Drivers Permit

[evelyn1140 18]

Hi There vj members,

(Good Day!!) I am glad that I passed my drivers permit test, so I can now practice driving and learning the road policies and etc., after this imma go ahead and take a my road test for my drivers licence.. so wish me luck everyone!!! So to those of you who wants to drive here in the US my tips for you is just read the dmv book.

Good :rofl: luck

[LeedsUK 4]

It's now $26 to get the license. I think my husband paid that again when he got the regular license with his greencard. I don't remember for sure. It was good for 6 years, but I think maybe that's changed to 2 years because your first GC expires in 2 years. . A renewal (like when it's expiring) is $26. A change of name or address is $11. We moved so did that. In May they took a new photo and issued a new license ($11) when he went to change status to citizen. They had to change his name to match the naturalization certificate, which included his full middle name. Before it had his middle initial which matched the greencard.

There are DPS offices all over the state. http://www.txdps.sta...odex/search.asp You wait a long time to be served. Two hours for us in Houston to do address change. Our closest office said they had a minimum 3 hour wait and told me about the shorter wait office near the airport. Most of our visits were to a small town office before we moved. Anyway there are some megacenters set to open soon to hopefully speed up processing in the larger cities. I posted about those in this thread http://www.visajourn...0#entry5510360.

To become a citizen or not? Well you could be like Jason Bourne and carry multiple passports . when you get abducted by aliens or terrorists, the US Navy Seal will swoop in and rescue you. You would never have to spend another penny with USCIS or fill out another form for them or remember to renew. You would be eligible for certain jobs not open to PRs. And the all important renewing your TX driving license online.

There's not that much compelling to become a USC, so it's a matter of preference I suppose. You can lose your greencard of you don't remain in the US. Some folks want to give it a try moving back to the UK. If you were a USC, you could stay in the UK several years and simply return to the US with no paperwork. As a greencard holder, you could lose your status if you were away a certain length of time, or took up residence and worked...I don't know how to quote all the details from memory, so look that part up.

Thanks again Nich for all the info. So $26 is not that much but considering how many changes, it does seem like a big waste of money in total but unfortunately it can't be helped. We will also be moving house in the Spring so my temporary license will definitely have to be renewed then with the new address I just don't know if it's worth me getting the temporary license for 3-4 months but it means I cannot drive & that limits everything.

You made some interesting points about becoming a USC, I definitely wasn't aware of the differences in the job market & that's definitely important. So this is a topic I will have to read up on...thanks again.

[photomile 101]

But... you can drive without getting the temporary licence on your british one for 90 days

Edited August 10, 2012 by photomile

[LeedsUK 4]

But... you can drive without getting the temporary licence on your british one for 90 days

Yes you're right, and with a few lessons from my future husband, I will I just mean after the 90 days, I will have sent off for my AOS & EAD as well as for the temp license as it would be rather annoying to not be able to drive after the 90 days & then the period when we will be moving house & I'll possibly be starting a new job, where I am pretty sure I am going to need to drive to get to work hopefully! lol. I think I am going to have to get the temp license, then renew it once I move house, & then again before my 2 years on the temp GC is up. Roll on tons of visits to the local DPS office & multiple payments of $26...

[photomile 101]

Yes you're right, and with a few lessons from my future husband, I will I just mean after the 90 days, I will have sent off for my AOS & EAD as well as for the temp license as it would be rather annoying to not be able to drive after the 90 days & then the period when we will be moving house & I'll possibly be starting a new job, where I am pretty sure I am going to need to drive to get to work hopefully! lol. I think I am going to have to get the temp license, then renew it once I move house, & then again before my 2 years on the temp GC is up. Roll on tons of visits to the local DPS office & multiple payments of $26...

