When to apply for a US driving licence?

[buster2209 2]

I entered the country on a K-1 (fiancee) visa and got married on the 17th Aug 2009. I have lived in PA since I arrived here - 06/16/09.

I am still waiting on my green card (I just did my biometrics this past Saturday - 10/04).

According to the PA driving licence website;

"All new residents with out-of-state non-commercial driver's licenses must obtain a PA Driver’s License within 60 days of establishing Pennsylvania residency."

I guess what I am asking is this, when do I (or am I already?) become a permanent resident of PA??

Edited October 6, 2009 by buster2209

[TayRivers 4]

I entered the country on a K-1 (fiancee) visa and got married on the 17th Aug 2009. I have lived in PA since I arrived here - 06/16/09.

I am still waiting on my green card (I just did my biometrics this past Saturday - 10/04).

According to the PA driving licence website;

"All new residents with out-of-state non-commercial driver's licenses must obtain a PA Driver's License within 60 days of establishing Pennsylvania residency."

I guess what I am asking is this, when do I (or am I already?) become a permanent resident of PA??

Your state DMV should have a guide for the rules they use to say if you are a resident or not... Resident in this case may not be the same as being a resident under immigration laws.

Here in MA you are classed as being a resident for getting a license if you are listed on a rental lease/mortgage or have a utility bill in your name.

I am moving this thread to "Moving Here and Your New Life in America" as this is not a Citizenship question.

Edited October 6, 2009 by TayRivers

[NArocks 13]

However yuo need to check and see what they require as proof of US residents to get the DL. Here in NJ they have a 6 point check list. Hubby needed his EAD card in order to get his DL.

[buster2209 2]

Hmmm, how long can I drive in the US for on my UK licence?

[visacheck 3]

Hmmm, how long can I drive in the US for on my UK licence?

I got pulled over for speeding same day my AOS interview was approved. At that time i was using my philippine license thinking that i was still a visitor since i was not an official "resident yet." After giving my DL, the cop went back to his car, check his computer and then came back with the ticket. i had two violations, speeding and driving without license. i tried to explain but the cop wouldnt listen. he knew that i already had 2 expired CA state ID which means that i've been in the states for 1 year. He told me having stayed that long makes me a resident and not a visitor anymore. Traffic police and immigration have different definition on the term "resident."

EAD would prolly be the only way you can get a DL before your greencard. Check with DMV to be sure.

I would not encourage you to drive using your UK license. I dont think K1 visa is considered a visitor visa. Even if it was, your I-94 is already expired correct?

PS.

When i appeared in court (driving w/oa license is a misdemeanor in CA which means i am required to show in court) the judge dismissed my case because i already had a CA DL (even if i applied for it after the violation).

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Buster,

you can drive with your UK license until you have your PA driver license. You'll have your PA driver license once you have met the document requirements of the PA Department of Motor Vehicles and are thus able to apply for one.

So once the US immigration people have done their part, you can ask the US DMV drones to get busy. All you have to do is keep up with their snail pace. Shouldn't take a year though . . .

[Damian&Kelly 16]

You can drive on your UK license in PA for 1 year after arriving here. And you can get your license in PA once you have your EAD.

[NickD 203]

From my boy scout training, be prepared, my wife got an international drivers' license that was easy for her to get in her home country. State of Wisconsin accepted it as I went in with her as did my insurance company, even with reduced rates as I was no longer a wild bachelor chasing wild women at wee hours in the morning. She was driving two days after she came here.

She came from a country where speed laws were non-existent, I did most of the driving at first to get her familiar with our road signs and speed limits, pointing out every two blocks where a cop had someone stopped and showing her in the paper where they were getting 200-800 buck fines. And pointed out these tickets may have an adverse affect on immigration. She was a good girl.

At the time, our DMV only wanted an SS card, had to wait four months for that EAD card to get her SS card, believe today, they want a green card. They gave her a 3 year probationary license that expired during her one year extension and wouldn't renew her license. That teed me off royally so got on the horn with our governor, at first they would only renew her license for the duration of her one year extension notice, that teed me off even more. Governor appointed a new immigration officer that didn't know anything about immigration, so I spent a week training him. The head of the DOT send us a letter apologizing for our inconvenience.

After my wife got her USC certificate, went back to our DMV office and stuck that in their face, but was told they didn't want to see that, just for her to check she is a USC on her next renewal. Asked if any illegal could do that, no answer to that question. I give up.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I've just looked up PA requirements and you need both an SS and an EAD. This means your in one of those unlucky states where you could potentially hit a period where you can not legally drive (if your EAD document takes longer then 60 days - minus the days you were in the US prior to AOS). So either you don't drive after the 60 days and until you get your EAD or you make sure to tell police that your residence is in the UK and your visiting (one of the nice things is that the police can't really prove your over your 60 days unless you've had a previous ticket etc. so they have to go by what you tell them)

To Damian&Kelly: I think your assuming that things are reciprocal with the UK. They are not. While you can drive in the UK for 12 months on a foreign license it doesn't work here unless the state your in specifically says that its 12 months.

