Yes I'm an idiot, but I still need your advice (DMV related)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I can't help. I'm just super mad at VA DMV right now.

My visa expires in 30 days and I lost my license. I went there to get a replacement and they said I'm not eligible for a replacement since I'm supposed to be back in my country in less than 30 days.

WTF? What if I extend my visa? What if I change status? How dare they tell me when I'm supposed to return to my home?

I'm so pissed right now. My child has several doctors appointments next week and there's no way I can do it all with cab and public transportation!

I asked them to write a letter stating I have a valid license but they can't print it so I can carry with me while I drive without the license but they can't even write the damn letter!

I'm so done with this immigration thing. I can't wait to be done with this and actually go home!

OP here, I am so sorry, our country is embarrassingly stupid about immigration and visa issues. I hope you get it straightened out soon.

In your shoes, I'd probably drive without it and then, if you're pulled over act like you just lost it. "Oh, officer, I thought it was right here, it must be in my other purse!" I'd also drive really carefully.

Horrible advice. You know they can ask for other ID and look the info up on those little computers they have in their vehicles. Do you know what the fine is for driving with an expired license that's from a visa. It's just people following rules. Extend your visa, then go renew your license. It's THAT easy. Don't complain about it. There are 100 people like you with the same story and while I understand it's a pain in the butt the people at MVA (not DMV, DMV in VIRGINIA) it's not their job to bend the rules for you.

Deal with it or move back to your country.

my visa is still valid, my drivers license is valid. the problem is that DMV won't print a new one just because my visa is about to expire. my renewal is on the way but won't be effective until the old one expires.

i'm dealing with it and my daughter's health is the price i'm paying. don't get me wrong, honey, once this contract is over i'm out of here! and you'll scramble a few more months to find another fool to do my job. have you ever wondered why you have to keep replacing us? yup, nobody can take the humiliation that long.

I understand what's going on and read that your visa has not expired. It's not MVA's fault. It's a crappy job to work at MVA/DMV and deal with angry people all day, but rules are rules. They are in place to prevent people who have visa's that ARE not being renewed from getting new licenses, then leaving and passing those valid id's on to illegals or criminals. 9/11 and terrorism changes everything, and while you may not be blowing up buildings that one day changed the processes for everyone, including YOU.

There is metro and the bus system. You can probably still get your child to the dr. If I needed to get my child somewhere I would find a way.

[Anonymous]

Oh sure thing. We just spent $98 on a cab ride to the doctor and back today. Sure there's a way. A very expensive and embarrassing way. Try to explain to the cab driver that he should drive in a specific way or your child will throw up and the child throws up and the cab driver wants to kick you out and no other cab from his company will drive you again and blah blah blah...

Yes, very good way. Thank you very much.

BTW, in VA the driver's license is only valid for the same length of time as your visa so there's no way to pass it to someone else. The info has to match your proof of legal presence. The rule is messed up and they won't fix it.

Still innocent people will pay for it. Shame on them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh sure thing. We just spent $98 on a cab ride to the doctor and back today. Sure there's a way. A very expensive and embarrassing way. Try to explain to the cab driver that he should drive in a specific way or your child will throw up and the child throws up and the cab driver wants to kick you out and no other cab from his company will drive you again and blah blah blah...

Yes, very good way. Thank you very much.

BTW, in VA the driver's license is only valid for the same length of time as your visa so there's no way to pass it to someone else. The info has to match your proof of legal presence. The rule is messed up and they won't fix it.

Still innocent people will pay for it. Shame on them!

Yes, shame on them for trying to protect our country. Shame, shame, shame. How rude of them!

If I'm paying for a cab ride I am going to call and order a cab, explain my child gets car sick and ask for a gentle driver. I am then going to TELL THE DRIVER my child gets car sick and may throw up. How on earth is that embarrassing? As the mother it's your job to protect your child, communicating this to a person you hired and are paying to drive you somewhere falls under that category.

Why couldn't you take a cab to the metro and metro the rest of the way to the dr? I'm just curious and may be able to help you with a better route, where are you and where do you need to go? Some places have free bus rides to the metro.

[Anonymous]

That particular day we were in southern maryland, 30 miles from the nearest metro station. no public transportation in the direction we needed at that time of the day.

And I doubt their reason behind it is to protect the country. They don't want to spend the money on it. The reason is purely budget related. They don't want to spend the money on us.

What's the difference from issuing it for 31 days but not 29? If I was there one day earlier I would not have this problem. Too bad I was robbed one day later, right?

[Anonymous]

And OP, please accept my apologies for hijacking your thread

I'm so very sorry.

If you guys still want to talk about this open a new thread. I'm not coming back here. OP wants answers to her questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That particular day we were in southern maryland, 30 miles from the nearest metro station. no public transportation in the direction we needed at that time of the day.

And I doubt their reason behind it is to protect the country. They don't want to spend the money on it. The reason is purely budget related. They don't want to spend the money on us.

What's the difference from issuing it for 31 days but not 29? If I was there one day earlier I would not have this problem. Too bad I was robbed one day later, right?

I actually believe some of these laws that are hindering you are Federal, not budget based or created by DC, MD, or VA to cause problems. FEDERAL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And OP, please accept my apologies for hijacking your thread

I'm so very sorry.

If you guys still want to talk about this open a new thread. I'm not coming back here. OP wants answers to her questions.

OP shouldn't have waited to get her MD plates. People wait until the last minute to get stuff done then complain about all the hoops they need to jump through. I mean, she should have taken her car and titled in MD when she moved.
I'm sorry for the inconvenience but we're adults, not entitled children. I feel like some of these posts I'm listening to my teenager moan about the homework he didn't do.

Your lack of planning doesn't constitute an emergency on anyone else's part.