View Full Version : Florida Driving License!!
This is driving...me mad!!! My daughter has 10 months left on her I94 and has been told that she can not renew her driving license because she needs at least a ONE year remaining. What a joke.
So our visa's expire in Nov 09. we are going out the country in Sept/Oct to extend the I94's Does that mean every year we have to pay to extend our I94's to get our driving licenses? How can we do that when we will be out of visa? Crying out loud...it's a joke. How can I drive my trucks etc...on my British license? Is anyone else having this problem or have I got it wrong?
I hope I have, but I should not be surprised with all the other crap we have to put up with.
Jim:angry::angry:
Susie
05-11-2009, 02:51 AM
How ridiculous , not sure it will do any good but I would contact my congressmen and senators
Ed Tha Brit
05-11-2009, 04:48 AM
Hello Jim,
We renewed our driver licence in January this year but, the driver licence office would only renew until our I-94 expired so.......................... going back soon with a new I-94 for 2 years, don't know where they get this not a full 12 Months business, I would go back and check this again, my local office smiled and said see ya in 6 Months??????
I am only speaking from experience, I am not an attorney or a lawyer.
Good luck
Ed Tha Brit
ollie
05-11-2009, 12:35 PM
My Husbands license expire 1 week before the I94 was was due to expire so we were told it had to have 30 days left so he renewed 30 days before and then renewed again 30 days later double the cost
YOu should be ab;le to renew on your renewal notice.
Carl.
Steve in clermont
05-11-2009, 06:39 PM
jim
One word ... codswallop
You can renew up to the end of your I94 .
I used to renew mine when i was coming on visa waiver for christs sake.
Go back to the licence office and ask to speak to a manager or supervisor ...
anniefromessex
05-11-2009, 08:26 PM
Steve I know my daughter in law always renewed every 3 months on Visa Waiver, but not sure whether there have been changes since then. Why do they always make things so difficult for us? Everybody has enough hoops to jump through without this.
Love Anniexxx
InnVic
05-11-2009, 09:19 PM
http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/faqkeys.html#NUSC
It says nothing about I-94 having to being valid for a year - print it out and ask to speak to a supervisor. They know bugger all!
My Husbands license expire 1 week before the I94 was was due to expire so we were told it had to have 30 days left so he renewed 30 days before and then renewed again 30 days later double the cost
Hi
Was that recently? My wife had the same problem in nov 08. We flew to Canada early to accommodate the driving license. If this is just the tossers here in Punta Gorda, I'll drive down to Fort Myers to renew our licenses.
Jim
chris
05-11-2009, 10:04 PM
The State law in Florida changed last October 2008. When renewing your FL driving license as a non US citizen you have to produce a valid and current I-94 document in addition to all the other ID stuff. The licenses for us non-USC's are 'temporary' and valid only for 1 year.
Having said that I am unsure whether the term 'valid' means valid and current on the date of application or valid and current for the 1 year period of the driving license. On the DMV website (top RH side stating new changes effective October 2008), it simply states 'VALID'.
If you I-94 is valid on the date you apply for said D/License, they have to issue a license for 1 year. There is no shorter period. Of course you get your 30 day non-photo paper license but that is only to keep you legal till the credit card one arrives from Tallahasseee in the mail .
Oh and by the way, just to upset you further, Driver licenses have gone up in the Florida Budget. I'm not sure when the effective date is but it said on the telly this morning they went up from $22.00 to $48.00 a pop. USC's will pay $48.00 for 5 years. Non-USC's will pay $240.00 for the same period. nice little earner. Don't have a smoke to calm your nerves either, they went up a buck a pack as well!!!!
Ed Tha Brit
05-11-2009, 10:17 PM
Chris,
I am sorry to tell you but, my attorney also told us the same thing back in November 08
The Driver Licence office Will only issue a driver licence for as long as your I-94 is ValidThats why they would only issue my wife and I from Jan 09, which is when the licence ran out until June 09 when our I-94 runs out!
I am not an Attorney or a Lawyer, just a another bloke trying to advise what to do as we have been there and done that?
Have a nice Day
Ed Tha Brit
The State law in Florida changed last October 2008. When renewing your FL driving license as a non US citizen you have to produce a valid and current I-94 document in addition to all the other ID stuff. The licenses for us non-USC's are 'temporary' and valid only for 1 year.
Having said that I am unsure whether the term 'valid' means valid and current on the date of application or valid and current for the 1 year period of the driving license. On the DMV website (top RH side stating new changes effective October 2008), it simply states 'VALID'.
If you I-94 is valid on the date you apply for said D/License, they have to issue a license for 1 year. There is no shorter period. Of course you get your 30 day non-photo paper license but that is only to keep you legal till the credit card one arrives from Tallahasseee in the mail .
