Dear Sajhaities,

The DMV office at NY has rejected my application for the driving liscense mainly because for the mistake of the NY port-of-entry officer who forgot to put the INS stamp on my I-20 copy though all other documents: Nepali passport, F1 visa, I-94 were stamped with entry date.

Has anyone been in the similar situation? undergone similar experience??
In this situation, how can I get the INS stamp?
Does this mean do I have to go back to Nepal, get a new F1 visa and re-enter US to get my new I-20 stamped at the port of entry?
Since this would cost me a lot of money, is there an easy way to solve this problem?
What are the INS offices in NY? Any help with address & contact details??

Suggestions and assistance with the information to tackle this situation would greatly be appreciated. Regards!

this is the first time i heard that someone presented I-20 to the officials to get a driver's license. Although, I suggest you to talk your international student advisor first and see what he has to say to you.

Entry to the United States, authorized by a U.S. immigration inspector, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). When you come from abroad and first arrive in the U.S, the visa allows you to travel to the port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. Admission or entering the U.S., by non-United States citizens must be authorized by a U.S. Immigration inspector at the port-of- entry, who determines whether you can enter and how long you can stay here, on any particular visit. If you are allowed to enter, how long you can stay is and the immigration classification you are given, is shown as a recorded date or Duration of Status (D/S) on Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, or Form I-94W, if arriving on the Visa Waiver Program. If you want to stay longer than the date authorized, you must request permission of the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). Go to the BCIS Internet site to learn more.

Yes, a lot of my friends were puzzled by this. Some even said it's none of their business to check this. I even had a big argue at DMV office with utter frustrations and anger. But the people at DMV u know r like robots..would not care at all...need is must! Help me!!

Here is the extract from the DMV web site:
Acceptable documents for Proof of Identity.
A foreign passport with your visa and form I-94 with status code J1 or J2 and with form IAP-66. You must show your original entry document and any extension document stamped by INS with form IAP-66.
-http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/idlicense.htm

A foreign passport with your visa and form I-94 with status code F1 or F2 and form I-20. You must show your original entry document and any extension document stamped by INS with form I-20.-http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/idlicense.htm

Really Hancyguy? I don't know about other state...but in Minnesota too, the DMV asks for I20 to be presented in order to get drivers license for F1 student. They even write "status check" on it.
SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

they checked my I-20 in 1997 when I got my license. i think its standard procedure

yes, they are doing this now at least in NY for sure...that's why this posting here...but what/where is the solution for the missing stamp?? I am still eagerly waiting for the suggestions.

Someone suggested.....what if visit Canada on tourist visa by crossing the border to see the Niagara Falls and re-enter US and get new INS stamp on the new I-20 form at this post of entry?

how much risk is there and is it worth taking?? if this works then it will be much cheaper than going back home and re-enter for only the stamp.

you can travel to canada and get your I-20 stamped as well. and get new i-94 card.

out of my numerous visit to canada. they have only taken and issued new i-94 to me when i was changing my class of visa. they neither issue new i-94 or took old one when i was traveling in the same same visa class.

i think it is fair to say that you would not have any problem as long as you have maintained your status. you should have your next sem. registration, transcripts. and travel authorization from your international advisor.

Sristi,

I had to present my I-20 and other IDS to get Driving license in NYC in 2002. I think your problem can be solved by your International Student Advisor. One of of Students had similar case like urs, international advisor contacted to INS office and send studnet to INS office with his letter. Since this is their mistake, there gotta to something to fix their mistake.

i suggest you to contact your advisor and he/she is the only person who can help you now.


best of luck

Hey shristi 05,
I had a similar situation. The immigration officer put a wrong stamp on my I-94. Instead of 2002, he stamped it 2001. So i had to go thourgh hell to get my social security. I went to SS office and they couldnt see my name in the file. They asked me to wait until the immigration office sends my file to SS. Now and then i would go to SS office to see if they received my file. I had to wait more than an hour just to check that!! Finally they told me to go to Immigration office. I went to Baltimore, waited 4 hours just to hear the shit that SS office has to send a form to Immigration office. I went to SS office again, they said they will do that and it might take upto a month. After a month i go to SS again, they show me the reply by the immigration office asking me to contact Immigration office directly. Motherf***ers, i waited 4 hours at your office a month ago and now you are asking me to contact you directly!!! Oh god!! again i waited 4-5 hours at Immigration office in Baltimore and they asked me to go to the airport. I went to Washington Dulles International Airport, where i came from. There, the police officer asks me if i can bring my airline ticket!! What the f**k Do u think i'm gonnna have that ticket after a year!!! Thank god i remembered which flight and which date i landed in that airport! phewwwww. I had to fill out that I-94 document again, and when i went to SS office after a month everything was ok. Thats how i was welcomed in America.

Shristi, try contacting the immigration office in the airport. They might be able to help you. Good luck.

i had a similar experience too....i had transferred to another school and my new I-20 had no immigration stamp on it, and the people(morons) at the DMV refused to issue my a driver's license.

You may contact your locat USCIS office for guidance or in some cases going to the airport immigration has helped!
Here is the link to the NY city district offices.
http://uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/newyork/index.htm

Thanks for all the replies!
Finally I got my driving license last week!! What a relief!!!

I was browsing sajha postings and I came across my own thread. I thought why not I describe how I finally got through it so that it could be useful for others in similar situation.

Good thing in the place where I reside is that this place has three DMV offices. I was rejected by only one of them, while the second does not deal with issuing new permits. The third was closed for some time for some reasons. Despite my student advisor's suggestion to cross the Canadian border or else even visit Nepal for this, I had a faint line of hope that this third office would not check the stamps. So I just need to give a final try there.

I waited for about a month for this office to open. When I applied there, they did not even check the original forms, not to mention the stamps. I have my new status papers, new passport and other documents. They saw my new valid passport and the updated status papers. I sat for the test, I passed and the permit was on its way.

Then, I took 10 h driving lessons plus the 5 h course. I had a break after the first 5 lessons and arranged the nest five lessons just before the road test. I took the road test, I passed and my license is also on its.

So the point here is sometimes u have to think differently and approach in some other way. Who knows how your luck works. U just have to try. Do not give up!!!

Good luck!!!!

good for you sristi. Nice to hear that.