Fair point

I was absolutely terrified about driving in the USA. Driving is so instinctive to me in the UK I tend to just, switch of. I have no need to concentrate and I was terrified I might do the same in the US. I picked up the car, drove to the hotel and by the next day, perfectly fine. Fiancee and her family even said I drove like a native (That may or may not be a compliment), the driving is so laid back in comparison

[LeedsUK 4]

Fair point

I was absolutely terrified about driving in the USA. Driving is so instinctive to me in the UK I tend to just, switch of. I have no need to concentrate and I was terrified I might do the same in the US. I picked up the car, drove to the hotel and by the next day, perfectly fine. Fiancee and her family even said I drove like a native (That may or may not be a compliment), the driving is so laid back in comparison

Yes that's what everyone tells me. The most I drove was out of the multi storey car park in our apartment building & to a BBQ place across the street just for practice lol. I think my poor fiance was sweating buckets that I might crash his precious car lol. The actual driving didn't scare me but over here I have always driven manual cars so having to get used to no clutch, your left foot basically just being useless & having no gears to change was very weird! I know exactly what you mean about switching off, I am the same. I hope I find it as easy, it's nice to know that being terrified is a mutual feeling!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yes you're right, and with a few lessons from my future husband, I will I just mean after the 90 days, I will have sent off for my AOS & EAD as well as for the temp license as it would be rather annoying to not be able to drive after the 90 days & then the period when we will be moving house & I'll possibly be starting a new job, where I am pretty sure I am going to need to drive to get to work hopefully! lol. I think I am going to have to get the temp license, then renew it once I move house, & then again before my 2 years on the temp GC is up. Roll on tons of visits to the local DPS office & multiple payments of $26...

Yes many trips to DPS. I'm counting six unless the timing allows you to change your address and show greencard at the same visit.

• Drive on UK license at first.
  
• Get SSN 10-14 days after POE. File for AOS after marriage and get the NOA receipt (I797c).
  
• Trip 1,2. Go to DPS with SSN, I797c, photo ID, proof of residency in TX and proof of auto insurance. Take written test then driving test (likely on different days.) $25 (May be an additional $11 in there for the test).
  
• Get a temp paper license that day to use until the card license arrives in the mail. It's a full and valid license that will expire in a year. It's not called a temporary license. It identifies you as a Temporary Visitor because of your immigrant status. Drive on it until it expires if you like.
  
• Trip 3. When you move house, you have 30 days to go to DPS and change address ($11). Expiration date doesn't change. Take all those proofs again.
  
• Trip 4. Greencard allows you to get a Resident license good until the greencard expires (2 years). Go back with all the proofs and pay $11 or $25(?). I'm guessing it may be $25 because it counts as a renewal because it extends the expiry date.
  
• Trip 5. Remove conditions to get 10 year GC. Those are taking so long that your GC and license will be well expired before you get the card. But you get a year extension written in the NOA1. Use that to extend your TX DL one year. ($11 or $25).
  
• Trip 6. 10 year GC arrives. Use it to renew your last license before expiration. Should be good for the normal 6 years. Go in person. Take all proofs again.
  

Fair point

I was absolutely terrified about driving in the USA. Driving is so instinctive to me in the UK I tend to just, switch of. I have no need to concentrate and I was terrified I might do the same in the US. I picked up the car, drove to the hotel and by the next day, perfectly fine. Fiancee and her family even said I drove like a native (That may or may not be a compliment), the driving is so laid back in comparison

I know how you feel but somehow your brain just flips once you get into it. My first time driving alone in the UK, I literally talked out loud to myself--

Every corner-"I am going to turn and be in that lane on the left. Ok turning now.."

Roundabout- "Oh God! I am going left. Left. Left."

My other challenge was driving the manual car, something I hadn't done in a million years. Shifting with the left hand is totally weird while trying to figure out roundabouts and such all at the same time.

[photomile 101]

Yes many trips to DPS. I'm counting six unless the timing allows you to change your address and show greencard at the same visit.

• Drive on UK license at first.
  
• Get SSN 10-14 days after POE. File for AOS after marriage and get the NOA receipt (I797c).
  