Oh and by the way, just to upset you further, Driver licenses have gone up in the Florida Budget. I'm not sure when the effective date is but it said on the telly this morning they went up from $22.00 to $48.00 a pop. USC's will pay $48.00 for 5 years. Non-USC's will pay $240.00 for the same period. nice little earner. Don't have a smoke to calm your nerves either, they went up a buck a pack as well!!!!
So what I said earlier is correct. If my daughter has 10 months left on her i94 then she can not renew her driving license. Only drives to college every day. Does not have a UK license.
So now we are dealing with three factors...the visa date...the I94 date and the driving license date. But hey guess what they are all different dates..GREAT! Obviously a lot of thought went into this one.... who ever thought this up should run for president...Job requirement... jerk!!!!
dip your toe
05-12-2009, 06:59 AM
Her driving license should be renewed to the date on the I94 or for one year, whichever is the shortest.
So can you no longer renew your license with your receipt notice for a renewal of a visa from USCIS?
Carl.
ollie
05-12-2009, 01:08 PM
Your Daughters License Will Be Renewed For 10 Months And When She Get A New I94 It Will Be Renewed For 1 Year
Her driving license should be renewed to the date on the I94 or for one year, whichever is the shortest.
Isnt the maximum on a non immigrant visa 1 year? Ours is for 7 years, has that now become 5 years?
Carl.
telco
05-12-2009, 01:33 PM
The State law in Florida changed last October 2008. When renewing your FL driving license as a non US citizen you have to produce a valid and current I-94 document in addition to all the other ID stuff. The licenses for us non-USC's are 'temporary' and valid only for 1 year.
Having said that I am unsure whether the term 'valid' means valid and current on the date of application or valid and current for the 1 year period of the driving license. On the DMV website (top RH side stating new changes effective October 2008), it simply states 'VALID'.
If you I-94 is valid on the date you apply for said D/License, they have to issue a license for 1 year. There is no shorter period. Of course you get your 30 day non-photo paper license but that is only to keep you legal till the credit card one arrives from Tallahasseee in the mail .
Oh and by the way, just to upset you further, Driver licenses have gone up in the Florida Budget. I'm not sure when the effective date is but it said on the telly this morning they went up from $22.00 to $48.00 a pop. USC's will pay $48.00 for 5 years. Non-USC's will pay $240.00 for the same period. nice little earner. Don't have a smoke to calm your nerves either, they went up a buck a pack as well!!!!
Chris, I think you are wrong. The DL's are issued to the end of your I94 only. We renewed ours in March 09 with our I94's expiring in June 09, and our license were only valid until June 09 (4 months).
Jim
grumps
05-12-2009, 01:43 PM
they will only issue the license until your 194 runs out or 1 year max. we had the problem last year my license run out in Oct and my 194 run out at the end Oct so we waited until our return from the UK when we had another year on my 194 to renew. but they find me for a 2 week late renewal
chris
05-12-2009, 01:52 PM
Yes it appears I am wrong in my interpretation of the information on the DMV website, which states valid I-94. It does not specify valid when and for what period. That's the trouble with the US bureaucracy, they have absolutely no idea how to give information out clearly, precisely and in plain english.
Given the time it takes USCIS to process renewal applications for those landlocked, you are looking at putting in your renewals the maximum 6 months ahead and hoping they can do the paperwork in time to do the license renewal properly.
It sounds like Florida is the one State that has an ass hole way of doing licenses.
dip your toe
05-12-2009, 01:54 PM
Isnt the maximum on a non immigrant visa 1 year? Ours is for 7 years, has that now become 5 years?
Carl.
Yes
Kriz1
05-12-2009, 02:10 PM
Is a green card holder treated like a USC..or do you only get a license dated to the date your green card needs renewing..I don't have to see my DMV for 10 years I renew online..
Mine was issued for 7 years but reading Chris's post, that has changed to 5?
Carl.
peter gold
05-12-2009, 03:02 PM
I would have thought as a visa consultant Carl you would have know these facts!
Well the last time I sent someone to get a renewal of a license that was the case only a few weeks ago, but Chris says it has changed, as things do round here. I have a client going tommorow so I will let you know.
carl.
chris
05-12-2009, 04:06 PM
Quite a number of things changed in October 2008, mostly to do with tightening up domestic security and more stringent requirements on proving who you are.
This is what the DMV website says for Class E licences (the regular license).
USC's and Non USC's with LPR status
Issued for 8 years. USC's can renew on-line. Non-USC's have to line up personally.
