US Drivers License For Fiancee

[TimS 0]

Can anyone advise on whether my fiancee can drive (legally) immediately upon entering the US or must she get a license in NYS before driving? Is there such a thing as an international drivers license and if so is it valid in the US?

Thank you.

[baron555 934]

Can anyone advise on whether my fiancee can drive (legally) immediately upon entering the US or must she get a license in NYS before driving? Is there such a thing as an international drivers license and if so is it valid in the US?

Thank you.

No such thing as Int'l Driver's license but there is an International Driver's Permit that your state may require. Go to your state's DMV or DMV.org and read up on their rules and regulations. For some states her IDP will be valid from 3 months to 1 year and in other states she can not drive until she takes the state driver's tests.

[Marina-Del 10]

Like above, it depends on the state and the country of origin. My Australian friend was legal to drive in the US up to 3 months without any type of extras.

[payxibka 10,045]

not a k-1 visa issue... moving thread

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Can anyone advise on whether my fiancee can drive (legally) immediately upon entering the US or must she get a license in NYS before driving? Is there such a thing as an international drivers license and if so is it valid in the US?

Thank you.

Yes, there is such a thing as an international drivers lisence and most states accept it, at least for a certain period of time. Drivers lisence rules vary by each state. Vermont will accept an IDL for up to 60 days.

[YuAndDan 153]

If your fiancee has a driver's license in home country, NYS will honor it until she becomes a resident "Green-Card" holder.

A valid driver license from another country is also valid in NYS. You do not need to apply for a NYS driver license unless you become a resident of NYS.

According to NYS law, a resident of another country can get a NYS driver license. The DMV does not recommend this because:

• NYS recognizes your foreign driver license if you remain a resident of the nation that issued the license. You do not need to have a NYS driver license to drive in NYS unless you become a resident of NYS.
• If you have a driver license from any nation except Canada, you must pass a written test, complete a 5-hour pre-licensing course and pass a road test to qualify for a NYS driver license. See "New Drivers - How to Apply".
• You must show a Social Security Card. If you are not eligible for a Social Security Card, you must provide a letter or form SSA-L676 from the US Social Security Administration (SSA) that states that you are not eligible. The SSA Letter or form must have been issued no more than 30 days before the date of your application. You must also show the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documents that the SSA used to determine that you are not eligible for a Social Security Card. The USCIS was formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Read the specific requirements on the identification requirements page.
• When you receive your NYS driver license, you must surrender your foreign driver license to the DMV road test examiner. The local DMV office keeps your foreign driver license, and then destroys the license after 60 days. If you plan to return to your home country and use your foreign driver license, ask the road test examiner how to make sure that your foreign driver license is not destroyed. If you need to get your foreign driver license, go to the local DMV office where you applied for your NYS driver license.

International Driving Permit: An International Driving Permit is not a driver license. The permit only verifies that you hold a valid driver license in your home country. Your foreign driver license, not the International Driving Permit, allows you to drive in NYS. Contact the authorities in your home country to get an International Driving Permit. If you are not a resident of the US, you cannot apply for an International Driving Permit in the US.

You are not required to have an International Driving Permit to drive in NYS, but the permit has value. The permit verifies, in several languages, that you have a valid foreign driver license. A police officer who cannot read the language on your foreign driver license can read the permit.

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/license.htm#d...romothernations

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Can anyone advise on whether my fiancee can drive (legally) immediately upon entering the US or must she get a license in NYS before driving? Is there such a thing as an international drivers license and if so is it valid in the US?

Thank you.

Yes, there is such a thing as an international drivers lisence and most states accept it, at least for a certain period of time. Drivers lisence rules vary by each state. Vermont will accept an IDL for up to 60 days.

[daboyz 36]

Can anyone advise on whether my fiancee can drive (legally) immediately upon entering the US or must she get a license in NYS before driving? Is there such a thing as an international drivers license and if so is it valid in the US?

Thank you.

Yes, there is such a thing as an international drivers lisence and most states accept it, at least for a certain period of time. Drivers lisence rules vary by each state. Vermont will accept an IDL for up to 60 days.

[payxibka 10,045]

An IDL translates your native driver's license into 10 languages so you can show it to officials in foreign countries to help them interpret your driver's license.

