Driving with an expired License in Texas is Ok during the pandemic.

The DPS (department of Public Safety) will consider a Texas issued expired Driver license valid if

1)      Expiration date on Driver license or ID card is on or after March 13, 2020

2)      The current date is within 60 days of the end of the state of Disaster (Pandemic).

Law enforcement (police) are advised of these provisions above.

What it means to people who are in the Immigration process:

1. Those who are in the process of applying a green card (adjustment of status: I-485),  you get interim one-year EAD (Employment Authorization document), and your license validity is the same period as your one year EAD.  As long as you file a renewal of your EAD 3 months before it gets expired, you are authorized to work for 180 days after the expiration of your EAD, and for now, you don’t have to worry about renewing your Texas Driver license while this pandemic is going on.

1. Those who are in non-immigrant status such as  R-1(Religious worker), E-2 (investor), H1B (professional worker), etc.

You are authorized to work while your non-immigrant status is valid.  As long as you file an extension of your status before your current status expires, you are in status, and are authorized to work for 240 days after the expiration of your status. You don’t have to worry about renewing your driver license while the pandemic is going on.

Of course, it is wise to apply for a new driver license once your EAD or status gets approved. But practically it is difficult to renew your driver license due to Covid-19 pandemic and so many backlogs.