florida drivers licence

[EmmaLouise 0]

Hi everyone,

I have come across another problem. I have applied for AOS from a K1 visa. I have the NOA1 but that is all. I am currently driving by using my Australian drivers license but this will expire in about 3 weeks. I want to apply for a Florida drivers license and have some questions for any other Florida residents:

1. Am I eligible for a Drivers License as I do not have EAD or greencard (my K1 will expire in about 3 weeks) ?

2. do I need to take a driving test or can I exchange my foreign license?

I cannot go without a license for any period of time as my husband is currently deployed to Afghanistan and I have no other transport options.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Casprd 167]

your eligibility will be determined by the state where you live. Some states like california are less restrictive while others will only issue a DL if you can prove your immigration status as a permanent resident. You will have to take the written test regardless and most likely will have to take a behind the wheel test as well since you only have a foreign DL now. But the behind the wheel test in most places is so ridiculously easy that if you can reach the gas pedal you can pretty much pass (not sure if reaching the brakes is even necessary )

As a side note, your K-1 doesn't expire in 3 weeks. It was cancelled as soon as you passed your POE in to the US. From that point until you have completed your AOS you are in a limbo status as far as immigrations is concerned. K-1 is not like a tourist or business visa that lets you enter and stay for a set amount of time. It lets you enter once and only once and has no time limit for exiting, just the agreement that you will marry or leave within 90 days. Assuming you are already married then the time issue is a moot point also.

Edited September 27, 2011 by Casprd

[* Kristin * 49]

Casprd,

Saw your note RE: California below... do you know, that if we can use a AOS NOA1 to apply for a license in CA? Or do we need to wait for the full greencard?

Tks.

your eligibility will be determined by the state where you live. Some states like california are less restrictive while others will only issue a DL if you can prove your immigration status as a permanent resident. You will have to take the written test regardless and most likely will have to take a behind the wheel test as well since you only have a foreign DL now. But the behind the wheel test in most places is so ridiculously easy that if you can reach the gas pedal you can pretty much pass (not sure if reaching the brakes is even necessary )

[kathump 0]

I was just researching this the other day to find out what my husband will need to obtain his FL license. I found this link to be helpful:

http://www.dmvflorida.org/drivers-license-nc.shtml

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Emma Louise,

you will not be able to obtain a Florida driver license before your AOS petition is being adjudicated. "Should have" doesn't help you much, but you should have gotten a new Australian license before moving to the U.S.

[sun flower 3]

I had mi DL in FL for 3 years with my mother's I-130 NOA. But when it got approved and I needed to wait for an available visa for my case I couldn't renew it. My husband (by that time my boyfriend) decided to buy a house and get married, and I could renew my DL with my passport, marriage certificate and NOAs of I-130 and I-485 and I-94 and 2 proofs of address. Since January 2010 the law have changed to obtain a DL in FL. But I had to visit at least two diferent tax collectors to get it. My suggestion for you is to go to a tax collector office and say that you want to get a DL and if with your documents you can get one. If yes you'll have to get first te learners permit (making the test in the computer signs and questions) and after that the practical test. In the TC they have the books to study, they are free or you can download them.

To drive with a foreign DL or expired licence is a criminal offense. You can be charged with driving with no valid DL. (If you are going to be more than 30 days in FL, you suppose to get a FL DL).If you get caugth you can have a ticket, or have to go court or get arrested and your car impound. And no mention the financial cost. If you get caugh two times is time in jail.

Laws are getting hard in FL.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

Hi everyone,

I have come across another problem. I have applied for AOS from a K1 visa. I have the NOA1 but that is all. I am currently driving by using my Australian drivers license but this will expire in about 3 weeks. I want to apply for a Florida drivers license and have some questions for any other Florida residents:

1. Am I eligible for a Drivers License as I do not have EAD or greencard (my K1 will expire in about 3 weeks) ?

2. do I need to take a driving test or can I exchange my foreign license?

I cannot go without a license for any period of time as my husband is currently deployed to Afghanistan and I have no other transport options.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

In FL you will need at least your EAD. They will issue you one with the EAD, but it gets mailed to you from Tallahassee, so there is a short wait for it. They say it can take up to 30 days, but only took my husband like 10 days. It will only be good for the time the EAD is, so you will need to go back and get another one that is not temporary when you get your green card.