Also, an International drivers license (IDL) is proof that you hold a valid driver's license in your own country. And it provides a translation into almost a dozen languages, mainly so that police and other authorities in other countries can read your license in their own language. It may not be absolutely necessary to have it, since many countries recognize each other's licenses, but traveling with an International drivers license has many advantages. The permit is intended to overcome the difficulties drivers might have while traveling in other countries that may have widely varying licensing requirements. The IDP is a special license for tourists authorized by United Nations conventions on road safety in 1923, 1943, 1949, and 1968. Nearly 180 countries are signatories.

The International drivers license is printed in several languages-the five official UN languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese) plus German, Arabic, Italian, the Scandinavian languages, and Portuguese. It is valid in all the signatory countries. In addition, many other countries that did not sign the treaty recognize the permit and accept it in their territories. An International drivers license is easy to obtain here, does not require a driving test, and is available for a small fee. It is, in fact, an official translation of your domestic driver's license.

Edited June 24, 2009 by payxibka

[menina 50]

An IDL translates your native driver's license into 10 languages so you can show it to officials in foreign countries to help them interpret your driver's license.

Also, an International drivers license (IDL) is proof that you hold a valid driver's license in your own country. And it provides a translation into almost a dozen languages, mainly so that police and other authorities in other countries can read your license in their own language. It may not be absolutely necessary to have it, since many countries recognize each other's licenses, but traveling with an International drivers license has many advantages. The permit is intended to overcome the difficulties drivers might have while traveling in other countries that may have widely varying licensing requirements. The IDP is a special license for tourists authorized by United Nations conventions on road safety in 1923, 1943, 1949, and 1968. Nearly 180 countries are signatories.

The International drivers license is printed in several languages-the five official UN languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese) plus German, Arabic, Italian, the Scandinavian languages, and Portuguese. It is valid in all the signatory countries. In addition, many other countries that did not sign the treaty recognize the permit and accept it in their territories. An International drivers license is easy to obtain here, does not require a driving test, and is available for a small fee. It is, in fact, an official translation of your domestic driver's license.

Is it something he has to obtain in his home country, or would he be able to apply in the USA? I am the American citizen but also obtained an international DL there. He does have a regular license for Brasil.

One more question. Would he apply at our local DMV? Thanks for your help!

[payxibka 10,045]

Is it something he has to obtain in his home country, or would he be able to apply in the USA? I am the American citizen but also obtained an international DL there. He does have a regular license for Brasil.

One more question. Would he apply at our local DMV? Thanks for your help!

before... not available at any DMV

[YuAndDan 153]

Is it something he has to obtain in his home country, or would he be able to apply in the USA? I am the American citizen but also obtained an international DL there. He does have a regular license for Brasil.

One more question. Would he apply at our local DMV? Thanks for your help!

Answered this before:

A valid driver license from another country is also valid in NYS. You do not need to apply for a NYS driver license unless you become a resident of NYS.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=3060394

Again the DMV is a state controlled thing so rules vary, and can vary 50 different ways depending on where you live. In NY a foreign DL is acceptable until the person becomes a resident of the state of NY, that will be when they get a green-card, at that time they will need to apply for and go through all the hassles of a new driver (Written test, learner's permit, 5 hour pre-license class, road test..)

[TimS 0]

If your fiancee has a driver's license in home country, NYS will honor it until she becomes a resident "Green-Card" holder.

A valid driver license from another country is also valid in NYS. You do not need to apply for a NYS driver license unless you become a resident of NYS.

