Can I get a California driver's license while on an H-1B visa?
Yes, you can get a California driver's license. The state explicitly issues licenses to people with temporary legal status, including those holding valid employment visas.
You can cross this worry off your list. The California DMV recognizes your H-1B status as lawful presence, so they will issue you a license to drive legally in the state.
California DMV rules do not restrict driver's licenses to permanent residents or citizens. The state explicitly includes holders of a valid employment visa.
However, the type of license you can get depends on the documents in your passport. For a REAL ID, the DMV requires an unexpired foreign passport, an approved I-94 form, and a valid U.S. visa stamp. While your Form I-797A serves as an approved I-94, the valid visa stamp is listed as a distinct requirement.
If you only have an I-797 approval notice without a valid visa stamp, you are blocked from getting a REAL ID. The provided documents do not state whether an I-797 alone is enough to get a standard, federal non-compliant license.
