Foreign Drivers Licenses - traveling before GC

[Boiler 45,525]

I have heard that too but not sure if it's applied in New York;

I think the rationale is to not allow someone to give their national license to

someone else who may want to use it without authorization by the DMV.

The Dl belongs to a foreign Government, not theirs to take.

Begs the question why you would offer it.

And if the original is lost you just get it re-issued anyway.

[rin and john 71]

I recently (November) had a review with my insurance (State Farm) regarding all of my coverage. I have 3 vehicles (two in my name, one jointly with my 22 yo daughter). I asked my rep if my rates would change when I add Rin (she is preparing to get a 'learner' permit as she never had a license in Thailand). Nope, no change. Asked if she would be covered once she had her permit while she learned to drive; my rep said she is covered now, even without a license as she would be in my vehicle and is my spouse. Wouldn't eliminate the legal problems of being an unlicensed driver, but my car and any liability would be covered. Didn't want to believe him, but he was adamant that she and the vehicles would be covered.

For the record, I refuse to let her drive without a permit or license!

Edited January 15, 2010 by rin and john

[thongd4me 69]

I just got off the phone with the NYS DMV and they were very helpful & clear about the following:

She CAN drive with her Thai drivers' license as long as we get insurance for her prior to her

being a permanent resident, provided it is ACCOMPANIED by a CERTIFIED translation from

the Thailand consulate or State Department. She can't do the translation herself as would

be permitted for documents in the visa process.

Even before AOS she can apply for a temporary drivers licence which can be converted to a

permanent one once she has the AOS.

What she needs for the application for this license (at any time) is:

Her Thai passport showing the valid visa.

Social Security card.

Marriage certificate showing the connection with her Thai name & married name,

assuming her NY passport will have her married name.

For this application she does NOT need her Thai drivers' license, even to show for reference.

Edited January 15, 2010 by thongd4me

[Boiler 45,525]

International Drivers Permit would be easier.

[thongd4me 69]

International Drivers Permit would be easier.

She would have had to get that in Thailand - AAA only gives them to US licensees.

[Krikit 1,164]

Even before AOS she can apply for a temporary drivers licence which can be converted to a

permanent one once she has the AOS.

Florida would not give me a temporary license pre-AOS because of the I-94 expiry date. They told me to come back once I received my NOA but did issue me a resident card. When I came back with my NOA (still pre-AOS) they issued me a temporary card good for one year. When the renewal came in I went back with my greencard and they issued me a regular license good for six years. This is probably what the NY DMV is referring to when they say temporary license.

[thongd4me 69]

Florida would not give me a temporary license pre-AOS because of the I-94 expiry date. They told me to come back once I received my NOA but did issue me a resident card. When I came back with my NOA (still pre-AOS) they issued me a temporary card good for one year. When the renewal came in I went back with my greencard and they issued me a regular license good for six years. This is probably what the NY DMV is referring to when they say temporary license.

Thanks, we'll keep that in mind. I'm sure while her AOS will be provisional for 2 years

they won't want to give a driver's license that's good for 6 or 7 so they may adjust

it as required. If it turns out differently I'll report that too.

{Your furry friend looks like the junior (smaller) version of a NY subway rat,

but I'm sure he has better manners}

Edited January 15, 2010 by thongd4me

[Krikit 1,164]

Interestingly enough, other K-1 visa holders in Florida had a different experience than I did. Some never received a temporary license.... they were automatically issued with a regular license so did not have to go back once they received their greencard. It seems each office has a different way of doing things.

[Mountain Climber 186]

I recently (November) had a review with my insurance (State Farm) regarding all of my coverage. I have 3 vehicles (two in my name, one jointly with my 22 yo daughter). I asked my rep if my rates would change when I add Rin (she is preparing to get a 'learner' permit as she never had a license in Thailand). Nope, no change.Asked if she would be covered once she had her permit while she learned to drive; [/b]my rep said she is covered now[/b], even without a license as she would be in my vehicle and is my spouse.[/b] Wouldn't eliminate the legal problems of being an unlicensed driver, but my car and any liability would be covered. Didn't want to believe him, but he was adamant that she and the vehicles would be covered.

For the record, I refuse to let her drive without a permit or license!

We also have State Farm on our cars. Insuring my wife almost doubled my premium. The agent stated that since she had no experience driving in the USA (she drove in Thailand for 10 years), it was like insuring a 16 year old with a new license. I called several agents and got the same response. We live in California, so I do not know if that makes a difference.