..and now I must go off and prepare for a moderator to rebuke me for saying that you can lie to the police and get away with it.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The UK license is valid to operate a motor vehicle in any country of the World, unless specific regulations restrict it. For example, if you go to the British Virgin Islands, you have to apply for a local license. Cost $14 (if memory serves me) and takes 3 minutes.

PA law requires residents to apply for a PA license. Once the OP fulfills the requirements of a PA resident, and has the documentation to prove it, he's obligated to apply for one. Until then, he's fine with his valid UK license. An international driver license is not only a waste of money, but most States explicitly do not recognize it, request the driver's original license from his or her home country instead.

Until a visitor becomes a resident, he uses his original driver license. Once he'd become a resident of a State of the Union, he'll apply for a license from that State.

It's not that complicated, really.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

The UK license is valid to operate a motor vehicle in any country of the World, unless specific regulations restrict it. For example, if you go to the British Virgin Islands, you have to apply for a local license. Cost $14 (if memory serves me) and takes 3 minutes.

PA law requires residents to apply for a PA license. Once the OP fulfills the requirements of a PA resident, and has the documentation to prove it, he's obligated to apply for one. Until then, he's fine with his valid UK license. An international driver license is not only a waste of money, but most States explicitly do not recognize it, request the driver's original license from his or her home country instead.

Until a visitor becomes a resident, he uses his original driver license. Once he'd become a resident of a State of the Union, he'll apply for a license from that State.

It's not that complicated, really.

Except that a person coming in to a state to live there is a resident regardless of immigration status.

[SMR 368]

The UK license is valid to operate a motor vehicle in any country of the World, unless specific regulations restrict it. For example, if you go to the British Virgin Islands, you have to apply for a local license. Cost $14 (if memory serves me) and takes 3 minutes.

PA law requires residents to apply for a PA license. Once the OP fulfills the requirements of a PA resident, and has the documentation to prove it, he's obligated to apply for one. Until then, he's fine with his valid UK license. An international driver license is not only a waste of money, but most States explicitly do not recognize it, request the driver's original license from his or her home country instead.

Until a visitor becomes a resident, he uses his original driver license. Once he'd become a resident of a State of the Union, he'll apply for a license from that State.

It's not that complicated, really.

Except that a person coming in to a state to live there is a resident regardless of immigration status.

My wife just got her learner's permit in NY (she never had a license in Russia). She had to have an EAD card to get the permit and it expires when her EAD expires. We'll get her license once she gets her green card so that it lasts longer.

It isn't really a big deal, but I just thought I would mention that if you get a driver's license with EAD it will expire with the EAD.

[Craneman 2]

If I am not mistaken, in most states the I-94 constitues legal residency, you can apply for the SSN with a valid I-94, at least in our state, which does not recognize international drivers license

From my boy scout training, be prepared, my wife got an international drivers' license that was easy for her to get in her home country. State of Wisconsin accepted it as I went in with her as did my insurance company, even with reduced rates as I was no longer a wild bachelor chasing wild women at wee hours in the morning. She was driving two days after she came here.

She came from a country where speed laws were non-existent, I did most of the driving at first to get her familiar with our road signs and speed limits, pointing out every two blocks where a cop had someone stopped and showing her in the paper where they were getting 200-800 buck fines. And pointed out these tickets may have an adverse affect on immigration. She was a good girl.

At the time, our DMV only wanted an SS card, had to wait four months for that EAD card to get her SS card, believe today, they want a green card. They gave her a 3 year probationary license that expired during her one year extension and wouldn't renew her license. That teed me off royally so got on the horn with our governor, at first they would only renew her license for the duration of her one year extension notice, that teed me off even more. Governor appointed a new immigration officer that didn't know anything about immigration, so I spent a week training him. The head of the DOT send us a letter apologizing for our inconvenience.

After my wife got her USC certificate, went back to our DMV office and stuck that in their face, but was told they didn't want to see that, just for her to check she is a USC on her next renewal. Asked if any illegal could do that, no answer to that question. I give up.

Edited October 7, 2009 by Craneman

[Old Dominion 26]

It varies by state, but having the EAD will usually be needed to get a drivers' license (or sometimes at least the NOA1 after you apply). You aren't really a "resident" of a state until you are a permanent resident of the US, i.e., green card.

As to driving with an overseas license, the rule of thumb is that it is valid for up to 90 days after your arrival in the US. Best be prepared to act as it if is only valid for 90 days OR just don't get stopped by police for any reason, including a checkpoint.

[Damian&Kelly 16]

My husband drove on his UK license in PA for 1 year, without an international license. he was pulled over once and they treated him as a licensed driver. I don't drive so he drove my mom's car, and my mom talked to her insurance (allstate) and they said he was covered just so my mom gave him permission to drive.

As for getting a license in the UK, you do need a SSN and at least your EAD. My husband tried to get his license before his EAD and they said that his I-94 had to be valid for at least 6 months to get his license.