According to NYS law, a resident of another country can get a NYS driver license. The DMV does not recommend this because:

• NYS recognizes your foreign driver license if you remain a resident of the nation that issued the license. You do not need to have a NYS driver license to drive in NYS unless you become a resident of NYS.
• If you have a driver license from any nation except Canada, you must pass a written test, complete a 5-hour pre-licensing course and pass a road test to qualify for a NYS driver license. See "New Drivers - How to Apply".
• You must show a Social Security Card. If you are not eligible for a Social Security Card, you must provide a letter or form SSA-L676 from the US Social Security Administration (SSA) that states that you are not eligible. The SSA Letter or form must have been issued no more than 30 days before the date of your application. You must also show the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documents that the SSA used to determine that you are not eligible for a Social Security Card. The USCIS was formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Read the specific requirements on the identification requirements page.
• When you receive your NYS driver license, you must surrender your foreign driver license to the DMV road test examiner. The local DMV office keeps your foreign driver license, and then destroys the license after 60 days. If you plan to return to your home country and use your foreign driver license, ask the road test examiner how to make sure that your foreign driver license is not destroyed. If you need to get your foreign driver license, go to the local DMV office where you applied for your NYS driver license.

International Driving Permit: An International Driving Permit is not a driver license. The permit only verifies that you hold a valid driver license in your home country. Your foreign driver license, not the International Driving Permit, allows you to drive in NYS. Contact the authorities in your home country to get an International Driving Permit. If you are not a resident of the US, you cannot apply for an International Driving Permit in the US.

You are not required to have an International Driving Permit to drive in NYS, but the permit has value. The permit verifies, in several languages, that you have a valid foreign driver license. A police officer who cannot read the language on your foreign driver license can read the permit.

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/license.htm#d...romothernations

Thanks to everyone for helpful replies!

If your fiancee has a driver's license in home country, NYS will honor it until she becomes a resident "Green-Card" holder.

A valid driver license from another country is also valid in NYS. You do not need to apply for a NYS driver license unless you become a resident of NYS.

According to NYS law, a resident of another country can get a NYS driver license. The DMV does not recommend this because:

• NYS recognizes your foreign driver license if you remain a resident of the nation that issued the license. You do not need to have a NYS driver license to drive in NYS unless you become a resident of NYS.
• If you have a driver license from any nation except Canada, you must pass a written test, complete a 5-hour pre-licensing course and pass a road test to qualify for a NYS driver license. See "New Drivers - How to Apply".
• You must show a Social Security Card. If you are not eligible for a Social Security Card, you must provide a letter or form SSA-L676 from the US Social Security Administration (SSA) that states that you are not eligible. The SSA Letter or form must have been issued no more than 30 days before the date of your application. You must also show the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documents that the SSA used to determine that you are not eligible for a Social Security Card. The USCIS was formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Read the specific requirements on the identification requirements page.
• When you receive your NYS driver license, you must surrender your foreign driver license to the DMV road test examiner. The local DMV office keeps your foreign driver license, and then destroys the license after 60 days. If you plan to return to your home country and use your foreign driver license, ask the road test examiner how to make sure that your foreign driver license is not destroyed. If you need to get your foreign driver license, go to the local DMV office where you applied for your NYS driver license.

International Driving Permit: An International Driving Permit is not a driver license. The permit only verifies that you hold a valid driver license in your home country. Your foreign driver license, not the International Driving Permit, allows you to drive in NYS. Contact the authorities in your home country to get an International Driving Permit. If you are not a resident of the US, you cannot apply for an International Driving Permit in the US.

You are not required to have an International Driving Permit to drive in NYS, but the permit has value. The permit verifies, in several languages, that you have a valid foreign driver license. A police officer who cannot read the language on your foreign driver license can read the permit.

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/license.htm#d...romothernations

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Driver (not "drivers") license laws differ from state to state. But let's take a step back and review the basics, shall we?

Yes, there are international driver licenses, but--interestingly--of the states I know, most prefer (and they state that formally) a foreign driver to carry the driver license of his or her home country. So if you are a tourist, renting a car or driving a friend's car, all it takes is your regular driver license from home. Imagine every tourist would need a US driver license in order to drive a car, even a rental!

If your fiancee gets pulled over, the cop has NO RIGHT to ask about his immigration status. He could state he's only temporary in the country (vacation), and that's it. If he volunteers that he moved to the US and is now a resident of that particular State, the cop will require that he applies for a US driver license of the state he lives in within a certain time frame, as he would also require the same from a resident of another US State who just moved. That's it!

And yes, as soon as your fiancee is able to, he should apply for a driver license. Until then, he's perfectly fine with the one he has.

[kayandnigel 0]

My fiancee tends to forget his is in America and tried to drive on the left side of the road, scary!