know as soon and when hear from USCIS about approval / denial status.

based on this the DMV gave a temporary permit for next 30/60 days

if you want to take a look at the assurance letter, see here
http://www.immigrationportal.com/arc.../t-135211.html


once again it all depends on the state / the person you are talking to etc.
ive heard, some states might allow you to drive with the international driving permit, if you have a valid one. i mean atleast worth a try, i wld say

i remember when i went to renew last time ( in 2003 ) - all they asked for is how many year you want to renew ? 2/3/4/5 which costed $20/$30/$40/$50. now you need all docs / passport etc etc

dono how much tougher its gonna be in future

[learning01]

Based on the facts you told, Yours will be renewed till Dec 17. With Employer's letter. That is based on your I-94 you received on entry.

I would suggest you wait (depending on how fast you need DL renewed), till you get your Notice of Action. That will also contain an I-94 with the renewal date. Show that. Yours will be renewed till the new date and not Dec 17. PM me if you want.

Originally Posted by WarEagle

Dear learning01 -
I've been without my driver's license for about 2 months now in Colorado since my second 3-year H1B extension application was being processed. I received my approval notice finally just today and was gonna go to the DMV office tomorrow. However, my I-94 is the old one with expiry of Dec. 17 and cannot get a new one until I leave the US. Are you saying that they will not extend my license for this even though my new approval notice has an expiry of Dec '09? Can you please reply at your earliest convenience. Many thanks.

[ravikumarh]

You should be able to renew the license.

My wife recently renewed her license for an additional one year.
she got a letter from the employer stating that they have filed for her extension. along with that she submitted two more documents
1. the Receipt notice and
2. the current processing times at california center.

the letter mentions that you would not be able to drive to work if you dont have license.

[msp1976]

Originally Posted by learning01

These DMV folks have grown arrogant and don't underrstand anything. Don't come to CO on a H1 or H4 visa unless laws enacted last year are scrapped totally. For the past 3 days, I am running from pillar to post, all to get a DL renewed. It is now tied to I-94, Employers Letter, etc etc.

I have an idea...We should talk to the ACLU and get their support to sue the DMV of each state so that each state DMV becomes aware of out situation and at least would give interim licence of say 90 days validity if the application receipt is provided.....

Can we intreprete the drining licence situation as a civil liberties infraction....??

NJ is cooperative so far....and extends licences 3 months beyond the I-94 expiry date...Never know about the future....

[willgetgc2005]

I know this sounds like a rhetorical question. But why do we go through sh** like this just to stay in the US ?

So many restrictions and it is only increasing by the day. It is expensive, more and more restrictionist to stay here and you see every Jack a## around you getting ahead in career.

What ever happened to living with dignity ? Half our life is spent chasing company HR, H1B, GC etc, DL, visa stamping and the list goes on......