Getting a driver license in California

[brtlmj 0]

I found the following on the CA DMV website:

If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver license as long as your home state license remains valid.

Fair enough. I have a Polish license and can drive. Unfortunately:

If you take a job here or become a resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days.

I need a SSN to get a licence, and we all know what are my chances of getting it within ten days. But, let's see how the DMV defines "residency":

Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner's property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents.

What do you think ? Does entering the US using a K-1 visa make me a resident according to this definition ? If it does, will it mean that I won't be able to use my old license after ten days ?

I have already accepted that I will have to wait a few months before working. But if I am unable to drive as well, then I am going to be seriously pi*sed off

Bartek

[CanadaGirl 0]

Hello,

The way I read that is you can drive on your home country license as long as it is valid. If you get a job then you must get a CA license within 10 days which shouldn't be a problem because to get a job you should have a SSN.

I'm not sure about the resident thing. The USCIS says that you are not a resident yet...

"Until the marriage takes place, your fiancé(e) is considered a nonimmigrant. A nonimmigrant is a foreign national seeking to temporarily enter the United States for a specific purpose. A fiancé(e) may not obtain an extension of the 90-day original nonimmigrant admission.

If your fiancé(e) intends to live and work permanently in the United States, your fiancé(e) should apply to become a permanent resident after your marriage."

So I would read that is until you get your green card you are not a permanent resident.

I would help you out more if I could but I'm not really sure of the laws in California. Maybe someone else who has gone through this can give more info. You also might want to try going to the license office in person. I live in Florida and went there with just my K3 visa, my passport and my Canada drivers license and they gave me a Florida license valid for 2 years.

Good luck to you.

[Dr_LHA 3]

K-1 does not make you a resident. I believe as a K-1 you cannot get a drivers license, unless you have EAD and SSN, so I think it is OK to drive on your Polish license for now. Certainly I know plenty of people who have done this for ages without issue.

I'm not sure about the resident thing. The USCIS says that you are not a resident yet...

The federal definition of "residency" differs from the State's one. I was told that after living in California for a year I was considered a California Resident, despite the fact that I am a non-resident alien. I had a job/drivers license/SSN and that was good enough for them. I also had a drivers license that expired way past when my Visa did, which is a shame because I had to give it up when I moved to PA, where they only gave me a license to the end of my H1-B.

[allynella 0]

I think you are still considered to be an immigrant until AOS has been approved. But as far as taxes are concerned, you are considered a Permanent Resident. I drove in NJ with my international license until SSN and EAD was issued, since I did not have the required 6 points to conduct any form of business with the DMV.

[brtlmj 0]

It would appear that there is a huge "gray area", as there are many different definitions of "residency". I guess I am going to get SSN and CA license as soon as possible, and use my old license until then, without worrying too much.

My fiancee called her insurer and was told that they will be happy to add me to her policy for six months - after that I will need a CA license.

Bartek