Indiana drivers' license and other questions

[milimelo 4,477]

Here's the situation: I received my CR1 immigrant visa couple of weeks ago. We'll be coming for a 3-4 week visit to Indiana in June before moving permanently in November (could be March '08 if my hubby's deployment is extended). I already have a SSN with my maiden name and valid for work with INS approval - got it when I was on J-1 visa back in 2001.

The question is can I immediately upon arrival go to SS office and have my SS card re-issued with my married name (or do I have to wait for 2 weeks - I am kind of doubtful I will get it in 2 weeks). Can I then with the SS card go to DMV to apply for a learner's permit - I read that no matter from which foreign country you come from, you have to get the IN learner's permit first and then license within 60 days? If some of you took the written exam - how difficult is it? From the manual I downloaded I have to admit that some questions/rules are a bit odd to me, but if those are the rules, so be it In the meantime, will they let me drive with my home country's driver's license plus the international driving permit, and if so, for how long?

And what documents show your proof of residence? DO I need to get IN ID card and how?

Thanks in advance,

Confused, milimelo

[payxibka 10,045]

Here's the situation: I received my CR1 immigrant visa couple of weeks ago. We'll be coming for a 3-4 week visit to Indiana in June before moving permanently in November (could be March '08 if my hubby's deployment is extended). I already have a SSN with my maiden name and valid for work with INS approval - got it when I was on J-1 visa back in 2001.

The question is can I immediately upon arrival go to SS office and have my SS card re-issued with my married name (or do I have to wait for 2 weeks - I am kind of doubtful I will get it in 2 weeks). Can I then with the SS card go to DMV to apply for a learner's permit - I read that no matter from which foreign country you come from, you have to get the IN learner's permit first and then license within 60 days? If some of you took the written exam - how difficult is it? From the manual I downloaded I have to admit that some questions/rules are a bit odd to me, but if those are the rules, so be it In the meantime, will they let me drive with my home country's driver's license plus the international driving permit, and if so, for how long?

And what documents show your proof of residence? DO I need to get IN ID card and how?

Thanks in advance,

Confused, milimelo

Each state is different, try going to the Indiana Department of Motot Vehicle (or its equivalent) as they should have all the needed information there.

[tom&tata 2]

Here's the situation: I received my CR1 immigrant visa couple of weeks ago. We'll be coming for a 3-4 week visit to Indiana in June before moving permanently in November (could be March '08 if my hubby's deployment is extended). I already have a SSN with my maiden name and valid for work with INS approval - got it when I was on J-1 visa back in 2001.

The question is can I immediately upon arrival go to SS office and have my SS card re-issued with my married name (or do I have to wait for 2 weeks - I am kind of doubtful I will get it in 2 weeks). Can I then with the SS card go to DMV to apply for a learner's permit - I read that no matter from which foreign country you come from, you have to get the IN learner's permit first and then license within 60 days? If some of you took the written exam - how difficult is it? From the manual I downloaded I have to admit that some questions/rules are a bit odd to me, but if those are the rules, so be it In the meantime, will they let me drive with my home country's driver's license plus the international driving permit, and if so, for how long?

And what documents show your proof of residence? DO I need to get IN ID card and how?

Thanks in advance,

Confused, milimelo

I am not sure about the SS part. I did CR-1 and the SSN/card was supposed to be mailed at me because I did not have SSN before. Maybe someone else can help on that.

For the driver's license part, I read on the BMV website that foreign driver's license is not proof of driving capability - regardless of the country. So, I guess you need to have Learner's Permit first, hold for 60 days, and take the drive test. That's what I did. To get Learner's Permit, you need to take the vision test & written test. Written test is not that difficult, but you do need to study the manual. Make sure you remember all the traffic signs because they have higher standard for the traffic signs part of exam. But to be sure, head down to the local License Branch or give them a call.

Link to Indiana BMV is below:

http://www.in.gov/bmv/newresident/

[Baileyj96 0]

Hi there,

Just got through doing this with my husband. I can't answer you about the social security number but as far as drivers license..............

Yes you can drive on an international drivers license but we didn't because my insurance company didn't want to cover him and we didn't want to change to another company. ( can't remember exactly but there is something in there about a non resident able to drive for 1 year with an international license. I don't think that applies to resident aliens.) you might check up on that one.

Yes you have to apply and hold a permit for 60 prior to getting your drivers license. The test my husband was given was 50 questions. You can miss one sign and 6 questions at the bottom of the page. You can find some sample questions online if you look around. Might give you some practice.

We took his visa/passport, marriage license, social security card and a couple of letters that were mailed to him. They gave him a temporary paper permit to use and said they had to send it off to Indy for verification. The next week we received a letter saying we didn't not provide enough proof of residency and to respond in 2 weeks or the permit would be invalid. I ended up calling and they wouldn't accept anything but a bill with his name on it. We had just done this and didn't have any yet so I called the phone and light bill company and they faxed me one with his name on it. I faxed it to indy and he received his license the next day in the mail.

so whatever you do get a bill with your name on it before you go.

Baileyj96