Driving in the US

[OnionsJester 1]

Hi guys, sorry to make this almost-certainly duplicate topic, but I wasn't sure what phrase to search for.

I'm moving from the UK to the US in about a month. I've never driven before, but I will really need to where I am moving.

I know I can't work until I get my EAD, so the need to drive is not immediate, I just need to know what path to start on.

What documents do I need to take a test/start driving in the US, or at least get a learner's permit? At what stage can I start? Do I need my SS card first, need to get married first, need to have applied for AOS/EAD first, etc?

I'm moving to Texas, if that is important.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and apologies again for clogging up the forum!

[BRAD & ROSE 0]

Hi guys, sorry to make this almost-certainly duplicate topic, but I wasn't sure what phrase to search for.

I'm moving from the UK to the US in about a month. I've never driven before, but I will really need to where I am moving.

I know I can't work until I get my EAD, so the need to drive is not immediate, I just need to know what path to start on.

What documents do I need to take a test/start driving in the US, or at least get a learner's permit? At what stage can I start? Do I need my SS card first, need to get married first, need to have applied for AOS/EAD first, etc?

I'm moving to Texas, if that is important.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and apologies again for clogging up the forum!

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

[Tahoma 2,292]

In most states, you can get a learner's permit fairly quickly. You will need ID and you will likely have to take a written test.

To find out the requirements for a learner's permit/driver's license, just go to the Department of Motor Vehicles website for the state that you are going to live in. All the info will be there.

[Captain Hammer 113]

They wanted to see my wife's greencard, and we might have shown SSN too. Your local DMV is going to have all the relevant information, check with them because it does vary from state to state.

[snooki703 7]

I live in Virginia and when I first came, I had a driver's license from my home country. This way, I didn't need to hold a learner's permit. I was eligible to take the driver's test immediately. You just bring a car with the car's registration and you'll be good to go as far as testing, oh and there's the vision test.

In terms of documents needed for the DL, Virginia's DMV accepts a passport w/ I-94 and visa but the expiration date on the DL will be the expiration of your visa (I'm assuming K-1)? Once this expires, you can take your EAD/GC as proof of your extended status.

Good luck with your journey

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You need Texas specific information because each state varies. Some suggestions:

1. Get you SSN about 2 weeks after entry. There's a VJ guide about that.
   
2. Go to the closest DPS office and get the free yellow book to study for your test. It's easier than trying to read from the online version. Pay attention to the first part of the book geared toward teen drivers and penalties for various offenses. The written (computer) test has a number of questions like "What is the penalty for....." My husband skipped most of that since he's not under 21 and barely passed the test.
   
3. Practice parallel parking. Use a turn signal to indicate you are going to park even though you'll be tested in the parking lot of the DPS office.
   

In Texas, since Oct 1 2008, they were not allowing tests or permits to K1s until you at least got your EAD. But I think that's been recently revised and maybe your NOA letter after filing AOS may get you a temporary visitor's license. After you get a greencard you can go back and upgrade to a regular 6 year license (for a fee of course.)

Take the following document to the DPS just in case the worker is still under the assumption that your I-94 needs at least 6 months (K1 has 90 days) or that you need an EAD card showing one year.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/documents/ImmigrationStatusChart.pdf

See page 3: Applicants for adjustment of status

"This documentation can include, but is not limited to a form I-797 indicating a pending I-485 or pending application for adjustment of status." That's the latest and greatest news for new K1 Texans.

And finally, if you have a UK license, you can drive on it in Texas as a visitor for 12 months. Just say you are visiting and not a resident when you get pulled over by state or local cops. They will not understand US immigration laws, especially the K1 process. You aren't actually a resident of the US until you get your greencard so I think calling yourself a visitor is okay. My husband drove on his UK license for several months until he got EAD which was required at the time to get a TX license.