Driving in the USA

[Joseph C 0]

My wife just got approved for the IR-1/CR-1 visa, and now I'm thinking about driving. It'll take her a month to get a driver's license in her home country (Philippines), and then they can mail the international permit to her new US address here in CT once approved. Would this work? I saw a post in a forum elsewhere that immigrants can't use that international permit but didn't find anything at my state's DMV's website that said one way or another.

[G0ds1ay3r 30]

It might be faster doing what I did.

I came to the US on a CR-1 applied for a Driving permit; took the written test and was successful.

I then learnt to drive in the USA for a couple of weeks and took the practical test.

From applying for the permit and getting the actual licence took about 2 weeks.

[Mrs.Davidson 1]

i need an answer to your question too. i think it depends on what state are you in. i was planning to get an international license here in PI but the driver's license must be still valid & i think it will cost like Php 1800k+. someone said that it's cheaper for you to get a license there once u already have an international permit from here. u should ask more from someone at your place where u can get a driver's license.

[Joseph C 0]

It might be faster doing what I did.

I came to the US on a CR-1 applied for a Driving permit; took the written test and was successful.

I then learnt to drive in the USA for a couple of weeks and took the practical test.

From applying for the permit and getting the actual licence took about 2 weeks.

That's very quick. You must not be in Connecticut.

[G0ds1ay3r 30]

That's very quick. You must not be in Connecticut.

This was in 2005 in Nevada; I so hate the DMV... standing in line for HOURS!!!

[fragola86 1]

My wife just got approved for the IR-1/CR-1 visa, and now I'm thinking about driving. It'll take her a month to get a driver's license in her home country (Philippines), and then they can mail the international permit to her new US address here in CT once approved. Would this work? I saw a post in a forum elsewhere that immigrants can't use that international permit but didn't find anything at my state's DMV's website that said one way or another.

this is what the CT DMV's website says

Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizens Obtaining a

Connecticut Driver's License

PLEASE NOTE: Not all DMV offices offer this service. Click here to find an office near you.

If you are not a U.S. Citizen, to be eligible for a Learner Permit, Driver License or Identification Card, in addition to proof of identity, you must present documents to prove you are legally present in the United States (proof of Connecticut Residence). DMV will verify your legal status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Verification of legal status with USCIS may take an extended period of time and applicants may be asked to return the next business day to complete the licensing process. Responses are usually not received on Thursday evenings or Saturdays.

International Driver Permit Holders:

Visitors from another country are permitted to use their valid out-of-country license here in Connecticut for a period of one year with an International Driver Permit obtained from your home country.

Full time students, on a student visa, maintaining an out-of-country residency do not have to obtain a Connecticut license as long as full-time student status is in effect such students are permitted to use their valid out-of-country license here in Connecticut with an International Driver Permit obtained from the home country.

My understanding is that only visitors and students can use an international driver permit. Since your wife will be a resident, she will have to get a CT driver license.

Edited January 12, 2012 by fragola86

[M&Pooh 12]

this is what the CT DMV's website says

Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizens Obtaining a

Connecticut Driver's License

PLEASE NOTE: Not all DMV offices offer this service. Click here to find an office near you.

If you are not a U.S. Citizen, to be eligible for a Learner Permit, Driver License or Identification Card, in addition to proof of identity, you must present documents to prove you are legally present in the United States (proof of Connecticut Residence). DMV will verify your legal status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Verification of legal status with USCIS may take an extended period of time and applicants may be asked to return the next business day to complete the licensing process. Responses are usually not received on Thursday evenings or Saturdays.

International Driver Permit Holders:

Visitors from another country are permitted to use their valid out-of-country license here in Connecticut for a period of one year with an International Driver Permit obtained from your home country.

Full time students, on a student visa, maintaining an out-of-country residency do not have to obtain a Connecticut license as long as full-time student status is in effect such students are permitted to use their valid out-of-country license here in Connecticut with an International Driver Permit obtained from the home country.

My understanding is that only visitors and students can use an international driver permit. Since your wife will be a resident, she will have to get a CT driver license.

I would think, it's highly unlikely that the traffic police officers would be going into the details of someone's immigration status. Of course, eventually the OP's wife should get a CT license, but she wouldn't face any major troubles driving with the IDP+foreign DL in the interim.

CT DL's holder in '04-'10

[VanessaTony 3,567]

My wife just got approved for the IR-1/CR-1 visa, and now I'm thinking about driving. It'll take her a month to get a driver's license in her home country (Philippines), and then they can mail the international permit to her new US address here in CT once approved. Would this work? I saw a post in a forum elsewhere that immigrants can't use that international permit but didn't find anything at my state's DMV's website that said one way or another.