• Trip 1,2. Go to DPS with SSN, I797c, photo ID, proof of residency in TX and proof of auto insurance. Take written test then driving test (likely on different days.) $25 (May be an additional $11 in there for the test).
  
• Get a temp paper license that day to use until the card license arrives in the mail. It's a full and valid license that will expire in a year. It's not called a temporary license. It identifies you as a Temporary Visitor because of your immigrant status. Drive on it until it expires if you like.
  
• Trip 3. When you move house, you have 30 days to go to DPS and change address ($11). Expiration date doesn't change. Take all those proofs again.
  
• Trip 4. Greencard allows you to get a Resident license good until the greencard expires (2 years). Go back with all the proofs and pay $11 or $25(?). I'm guessing it may be $25 because it counts as a renewal because it extends the expiry date.
  
• Trip 5. Remove conditions to get 10 year GC. Those are taking so long that your GC and license will be well expired before you get the card. But you get a year extension written in the NOA1. Use that to extend your TX DL one year. ($11 or $25).
  
• Trip 6. 10 year GC arrives. Use it to renew your last license before expiration. Should be good for the normal 6 years. Go in person. Take all proofs again.
  

The proof of auto insurance is weird to me. I wouldn't be insured until I got my licence anyway or be registered on a vehicle.

I know how you feel but somehow your brain just flips once you get into it. My first time driving alone in the UK, I literally talked out loud to myself--

Every corner-"I am going to turn and be in that lane on the left. Ok turning now.."

Roundabout- "Oh God! I am going left. Left. Left."

My other challenge was driving the manual car, something I hadn't done in a million years. Shifting with the left hand is totally weird while trying to figure out roundabouts and such all at the same time.

Hehe yup. I was the same driving in the states the first day. But by the evening I was completely comfortable. The big sign for me is when I'm comfortable enough to drive with the radio on!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

The proof of auto insurance is weird to me. I wouldn't be insured until I got my licence anyway or be registered on a vehicle.

In Texas the car (or pick-up truck LOL) is insured, not the driver. So if you go take the test in the wife's car, prove it is insured. I can loan my car to anybody to drive, and my insurance covers. If somebody is going to be a regular driver, they should be added to the policy. My fiance (then) drove my car everytime he came to visit. It's not like the UK where you have to add names before somebody can drive the car. Our proof of insurance lives in the glove box of the cars, not in our wallets. Others may do differently.

People report different experiences, but here's mine:

Husband drove on his UK license after POE and marriage. I asked my State Farm agent to add his name to my policy (2 cars). She said to just wait until he got his TX license and it would be simpler. Meanwhile the car was insured and covered as long as I gave my permission for him to drive. When we added him to the policy, it did not cost any extra. The price is based on the vehicle. We're grown-ups, but adding an under 25 male would have jacked up the price.

[photomile 101]

In Texas the car (or pick-up truck LOL) is insured, not the driver. So if you go take the test in the wife's car, prove it is insured. I can loan my car to anybody to drive, and my insurance covers. If somebody is going to be a regular driver, they should be added to the policy. My fiance (then) drove my car everytime he came to visit. It's not like the UK where you have to add names before somebody can drive the car. Our proof of insurance lives in the glove box of the cars, not in our wallets. Others may do differently.

People report different experiences, but here's mine:

Husband drove on his UK license after POE and marriage. I asked my State Farm agent to add his name to my policy (2 cars). She said to just wait until he got his TX license and it would be simpler. Meanwhile the car was insured and covered as long as I gave my permission for him to drive. When we added him to the policy, it did not cost any extra. The price is based on the vehicle. We're grown-ups, but adding an under 25 male would have jacked up the price.

See now my fiancee has been telling me the car is insured not the driver. Everything added up, except for some reason it wouldn't click when it came to the driving test and now it has!

[LeedsUK 4]

Yes many trips to DPS. I'm counting six unless the timing allows you to change your address and show greencard at the same visit.

