GET GENUINE LICENSE

[Fafoo 24]

I thought I should share this even though its been a while I posted a topic. I understand from my experience that if you get the original Driver's license from FRSC in Nigeria it helps you in getting your license fast in the US at least in Maryland . I got my license just 3 weeks after I got to the US. Took the necessary tests as directed and presented my driving license from Nigeria and the officer took it in to verify by calling if its genuine and on the system over there in Nigeria and that was it.

This is just for those planning to move over and want to hit the ground running.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

An additional benefit is that you will be able to get a discount (depending on the insurance company) by demonstrating that you're along term driver.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

@ "Genuine." See, having real documents is a good thing

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Joseph never showed his Nigerian one, just took the required tests and the insurance company never asked for proof of foreign experience

[QueenE 174]

Did you have to take the driving test? because if so... it's the same process. So if you still had to take the writing and the driving test, that's the same thing you would have done if you didn't have a license. How did it make it faster?

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Did you have to take the driving test? because if so... it's the same process. So if you still had to take the writing and the driving test, that's the same thing you would have done if you didn't have a license. How did it make it faster?

I thought the same.

[Fafoo 24]

The American system is not the same with Nigerian system, and the laws says before you can be issued a driving license you must take the necessary tests but having the genuine license helps you bypass being treated as a rookie that has to go through driving school process if you understand what I mean. Not sure if I put that right

Driving Exp with Genuine DL = Take mandatory law tests »» Pass it»» License issued

Driving Exp without Genuine DL(no records and assumed you never drove a car) = Driving School»» Take mandatory law tests »»Learners Permit(temporary DL)»» Permanent DL

Process differs for all states but the bottom line is, if you have been driving before in Nigeria expired(At least within 1yr) or not , it's advisable to bring your Genuine DL and like I said, if you plan to hit the ground running.

I hope I made that a bit clearer now :-)

[Fafoo 24]

Joseph never showed his Nigerian one, just took the required tests and the insurance company never asked for proof of foreign experience

Just like I mentioned above, it all depends on the state, yours is CA, mine is MD and getting a DL after 3 weeks of getting into the US seems pretty fast too by all standards. I only think having the required documents that could speed things up is necessary to share for folks to know here.

[TBoneTX 45,293]

*** Thread moved from General Immigration Discussion to Moving Here & Your New Life, as a more pertinent place for this topic. ***

[NickD 203]

Wife in her home country applied for an international driver's license, in her home country, no written or driver's road test to get it, just a matter of paying the fee. My insurance company honored it, and by adding her to my policy, actually reduced our rates. Guess they figured was no longer a bachelor chasing around at night.

With the Wisconsin DMV, wouldn't even talk to her until she at least received an EAD card and an SS card. But when she did, treated her like a kid in high school for a first time driver's license, written test, road test, then only a three year probationary license.

That was a mess, it expired when she had that one year extension on her expired conditional green card, so they refused to renew it. So I called the governs office and had to explain how the USCIS operates. Then they finally issued her a permanent eight year license.

When she received her certificate of citizenship, I took that in to show them after that long hassle with them. They told me they don't have to see it, but since she checked that LPR box, they insisted on seeing that valid green card. They said all she has to do next time is to check that I am a US citizen box, no questions or proof required. So I replied, if she checked that box when she replied, you require no proof of US citizenship? No reply.

Then I responded, an illegal can come here and check that box and get a license? Again no reply. But if she did check that box to get her license, would have been in deep trouble with the USCIS.

The more incidents I ran into for my country I was expected to die for, the more I realized, living in a country ran by idiots. In another incident, that same DMV issued a driver's license to a mentally ill kid, in a court of law, they weren't even liable for this. Kid didn't have any insurance, so my company took care of that, they were liable. So if the DMV is not even liable, why do we even have one? Would think insurance companies would issue a driver's license.

[patua 0]

An additional benefit is that you will be able to get a discount (depending on the insurance company) by demonstrating that you're along term driver.

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

one post removed for posting personal info. if you wish to convey your email to a member, please use the private message function

[QueenE 174]

oh it looks like you just don't have to get a learner's permit. My only thing is that usually in most states you have to prove that you have lived in the state for a certain period of time. My husband has his Nigerian DL but it wasn't used for anything when he was getting his license. The biggest issue we had was proving he has lived in the State of TX for at least 30 days with 2 different forms of proof and they proof couldn't be older than 90 days and from two different sources. The same law applies in the states I lived in before TX. He brought his Nigerian License because people were saying the same stuff you are saying. I mean it doesn't hurt to have it. but in our case it didn't help anything, although I will try it with the insurance company. Also did you already have your SSN?

[Fafoo 24]

oh it looks like you just don't have to get a learner's permit. My only thing is that usually in most states you have to prove that you have lived in the state for a certain period of time. My husband has his Nigerian DL but it wasn't used for anything when he was getting his license. The biggest issue we had was proving he has lived in the State of TX for at least 30 days with 2 different forms of proof and they proof couldn't be older than 90 days and from two different sources. The same law applies in the states I lived in before TX. He brought his Nigerian License because people were saying the same stuff you are saying. I mean it doesn't hurt to have it. but in our case it didn't help anything, although I will try it with the insurance company. Also did you already have your SSN?

Yes, I got my SSN the 4th day I touched down and my Visa served as GC, marriage cert was used to cover for other things.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Yes, I got my SSN the 4th day I touched down and my Visa served as GC, marriage cert was used to cover for other things.

(1) Did you request for a SSN card on your DS-230?

(2) Did you go into the office or it came in the mail?

and

(3) If you did both, was there any issue at the SSA office?

Muchas gracias mi amigo.