[Krikit 1,165]

Emma Louise,

you will not be able to obtain a Florida driver license before your AOS petition is being adjudicated. "Should have" doesn't help you much, but you should have gotten a new Australian license before moving to the U.S.

Have things changed? I was able to obtain a Florida Drivers License with my I-797c / aka NOA.

Moving from AOS Process to General Immigration Discussion.

[Barbara J 115]

Hi everyone,

I have come across another problem. I have applied for AOS from a K1 visa. I have the NOA1 but that is all. I am currently driving by using my Australian drivers license but this will expire in about 3 weeks. I want to apply for a Florida drivers license and have some questions for any other Florida residents:

1. Am I eligible for a Drivers License as I do not have EAD or greencard (my K1 will expire in about 3 weeks) ?

2. do I need to take a driving test or can I exchange my foreign license?

I cannot go without a license for any period of time as my husband is currently deployed to Afghanistan and I have no other transport options.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Emma am not sure about Florida but most states require EAD card or GC I am in Georgia and I had trouble getting my license with EAD card as it would not enter into the system with just that card so I had to wait for GC. On saying that the license was then only valid for as long as EAD was so when I got GC that had to be changed and now is valid till GC expires then I have to go and change it again to make it for 5 years. Yes you have to have a test done a computer one and a driving one, so no we can't just transfer over from Aussie one to US. So once you send in AOS you should get EAD card after Bio and then you can try and get your license and yeah you should have renewed your license before you came over or got an international driving permit form NRMA. You can drive on that for 12 months.

[EmmaLouise 0]

Thanks so much everyone for your advice. It seems that I probably won't be able to get my Florida license till after EAD, I don't think that will be anytime soon as I don't even have a biometrics appointment yet. I had thought about renewing my license when i was last in Australia but due to various complications I wasn't able to. I am able to renew my Australian license from overseas though so i will just do that (i was hoping to avoid the additional expense when I will need to change to a US license in a couple months anyway). As far as driving in Florida with a foreign license I think this should be fine. I understand that when you become a Florida resident you are required to change your license within 30 days but i don't think I am considered a resident while AOS is pending.

[Krikit 1,165]

EmmaLouise, you're fine to get a Florida license using your NOA. In most cases they will give you a one year license. At renewal time you will bring in your GC and they will give you an 8 year license. I say "most cases" because there was one person on VJ who was just given the 8 year license straight away. You will need your SSN and a couple of pieces of mail addressed to you to prove residency. You will not need to take another exam.... just a vision test. Some people have had their out-of-country licenses taken from them; others have had them clipped; and then others (including myself) were allowed to keep their current license. Just as an FYI.... they have no authority to take or clip your current license as it was not issued by a US government entity. You will get a temporary 30 day paper license until your official license is sent in the mail.

[Barbara J 115]

Thanks so much everyone for your advice. It seems that I probably won't be able to get my Florida license till after EAD, I don't think that will be anytime soon as I don't even have a biometrics appointment yet. I had thought about renewing my license when i was last in Australia but due to various complications I wasn't able to. I am able to renew my Australian license from overseas though so i will just do that (i was hoping to avoid the additional expense when I will need to change to a US license in a couple months anyway). As far as driving in Florida with a foreign license I think this should be fine. I understand that when you become a Florida resident you are required to change your license within 30 days but i don't think I am considered a resident while AOS is pending.

That's funny as I was told your OZ license can't be renewed as you are no longer a resident

[VanessaTony 3,567]

That's funny as I was told your OZ license can't be renewed as you are no longer a resident

VicRoads renewed mine no issue BUT of course I had to give them an address... maybe that's the problem?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Have things changed? I was able to obtain a Florida Drivers License with my I-797c / aka NOA.

Moving from AOS Process to General Immigration Discussion.

Yes,

things have changed, a lot. I was able to get a Florida DL in North Palm Beach with a B2 and an I-94 that was valid for less than 6 months, back in 1986.

She may be able to get one with an EAD, but she doesn't have that either.

[Barbara J 115]

VicRoads renewed mine no issue BUT of course I had to give them an address... maybe that's the problem?

MMM mines not due for renewal but I could not change my name or address lol as I don't have an Aussie address anymore so I am just going to have to let it go when it comes time