May as well just apply for the licence once she gets here. I could have got it all in one day but our insurance wouldn't cover my home licence so I got the permit first to get coverage and then went back to drive. My home licence was irrelevant to the process. The only other country licence that does matter here is Canada. If you're Canadian in most state you can just trade it for your state licence. In Iowa they make you do the written and driving test, most states do that.

It would be cheaper and easier (IMO).

[jjbandero 39]

You should double check the rules for CT. I read a while ago a member here had some trouble with the California police. In CA, you are suppose to get a CA license within two weeks of becoming a "resident", and "resident" is not clearly defined. The member ended up being ticketed because he had a CA address since was living here after arriving on his K1, but his argument that he is not yet a LPR was not accepted by the police and they deemed him a "resident".

[scotinmass 588]

I would think, it's highly unlikely that the traffic police officers would be going into the details of someone's immigration status. Of course, eventually the OP's wife should get a CT license, but she wouldn't face any major troubles driving with the IDP+foreign DL in the interim.

CT DL's holder in '04-'10

In MA a foreign license is invalid from the day you become a resident. I drove on my UK license for a while hoping that the cops wouldn't know my immigration status if I ever got stopped. I never did get stopped but I was driving back from Canada into New York once and the CBP officer asked to see a valid license. I showed him my UK driving license and he said "so you don't have a valid license" I told him I had been informed that my UK license was valid for a year in MA (not entirely true!) He said "well you better hope you don't get stopped by the police in the state of New York"

Luckily I didn't. I got my MA license not long after that!

[Nica_In_Love 98]

I agree with Vanessa&Tony. When I got my Illinois DL, my Nicaraguan DL was completely irrelevant to the process. I took the written and the road test, and received my license in about an hour. Fragola86 posted the info from the DMV's website, but here's a direct link:

http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=805&Q=244772&PM=1#legal

She would be able to present her passport with I-551 stamp, her SS# and proof of residency in CT. In my case, I waited until I got my SS card (2 weeks after POE) and brought the card along with the envelope where my address in Chicago was printed. I didn't have a second piece of mail with my address, so my husband had to sign an affidavit as proof that my address was indeed in IL.

Good luck!

[Joseph C 0]

May as well just apply for the licence once she gets here. I could have got it all in one day but our insurance wouldn't cover my home licence so I got the permit first to get coverage and then went back to drive. My home licence was irrelevant to the process. The only other country licence that does matter here is Canada. If you're Canadian in most state you can just trade it for your state licence. In Iowa they make you do the written and driving test, most states do that.

It would be cheaper and easier (IMO).

I'm just worried how long it would take. When I got my license it was a 3 or 4 month wait between taking the written test and the first available driving test, which I took on the other side of the state due to availability.

Since then they've added this 8 hour course to the requirements, which is no big deal, but they've also closed half of the DMVs.

I called them up and they said that the international license won't work here. Looks like we're in for a few shitty months. She asked me "what about public transportation" and "what about cabs". LOL, I thought I already explained the situation out here.

[photomile 101]

Since then they've added this 8 hour course to the requirements, which is no big deal, but they've also closed half of the DMVs.

Is that per state or across the whole of the USA?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I'm just worried how long it would take. When I got my license it was a 3 or 4 month wait between taking the written test and the first available driving test, which I took on the other side of the state due to availability.

Since then they've added this 8 hour course to the requirements, which is no big deal, but they've also closed half of the DMVs.

I called them up and they said that the international license won't work here. Looks like we're in for a few shitty months. She asked me "what about public transportation" and "what about cabs". LOL, I thought I already explained the situation out here.

Why can't you book her in for her driving and written test before she arrives? Is there some rule where you can't book driving until you've passed written?

Worst case scenario, and this might not sound very nice, but it's not going to kill her sitting around for a couple of weeks getting used to the house and area. Waiting until you get home to drive her places. I know driving right away would be great but even if she got her licence now she wouldn't know her way around. If she takes the permit part first you could help her learn her way around and get used to the car and the area.

[M&Pooh 12]

In MA a foreign license is invalid from the day you become a resident. I drove on my UK license for a while hoping that the cops wouldn't know my immigration status if I ever got stopped. I never did get stopped but I was driving back from Canada into New York once and the CBP officer asked to see a valid license. I showed him my UK driving license and he said "so you don't have a valid license" I told him I had been informed that my UK license was valid for a year in MA (not entirely true!) He said "well you better hope you don't get stopped by the police in the state of New York"

Luckily I didn't. I got my MA license not long after that!

Well, I had lucky experience. It was my first driving year and I managed to make a serious driving mistake right in front of a police car. Was immediately pulled over. I am 99.99% sure I would be ticketed on the spot if possessing a CT license. I presented to the officer my foreign license ( even with no IDP! ). The outcome: I was let go after being told to drive carefully...

So, my point is that _in_the_reality_ the chances of being prosecuted for driving with a foreign license seem pretty slim to me. Obviously, it's up to a person to decide.