Edited January 19, 2010 by Mountain Climber

[milimelo 4,481]

We got taken by GEICO as they would not accept my driving history from Europe. Ended up going to USAA insurance (hubby is in military) and they cut the rate in half for us and had no problem accepting my driving history.

They take non-military members too and they seem to accept new immigrants without a problem so I'd give them a call as well. Nobody wants to be ripped off on insurance rates.

[thongd4me 69]

We got taken by GEICO as they would not accept my driving history from Europe. Ended up going to USAA insurance (hubby is in military) and they cut the rate in half for us and had no problem accepting my driving history.

They take non-military members too and they seem to accept new immigrants without a problem so I'd give them a call as well. Nobody wants to be ripped off on insurance rates.

Thankee kindly

[PositiveVibes 1]

From NYS - DMV

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.

A resident in my view means AOS - until that time my wife is only a K-1 visa holder, not a resident.

That means she can use her Thai license until her AOS, correct?

BTW: I called DMV and Geico today regarding the same questions. And DMV told me my fiance could drive with his foreign license and when he has his green card apply for a NY state license. And I called Geico (my insurer) and they would cover my fiance while here and driving on his foreign license and believe it or not by adding him to my policy with his foreign license, somehow that reduced my premium by $8.00...So, that's what we are going to do....just much easier that way.

[thongd4me 69]

BTW: I called DMV and Geico today regarding the same questions. And DMV told me my fiance could drive with his foreign license and when he has his green card apply for a NY state license. And I called Geico (my insurer) and they would cover my fiance while here and driving on his foreign license and believe it or not by adding him to my policy with his foreign license, somehow that reduced my premium by $8.00...So, that's what we are going to do....just much easier that way.

That sounds good. I also have Geico.

She is a little intimidated by the thought of driving on the right-hand side of the road at this time,

but she wants to get more of the lay of the land and local destinations before she tries that.

Best of luck to you too

[alex and astrid 38]

My husband added me to his GEICO insurance and his premium went down by around $200! They accepted my Australian driving history (seven years worth), took the info from my Australian licence and just told us to call them once I have a California licence.

Currently, I am driving on my Australian licence, though really, that driving has only been my husband getting me used to driving on the right, not the left. When it comes time to get my Cali licence, I am fully prepared to argue that I was not a resident until I got my green card.

[HeatDeath 430]

My husband added me to his GEICO insurance and his premium went down by around $200! They accepted my Australian driving history (seven years worth), took the info from my Australian licence and just told us to call them once I have a California licence.

Currently, I am driving on my Australian licence, though really, that driving has only been my husband getting me used to driving on the right, not the left. When it comes time to get my Cali licence, I am fully prepared to argue that I was not a resident until I got my green card.

Be very careful about that. Each state creates it's own legal residency definition. Utah's (from the Utah DMV website) is "if the person establishes a domicile here, remains here longer than six months, engages in other than seasonal employment; or obtains Utah privileges not ordinarily afforded nonresidents, such as obtaining a driver license, vehicle registration, or placing children in a Utah school etc." By that definition, I may have become a Utah resident when I started receiving CC statements here in early August, or when I used a Utah address on my marriage license in late August, but I definitely became a resident when I registered my car in December, immediately before my Canadian driver license expired and i had to get a Utah one anyways. My GC residence date has nothing to do with when the State of Utah thinks I became a resident. Frankly, it was a little nerve-wracking, because Utah does not have even the 10-day grace period drivers in California are given. If you meet the above conditions, you must have a Utah DL, or you are in violation of the law.

California's residency definition may be similar. If you are receiving mail there, that may be sufficient to show that you have established a domicile there. State residence laws often have nothing to do with national residence laws. It sounds bizarre but it is perfectly possible to be, at one time, a resident of Utah (for DMV purposes) and a resident of Canada (but not the US) for tax purposes. I believe California's residency definition (probably drafted with illegals in mind) has nothing to do with immigration status at all, but refers to "entering the state with the intent of living there" or something similar. If you have established a domicile, or have even just behaved as if you have the intent of staying, you may get stuck badly if you get caught without a California driver license. Do a search on these forums. Some guy here got charged with it. It's quite serious, to the point where getting convicted of it could complicate citizenship down the road.

You need to be very clear with any traffic officer you encounter that you do not yet have the intent to stay permanently. You should almost certainly not give your California address as a permanent address, and you should go for your California license (at least a learner's permit, for familiarization, as you mentioned above) as soon as reasonably possible.