Driving in U.S. with Foreign License

[GJen 9]

http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/DLdata.aspx?con=1747371440&ty=dl

^^^ The statement below seems to validate that, in Georgia, it's acceptable to drive using a foreign license for up to a year:

"Georgia recognizes valid driver licenses issued to and held by residents of other countries as long as the "Out Of Country" license is valid (not expired). Generally, you may drive in Georgia for up to one year on a valid foreign or International license."

It doesn't sound very concrete though. Concrete is what I would like to pull have and be able to pull out of the glove compartment in the case that we were stopped and G was driving. I know he can eventually apply for a license once we've established residency in GA, but I was hoping his foreign license would work until we get married and filed for AOS. (He'll be coming over on a K1 visa).

Any ideas where I can find legislation to support driving on a foreign license for up to a year?

Thanks,

Jen (USC)

[Mrs Green 6]

http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/DLdata.aspx?con=1747371440&ty=dl

^^^ The statement below seems to validate that, in Georgia, it's acceptable to drive using a foreign license for up to a year:

"Georgia recognizes valid driver licenses issued to and held by residents of other countries as long as the "Out Of Country" license is valid (not expired). Generally, you may drive in Georgia for up to one year on a valid foreign or International license."

It doesn't sound very concrete though. Concrete is what I would like to pull have and be able to pull out of the glove compartment in the case that we were stopped and G was driving. I know he can eventually apply for a license once we've established residency in GA, but I was hoping his foreign license would work until we get married and filed for AOS. (He'll be coming over on a K1 visa).

Any ideas where I can find legislation to support driving on a foreign license for up to a year?

Thanks,

Jen (USC)

[Mrs Green 6]

Since 2003, every year i have entered New Jersey with an international licence and drive for the duration of time while there. This licence is valid for one year and was applied for at my regular tax office in Jamaica. I dont know if the same can be applied for in your country or if the USA accpets your spouse country's licence. He could ask his local licensing body.

[GJen 9]

Since 2003, every year i have entered New Jersey with an international licence and drive for the duration of time while there. This licence is valid for one year and was applied for at my regular tax office in Jamaica. I dont know if the same can be applied for in your country or if the USA accpets your spouse country's licence. He could ask his local licensing body.

Where you ever pulled over while on a foreign license?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Where you ever pulled over while on a foreign license?

I have been, in 1994 August (second half of the month) where PIB exchanges with I-285. At that time I was on a TN-1 (issued around May 2 of that year).

Basically, I had not bothered to swap-over my Alberta (Canadian Province) licence, and was stopped for speeding. I had however, asked (on day 29 of the TN-1 validity) GA Patrol how long I could retain a foreign licence on temporary visa--and mentioned this fact to the officer. He went back to his vehicle, and after some time (maybe 5 minutes) came back quite ticked-off (due to the fact it would be an excessive headache to write-up the charge).

Edited October 4, 2010 by Saddle Bronc

[Anh map 2,098]

http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/DLdata.aspx?con=1747371440&ty=dl

^^^ The statement below seems to validate that, in Georgia, it's acceptable to drive using a foreign license for up to a year:

"Georgia recognizes valid driver licenses issued to and held by residents of other countries as long as the "Out Of Country" license is valid (not expired). Generally, you may drive in Georgia for up to one year on a valid foreign or International license."

It doesn't sound very concrete though. Concrete is what I would like to pull have and be able to pull out of the glove compartment in the case that we were stopped and G was driving. I know he can eventually apply for a license once we've established residency in GA, but I was hoping his foreign license would work until we get married and filed for AOS. (He'll be coming over on a K1 visa).

Any ideas where I can find legislation to support driving on a foreign license for up to a year?

Thanks,

Jen (USC)

G will no longer be a resident of a foreign country. So he will need to get a GA license.

Edit to add: Once he gets his GC, G will.... Until then, if he's stopped he tells the truth: he just moved to the US and cannot obtain a DL until he obtains his GC.

Edited October 4, 2010 by Anh map

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I think your proof is straight from the state of Georgia's driver's license webpage so what could be better than that? Print that and stash it in the car.

My husband drove on his UK license in Texas because he had to have EAD or a GC to get a a TX license. I wish I had printed the reference that says TX accepts foreign licenses for 1 year (not every country is included). He was stopped and the whole K1 process was hard to explain. A print out would have been helpful. Law enforcement officers in cities and states don't really know alot about immigration, especially K1s. Texas also says you have 30 days to get a license once you move here, and that is impossible for a K1, thus the long explanation. I told him we had been to the driver's license place twice and he was refused a license. Yes we had tried. (Texas had just changed their laws about immigrants and driver licenses.) The officer finally took our word for it, and dropped the failure to have a driver's license part of the ticket. He did ticket the speeding offense with the UK driver's license number. I would also put a copy of the AOS NOA in the car, not that a state patrol cop would have a clue, but it might lend some credibilty to the story when you explain why you "reside" in GA but can't get a license, but can drive on your foreign license until EAD.