• Drive on UK license at first.
• Get SSN 10-14 days after POE. File for AOS after marriage and get the NOA receipt (I797c).
• Trip 1,2. Go to DPS with SSN, I797c, photo ID, proof of residency in TX and proof of auto insurance. Take written test then driving test (likely on different days.) $25 (May be an additional $11 in there for the test).
• Get a temp paper license that day to use until the card license arrives in the mail. It's a full and valid license that will expire in a year. It's not called a temporary license. It identifies you as a Temporary Visitor because of your immigrant status. Drive on it until it expires if you like.
• Trip 3. When you move house, you have 30 days to go to DPS and change address ($11). Expiration date doesn't change. Take all those proofs again.
• Trip 4. Greencard allows you to get a Resident license good until the greencard expires (2 years). Go back with all the proofs and pay $11 or $25(?). I'm guessing it may be $25 because it counts as a renewal because it extends the expiry date.
• Trip 5. Remove conditions to get 10 year GC. Those are taking so long that your GC and license will be well expired before you get the card. But you get a year extension written in the NOA1. Use that to extend your TX DL one year. ($11 or $25).
• Trip 6. 10 year GC arrives. Use it to renew your last license before expiration. Should be good for the normal 6 years. Go in person. Take all proofs again.

I know how you feel but somehow your brain just flips once you get into it. My first time driving alone in the UK, I literally talked out loud to myself--

Every corner-"I am going to turn and be in that lane on the left. Ok turning now.."

Roundabout- "Oh God! I am going left. Left. Left."

My other challenge was driving the manual car, something I hadn't done in a million years. Shifting with the left hand is totally weird while trying to figure out roundabouts and such all at the same time.

Thanks Nich, I will be sure to come back & re-read this thread when I am going down to the DPS

[photomile 101]

Thanks Nich, I will be sure to come back & re-read this thread when I am going down to the DPS

Take a book!

[ddartt1 2]

Hi There vj members,

(Good Day!!) I am glad that I passed my drivers permit test, so I can now practice driving and learning the road policies and etc., after this imma go ahead and take a my road test for my drivers licence.. so wish me luck everyone!!! So to those of you who wants to drive here in the US my tips for you is just read the dmv book.

All the best!

[LeedsUK 4]

Take a book!

Will definitely be doing that plus dragging my poor fiance along with me for company lol

[LeedsUK 4]

Dear Nick-Nich & Photomile, I hope you are all doing well,

So following our conversation from months back, I have been using my UK license. I received my EAD at the beginning of April & so decided to go get a 1 year temporary license & take the tests. I went to one of the DPS offices in Austin last week & was then told my application could not be completed because my lawful presence had to be verified once again by USCIS! Yes I took my SS card, EAD, 2 recent pay checks, our rental lease, utility bills, NOA1 & 2, passport & UK drivers license & after much inspection, all my documents were fine. The lady who served me was very professional & apologised & explained that there's nothing she can do because as soon as she put my info into the system, a message popped up saying a further check needed to be completed. I am thoroughly frustrated & am now waiting for a letter from DPS to say that I can come back & take the tests once they verify my lawful presence. I just don't get how much more proof they need! So has this happened to anyone else? I did google it & found that a new law allows TX DPS to do further checks if they want to. I am just not sure if I should wait for my letter or keep calling the DPS everyday to chase it up. FYI none of our visa journey process has been problematic, we waited a little longer than usual for my visa interview in London but otherwise everything has been fine & no I do not have a criminal record or ever been denied a visa.

In the meantime, I have bought a 2nd hand car but cannot drive it now without taking out an expensive insurance policy with my UK license or getting insurance in my husbands name on this 2nd vehicle & me being allowed to drive it. FYI I am referring to Nich's State Farm policy that allows anyone to drive one's car as long as the primary driver has given consent. We also have this State farm policy. Any helpful advice would be very much appreciated folks!