Non-Immigrants with legal presence approved by BCIS (that's what they say folks, but I think they mean USCIS) NOT to exceed ONE year. You can only get them by going personally.
Renewals they are showing at $20.00, but that has gone up in the budget to $48.00 and the site hasn't been updated yet. (Got to keep the jobsworths in jobs and healthcare!)
There are also tightened up requirements for what is acceptable as ID. Check before you go as to what paperwork you need to take with you.
One requirement that was introduced that caused much confusion when they introduced it, mainly because they didn't give clear information, is that if you have a SS# you MUST present the SS Card at renewal. If you don't have a SS# you can't and don't. When this change happened they gave the impression you had to have a SS# in order to get a License. You don't.
dip your toe
05-12-2009, 04:35 PM
Mrs DYT went yesterday. Passport and I 94. Renewed for twelve months.
BTW her I 94 is dated to March 2013 ???
I went in February my I 94 dated to Sept 09 and license renewed till Sept 09
Arthur Mo
05-13-2009, 02:38 AM
Is this the date on your VISA ?
ollie
05-13-2009, 12:25 PM
OMG people, Your Daughters License Will Be Renewed For 10 Months And When She Get A New I94 It Will Be Renewed For 1 Year. Every time it is for one full year unless you have less then a year on you I94 then they will renew for the remaining time period whether that be 30 days or 8 months.
Steve in clermont
05-13-2009, 01:00 PM
I would just like to add to this ,
BOTH my wife and daughter obtained drivers licence with only the " notice of action " letter we recieved when extending their I94's without leaving the country. Their previous I94 had already expired, but they are allowed to stay for 180 days once the application has been lodged.
As with everything else in this country , it depends on who you get on the day as to how easy or hard things get.
telco
05-13-2009, 01:26 PM
I would just like to add to this ,
BOTH my wife and daughter obtained drivers licence with only the " notice of action " letter we recieved when extending their I94's without leaving the country. Their previous I94 had already expired, but they are allowed to stay for 180 days once the application has been lodged.
As with everything else in this country , it depends on who you get on the day as to how easy or hard things get.
Steve , Did they give 180 days or the full year?
chris
05-13-2009, 01:50 PM
Steve,
Was this before or after October 2008. The rules changed in October last year and in Florida they will officially NOT accept the USCIS official receipt anymore. They will only accept the valid I-94.
The Florida DMV site says it all
Well as I thought. People went to DMV today with receipt notice and got 1 year licenses no problem.
Carl.
Cring out loud..it's a joke. Mind you always known it all depends who is at the desk. Don't matter what the rules are. If they don't no they make it up.
Got British friends here on an E2. Their daughter's license expired 3 months ago. No British license. Her I94 runs out Feb 2010. She tried to renew her license and was denied because she has less than a year on the I94. After the advice and information you guys gave me I called the Driving license office in north Fort Myers here in SWFlorida. They advised me that my daughter can get her license renewed for the 10 months remaining on her I94.
I informed my friends, who were planing a trip out the country to get the i94 to get the license. They were estatic...they drove down yesterday and got her the license.
Once my daughter gets her's Im going into our local office to KICK OFF!!!
They have no idea what they are doing with peoples lives...
The stuff about e2's and green cards is one thing. But to make it impossible to progress on this visa is a cime.
JIM
I understand your frustration Jim. God bless America Ehh.
Carl.
Ed Tha Brit
05-14-2009, 02:29 PM
Hi Jim,
Glad your friends were able to sort it out and save them the costs of going out?
I understand your frustrations but remember this, as far as the IRS are concerned you live here and they want thier taxes from you ([B]Money$$$$$$$$)
Homeland Security Jim Who? is he one of ours? If not he will go away, he is not a Citizen so he can't go to anybody! Next 16 year old in line!!!!!
Just my opin, I am not a Lawyer, Attorney, Consultant.
Boy, where's Annie when you need her?:fit:
Have a nice Day
Ed Tha Brit
Maybe the renewal receipt notice overides the I-94 date, if no notice then the maximum is the I-94 date, but a notice allows the full year?. I think that the new rules from October were incomplete and they have recently realized that they need to change them.
Carl.
Ed Tha Brit
05-14-2009, 02:53 PM
Maybe the renewal receipt notice overides the I-94 date, if no notice then the maximum is the I-94 date, but a notice allows the full year?. I think that the new rules from October were incomplete and they have recently realized that they need to change them.
Carl.
Carl,
When my paperwork comes thru I will test this theory, I have the notice and once I get my I-94, I will go to the Driver Licence office to test them out?
Just can't understand how they have gone from 8 years to renew to every year, my local office just apologise every time we go back?
Have a nice Day
Ed Tha Brit
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