CA DL

[Team J and B 2]

Hey guys -

I am finally admitting I don't have a CA DL. I've been driving for over a year with my BC DL. Apparently, I should have applied for a California DL within 10 days of moving to the USA!

I'm so embarrassed. I'm going to make an appointment toute de suite. But do you know if you need to take the road test again in San Francisco? Or is it just a written test?

Oh my goodness I'm so embarrassed!

[thetreble 19]

Hey guys -

I am finally admitting I don't have a CA DL. I've been driving for over a year with my BC DL. Apparently, I should have applied for a California DL within 10 days of moving to the USA!

I'm so embarrassed. I'm going to make an appointment toute de suite. But do you know if you need to take the road test again in San Francisco? Or is it just a written test?

Oh my goodness I'm so embarrassed!

Just look at the rules on the California DMV page. It will tell you what documentation you need. If you don't qualify, most people might say don't drive until you can get it. But I say, if you get stopped with your BC license for any reason, just say you are visiting

[The_Dude 1,142]

Hey guys -

I am finally admitting I don't have a CA DL. I've been driving for over a year with my BC DL. Apparently, I should have applied for a California DL within 10 days of moving to the USA!

I'm so embarrassed. I'm going to make an appointment toute de suite. But do you know if you need to take the road test again in San Francisco? Or is it just a written test?

Oh my goodness I'm so embarrassed!

Just look at the rules on the California DMV page. It will tell you what documentation you need. If you don't qualify, most people might say don't drive until you can get it. But I say, if you get stopped with your BC license for any reason, just say you are visiting

But she's not visiting, she's a lawbreaker

I finally got around to asking someone of some authority here where I work about this. I was told that as long as you have your passport/visa and your canadian drivers license, you'll be ok here in the city I work at. However, if you are able to obtain a CA drivers license and have just neglected to, you'll get a hefty citation.

[thetreble 19]

The normal po-po don't know that though. Her AOS is pending so she doesn't even have any status.

(don't listen to me on this one, though, i might end up getting you in trouble)

[Team J and B 2]

I went ahead and made an appointment. I hope it's only written test. I couldn't find that information for Canadians with valid licenses.

So anytime between now and early June if I get pulled over (knock on wood I don't) I'll just show my Canadian license and say I'm "visiting" according to thetreble . Cops don't know your status here, right? They're not linked to the federal/USCIS system, right?

[The_Dude 1,142]

I went ahead and made an appointment. I hope it's only written test. I couldn't find that information for Canadians with valid licenses.

So anytime between now and early June if I get pulled over (knock on wood I don't) I'll just show my Canadian license and say I'm "visiting" according to thetreble . Cops don't know your status here, right? They're not linked to the federal/USCIS system, right?

Only way they'd find out is if they ran your car registration and the car isn't in your name. You'd have to explain that.

[JillA 2]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=196811

Read this thread for background info

[The_Dude 1,142]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=196811

Read this thread for background info

That law is interpreted differently by different cities here. Some cities have more interaction with immigrants and as such will have a more open minded policy concerning matters related to it. Burbank is..... well, Burbank is not a center for immigrants.

[JillA 2]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=196811

Read this thread for background info

That law is interpreted differently by different cities here. Some cities have more interaction with immigrants and as such will have a more open minded policy concerning matters related to it. Burbank is..... well, Burbank is not a center for immigrants.

But based on her timeline, she has her GC, so should be aware of the 10 day rule as she is a resident now.

[The_Dude 1,142]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=196811

Read this thread for background info

That law is interpreted differently by different cities here. Some cities have more interaction with immigrants and as such will have a more open minded policy concerning matters related to it. Burbank is..... well, Burbank is not a center for immigrants.

But based on her timeline, she has her GC, so should be aware of the 10 day rule as she is a resident now.

Which would only affect her if she got pulled over and the officer ran her registration. Yes, she should have a CA drivers license, but she doesn't and is taking care of it shortly I believe. If she does get pulled over and cited for it, I would advise against contesting it. You've been here long enough to know, and a judge will see it this way. Judges have the authority to add on extra punitive fines on top of a citation.

[thetreble 19]

I got pulled over, was driving my ontario car with my ontario license and got a ticket while AOS was pending. All I got was the ticket.

If I had been driving Jared's car, maybe it would have been different but I still could have said I was visiting. I don't think the cops have time to check up on me but it is really up to you.

Again, you can't get a license in a lot of states without a green card. And she hasn't been approved yet Jill, so she technically has no status even if she is going to have one soon.

I think the 10 day rule mostly applies to people who move from state to state. They've made the rule of licensing so hard most places that it is very hard for out of country folk to get a license 10 days after they arrive in their new state.

[JillA 2]

I got pulled over, was driving my ontario car with my ontario license and got a ticket while AOS was pending. All I got was the ticket.

If I had been driving Jared's car, maybe it would have been different but I still could have said I was visiting. I don't think the cops have time to check up on me but it is really up to you.

Again, you can't get a license in a lot of states without a green card. And she hasn't been approved yet Jill, so she technically has no status even if she is going to have one soon.

I think the 10 day rule mostly applies to people who move from state to state. They've made the rule of licensing so hard most places that it is very hard for out of country folk to get a license 10 days after they arrive in their new state.

I think she has a GC though, according to her timeline. So she should be able to get a CA license without a problem now.

[thetreble 19]

Her thingy says AOS pending? Maybe I'm looking at the wrong thing?

Okay I read her timeline even though it says it's pending under her avatar. In that case, take the test and don't drive until you get a CA DL because you are defo breaking the law.

Edited May 21, 2009 by thetreble

[JillA 2]

Her thingy says AOS pending? Maybe I'm looking at the wrong thing?

I saw that too, she hasn't updated it, or so it appears. I clicked on her timeline, and she received her 2 year GC back in Dec.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Anyone in California can get a drivers license...... even illegal immigrants.