Question about Canadian license :)

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Hey!!

I hope that everyone is well, happy and doing fine!!!

Summer is almost here and I'm so excited!!!

So...

I am able to get my license here in Jersey (I'm still waiting for my green card...and apparently I don't need that to get my license here, I have enough documentation to get it here after all, just found this out!) So I'm going to go this Thursday and get my New Jersey drivers license (Scared like ####### to drive here but whatever )

My question is about my Canadian license...

I only have my G2...I just got my license about 9 months or so before I moved here (I was a very late bloomer) and so I know that I need to get my G within 5 years of having my G2....or I'll be demoted back to G1 stage and have to start all over again.

What happens if Nick and I decide to move back to Canada? Can I just show them my New Jersey license and get a G Canadian one? Or will I have to start from scratch?

Can I go home and take the test for my G in the near future? I read somewhere that I can't because I don't have a Canadian address.

Help?

Thanks guys!!!

Edited April 19, 2009 by ~Laura and Nick~

[Gypsyangel 11]

Hi Laura,

I don't really know the answer to your question about the graduated licence situation; however, I did want to mention that if you feel your green card arrival is imminent, you might want to wait and apply for your licence with your green card, instead of your EAD. That's because your licence will expire when your EAD expires, which is a year I think, but the green card is two years, so the licence would expire in two years. Less hassle down the road.

Anyway, if you haven't been driving all this time, you might want to just go ahead and get the licence, rather than wait for your green card.

I just got my NJ licence a couple of weeks ago. Once I had my green card it was pretty easy. I've been to the darn MVC too many times with various documentation and been turned away, so I didn't even try with my EAD. I thought you needed your green card (even though it doesn't say that anywhere on their web site or in their brochures).

With regard to the written test, I saw some good advice elsewhere on VJ. The test is computerized. They give you 50 questions and you need to get 40 correct. If you don't know the answer to something "skip" it and answer the ones you know. It'll circle back to the skipped ones, and you can keep answering the ones you're most likely to get correct. I think it gives you a better chance if you can minimize the ones you get wrong as you go along. Study the guide!

Good luck figuring out the graduated licence thing! I would suggest going there informed with your own comparison of the Ontario and NJ graduated licence programs. I wonder how informed they are about it. The more knowledgable you are, the better of you'll be. I almost had someone tell me I had to do the road test, but in the end I convinced her that I didn't.

I've been driving on my Canadian licence since I moved here. I think I would have gone insane if I couldn't have driven.

Good luck!

[OBX 51]

With regard to the written test, I saw some good advice elsewhere on VJ. The test is computerized. They give you 50 questions and you need to get 40 correct. If you don't know the answer to something "skip" it and answer the ones you know. It'll circle back to the skipped ones, and you can keep answering the ones you're most likely to get correct. I think it gives you a better chance if you can minimize the ones you get wrong as you go along. Study the guide!

Congrats on getting your license. I had previously mentioned the practice test on the NJ Department of Transportation website. Nice to know it helps. I would be lost also if I was without my car!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

There's two issues I can think of... I could be wrong (someone correct me if I am) but I don't think you can have 2 valid drivers licenses from two different places at the same time... Although that probably depends on the state you live in. So if you go back to Ontario to get your G, there's a chance your NJ state license will get revoked.

Also, holding a valid Ontario drivers license would be a legitimate tie to Canada, that you probably shouldn't have when trying to gain legal permanent residency in the US. So for those reasons, I don't see going back to Ontario and getting your G license as a good idea...

I would think your NJ license would transfer into an Ontario license... But I wouldn't worry about it for now. Its hard to plan for what if scenarios. That is, unless you are reasonably certain you will go back and live in Ontario one day.

I have a G2 myself... I don't want to go get my G because I don't know if It will help me any. Either way, i'm going to have to do some kind of driving test (probably). So i'd rather do it in the US and know I will get my license, then get go get my G and still risk not being able to get a CO state license (if that made any sense at all... )

[Mephys 2]

I did want to mention that if you feel your green card arrival is imminent, you might want to wait and apply for your licence with your green card, instead of your EAD. That's because your licence will expire when your EAD expires, which is a year I think, but the green card is two years, so the licence would expire in two years. Less hassle down the road.

I just wanted to add that this depends on the state/city that you are in. For instance I heard of 1 person in Illinois that got his license just with his NOA1 of the EAD application, and for me in another office they told me I needed the actual card...

And on top of this, I got my DL with my EAD card, but my DL expired in 2011...So they still issued me the regular 4 years DL.

Good to see you around Laura

[Holliday 4]

This link might help... http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/ExchangeReciprocal.aspx

It looks like as long as you meet the experience requirements and provide a driving abstract, if you move back to Ontario, you'll never have to take your G test. (Lucky you! Actually, it was an easy test, it just scared the ####### out of me!)

[thetreble 19]

There's two issues I can think of... I could be wrong (someone correct me if I am) but I don't think you can have 2 valid drivers licenses from two different places at the same time... Although that probably depends on the state you live in. So if you go back to Ontario to get your G, there's a chance your NJ state license will get revoked.

I would think your NJ license would transfer into an Ontario license... But I wouldn't worry about it for now. Its hard to plan for what if scenarios. That is, unless you are reasonably certain you will go back and live in Ontario one day.

I have a G2 myself... I don't want to go get my G because I don't know if It will help me any. Either way, i'm going to have to do some kind of driving test (probably). So i'd rather do it in the US and know I will get my license, then get go get my G and still risk not being able to get a CO state license (if that made any sense at all... )

Every state is different. NJ doesn't transfer licenses from country to country. I have a valid Ontario license and a valid NJ license. I would obviously be using my NJ one when driving my NJ plated car. Having an Ontario license doesn't really play into the whole ties to canada thing. Once you are an immigrant, as Laura is, there is no need for ties to Canada any more.

I also think while saying "read the rules on your state's DMV website" is the way to go, I went to the DMV and they told me they would not give me a license until I got a green card. I don't know. NJ is funny because they have their 6 point ID verification you have to meet, unlike a lot of other states. But I find different DMV workers tell you didn't things.

It took me writing that damn test 3 times to get over 40. The first two times I scored exactly 37. I finally read the book after that. Even though I never went a day in NJ without my car (I drove around for the first year with my Ontario plated car and driver's license)

[Gypsyangel 11]

I also think while saying "read the rules on your state's DMV website" is the way to go, I went to the DMV and they told me they would not give me a license until I got a green card. I don't know. NJ is funny because they have their 6 point ID verification you have to meet, unlike a lot of other states. But I find different DMV workers tell you didn't things.

It took me writing that damn test 3 times to get over 40. The first two times I scored exactly 37. I finally read the book after that. Even though I never went a day in NJ without my car (I drove around for the first year with my Ontario plated car and driver's license)

Yeah, I don't know why they don't just say on the web site that you need a green card. I found the 6 point thing misleading. Also, when they gave me my NJ licence, she gave me back my Canadian licence. She called some higher authority to confirm that that's what she was supposed to do.

Laura, it'll be interesting to see if you can get it with your EAD. it's worth trying. It might be one of those things where it depends who you ask. When I asked they were adament that it had to be the green card. And I tried three different offices!

Insurance can also be an issue. My husband's insurance company insured me initially, but after 60 days (back in September) they said they need my NJ licence to insure me. I managed to put them off until April, and i feel relieved that they finally have it and I won't get cut off.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Funny thing with any govt organization, one can goto a different DMV and they will tel ya somethign else!

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

I'll just wait till my green card...if that ever comes.

Thanks for all the information guys.

I've missed you all greatly.

Hi Mephys... <3