[kptaylor 5]

Our situation is similar to the above. You need a SSN to get the DL in Arizona, but they honor a foreign DL for up to a year. The catch, if you enroll your kids in public school (we did), then you're required to get an Arizona DL immediately... We carry all of the immigration docs and a copy of the Arizona requirements just in case!

[Mononoke28 135]

It's best to get your answer directly from your state's DMV office. I asked the same question here in Colorado before my husband arrived and yes, they honor foreign licenses for anyone who does not enter the US with an immigrant visa. So any tourist can drive for whatever amount of time your state allows woth a foreign license and have no problem at all. The OP's case is different in that her fiancée will be arriving with a K1 visa which means his foreign license will not be honored, he will need to get a Georgia state DL.

But again, check with them directly.

Diana

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I would personally say I was a visitor until I was granted US residency (green card or EAD). In hind sight, the traffic stop would have gone a lot quicker. Once the I-94 expires, you get into that K1 limbo where you don't really have anything to prove status...a great reason to marry quickly and apply for AOS asap..

And the web page the OP cited is from the Georgia DMV, so should be accurate.

[R&V 8]

I was turned away today. Lady told me I could not get a license because my I-94 was expired and I did not have a GC yet. She also said I was only allowed to drive on my foreign license for 30days.

I looked it up online also, and found what the OP said.

Who to believe? I'd hate to not be able to drive for months and months. Argh.

[LDRkristin 0]

I think your proof is straight from the state of Georgia's driver's license webpage so what could be better than that? Print that and stash it in the car.

My husband drove on his UK license in Texas because he had to have EAD or a GC to get a a TX license. I wish I had printed the reference that says TX accepts foreign licenses for 1 year (not every country is included). He was stopped and the whole K1 process was hard to explain. A print out would have been helpful. Law enforcement officers in cities and states don't really know alot about immigration, especially K1s. Texas also says you have 30 days to get a license once you move here, and that is impossible for a K1, thus the long explanation. I told him we had been to the driver's license place twice and he was refused a license. Yes we had tried. (Texas had just changed their laws about immigrants and driver licenses.) The officer finally took our word for it, and dropped the failure to have a driver's license part of the ticket. He did ticket the speeding offense with the UK driver's license number. I would also put a copy of the AOS NOA in the car, not that a state patrol cop would have a clue, but it might lend some credibilty to the story when you explain why you "reside" in GA but can't get a license, but can drive on your foreign license until EAD.

Hi Nich-Nick,

I'm very angry after a bad experience as a Canadian trying to get a driver's license in Texas today. It turns out I didn't have all the facts. Could you post the link to the "reference that says TX accepts foreign licenses for 1 year"? that would be SO helpful!

Thanks!

[soon2batexan 3]

I'm with you on this one LDRKristin! I move to Houston 3 weeks from today and it sounds like it's quite a complicated process to get a DL on a K-1. I get that they want to see an EAD, and we're getting married and filing for AOS right when I get there so hopefully I have my EAD within 90 days. Doe anyone know how long a K-1 Canadian can drive in TX with their Canadian license? And if we wait past the 90 days, there isn't a fine or anything for waiting too long, is there?

What a gong show!

[texas-gal 3]

These links might be helpful for people wanting to know more about getting a Texas DL. K1 visa holders aren't eligible to get a driver's license. Top of page 6 of the first link shows what's needed when you have applied for AOS.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/ImmigrationStatusChart.pdf

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/ApplyforLicense.htm

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/LawfulStatusDLID.htm

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi Nich-Nick,

I'm very angry after a bad experience as a Canadian trying to get a driver's license in Texas today. It turns out I didn't have all the facts. Could you post the link to the "reference that says TX accepts foreign licenses for 1 year"? that would be SO helpful!

Thanks!

Just saw your question to me. I have it bookmarked, but they have changed up ther website and it's a dead url now. It was part of a long document and various FAQs linked to different sections of it. I did some searching but haven't found anything.

I'm with you on this one LDRKristin! I move to Houston 3 weeks from today and it sounds like it's quite a complicated process to get a DL on a K-1. I get that they want to see an EAD, and we're getting married and filing for AOS right when I get there so hopefully I have my EAD within 90 days. Doe anyone know how long a K-1 Canadian can drive in TX with their Canadian license? And if we wait past the 90 days, there isn't a fine or anything for waiting too long, is there?

What a gong show!

I replied (twice) to your post in the AOS progress reports thread on this subject.

And I know it seems huge right now guys, because we were the same way, especially being right at the time the law changed and there was no information out there. But let it go, hurry up and file AOS, and drive as a tourist until the US calls you a resident and you can get your license. The time passes quickly when you look at it in hindsight. If you get stopped just talk your way out of it as we did. Explain to them you can't get a license or extend your I-94 due to the rules of your visa, and it's nothing like the other visas they may know about. . And you aren't really illegal when your I-94 expires because you are allowed to remain while AOS is pending. They won't know any of those things but they will believe you if you talk respectfully and aren't wiped out drunk or something. Keep a photocopy of the AOS receipt, biometric letter, etc in the car to add some documentation to sound believeable.

And "Drive Friendly" as they say here in Texas.