K1 arrival plan - NJ

[TabeaK 517]

Well, neither my husband-to-be not I plan on changing names so that bit will be easy.

I do have a question on the drivers license: my research indicates that, if you have an international license, NJ only makes you do the knowledge test, not the road test. I have my regular German license and just a couple days got an international one which is basically a paper booklet in multiple languages with the details of the license. So once I have my EAD I plan on going to the DMV and pass the knowledge test and get the NJ license. Can anyone let me know if their experience doing this?

[Mag&Chef 17]

Well, neither my husband-to-be not I plan on changing names so that bit will be easy.

I do have a question on the drivers license: my research indicates that, if you have an international license, NJ only makes you do the knowledge test, not the road test. I have my regular German license and just a couple days got an international one which is basically a paper booklet in multiple languages with the details of the license. So once I have my EAD I plan on going to the DMV and pass the knowledge test and get the NJ license. Can anyone let me know if their experience doing this?

We were at DMV this 03 past days and we can drive with the foreign DL on 60 days.

[Mag&Chef 17]

We were at DMV this 03 past days and we can drive with the foreign DL on 60 days.

I mean we can Drive for 60 days only, otherwise you wait untill EAD or GC

[TabeaK 517]

Okay, thanks. Given that you are not really a resident until your AOS is approved, the driving on a foreign DL is a bit of a grey zone generally - non-residents, which you technically are, can drive longer on their foreign license.

Still wondering about the road test vs no road test...

Btw, Mag & Chef, how did you get a 6 month NJ license prior to having your EAD? I thought that was impossible in NJ.

[Henley1989 10]

Wohooo I was approved!

[Henley1989 10]

Update for those interested.

I arrived Wed night. Already applied for wedding license, SSN (arrives within 2 weeks), opened Bank account (once I get SSN will get Secured CC)..

Now for a car.. Lets see what I can do with the help of my fiance..

[jk1984 0]

Okay, thanks. Given that you are not really a resident until your AOS is approved, the driving on a foreign DL is a bit of a grey zone generally - non-residents, which you technically are, can drive longer on their foreign license.

Still wondering about the road test vs no road test...

Btw, Mag & Chef, how did you get a 6 month NJ license prior to having your EAD? I thought that was impossible in NJ.

My husband and I both moved to NJ from Canada -- he's American, but had a Canadian DL. He took the written test and did not have to take the road test at all. They told him it was up to their discretion whether they will make you do the road test or not. I don't have my license yet because I didn't have the correct proof of address when I went to the DMV, but they told me the same thing, that if I do well on the written test, I won't have to do the road test. Not sure if it makes a difference that I'm from Canada or not? I know that wasn't the best answer sorry!

[jk1984 0]

Update for those interested.

I arrived Wed night. Already applied for wedding license, SSN (arrives within 2 weeks), opened Bank account (once I get SSN will get Secured CC)..

Now for a car.. Lets see what I can do with the help of my fiance..

Just read through this thread. I've been here since May. I live in Cental-ish NJ, in Bridgewater. I filed AOS in June and got my Green Card with no interview last week.The licensing for my profession has proven to be way more difficult than the immigration part!

I hope everything goes smoothly for you! I had my secured CC for only 3 months and have already applied and been approved for a regular one, so it shouldn't take you long.

Good luck with the car, we bought one for me in my husband's name -- no problems

[Henley1989 10]

Just read through this thread. I've been here since May. I live in Cental-ish NJ, in Bridgewater. I filed AOS in June and got my Green Card with no interview last week.The licensing for my profession has proven to be way more difficult than the immigration part!

I hope everything goes smoothly for you! I had my secured CC for only 3 months and have already applied and been approved for a regular one, so it shouldn't take you long.

Good luck with the car, we bought one for me in my husband's name -- no problems

If you dont mind me asking did you finance the car or buy it outright?

I want to finance but im assuming my fiance would either have to be a gurantor or take the loan out herself

[jk1984 0]

If you dont mind me asking did you finance the car or buy it outright?

I want to finance but im assuming my fiance would either have to be a gurantor or take the loan out herself

Yes we financed it in my husbands name. We didn't think much about it at the time, but after the deal was done we were kicking ourselves for not having me be the loan applicant and my husband being the co-signer (or at least trying to do it that way) because making payments on car is such great way to build credit.

So yes, I would assume if you want to finance, she would have to co-sign, or have the loan be in her name. We did toss around the idea of just buying a super cheap car to get me around for now, but it seemed to be more hassle than it's worth and with the NJ freeways, I wanted something that could move haha.

We went with the longest term for the lowest payment possible and we managed to get a zero percent interest deal. I'm still not working, so we wanted to have as low of a payment as possible, but in NJ you can pay off the loan or pay more on the loan at any time with no penalty....so once I'm working we can pay it off.

[Henley1989 10]

Yes we financed it in my husbands name. We didn't think much about it at the time, but after the deal was done we were kicking ourselves for not having me be the loan applicant and my husband being the co-signer (or at least trying to do it that way) because making payments on car is such great way to build credit.

So yes, I would assume if you want to finance, she would have to co-sign, or have the loan be in her name. We did toss around the idea of just buying a super cheap car to get me around for now, but it seemed to be more hassle than it's worth and with the NJ freeways, I wanted something that could move haha.

We went with the longest term for the lowest payment possible and we managed to get a zero percent interest deal. I'm still not working, so we wanted to have as low of a payment as possible, but in NJ you can pay off the loan or pay more on the loan at any time with no penalty....so once I'm working we can pay it off.

Awesome. Well I have a meeting today at a car dealer and I think the two options will be, If I can finance with fiance as co-signer (Im going to push for this as it will help me with credit), or worse comes to worse, have her take out the loan. I also thought about buying outright but I want to treat myself to a car that I couldnt have afforded in london

Im going to press the dealer for a very low interest rate ( I didnt know you could get 0% but since you mentioned it I will give it a go), will do longest term and I want to not put any money down. Any advice how to approach this?

Question - Drivers license. Until I get my US one, whats the deal with financing/insurance? Can I do all of that just with my UK license. Since its the car thats insured, it shouldnt matter right?

[jk1984 0]

Unless the dealership is actually offering 0% it is doubtful you will get it. From our experience 1.9-2.9 was the lowest over 5 years at most of the dealerships, still good though. We bought from ford, and they had a 0% over 6 years offer on the model of car we liked. It was our second choice for the car I wanted, but there was no question the 0% won out.

We were careful to crunch our numbers before we went. And made sure we had our calculator with us haha. We knew how much we wanted to pay for the car over all. They will ask you what your monthly budget is and while that is a factor, that's not the point -- they come back with higher interest offers, or they lengthen the term without adjusting the monthly payment etc. We found the dealerships to be pretty hard to bargain with and we walked away several times before buying. In the end they still drove a hard bargain and we did have to settle a bit but we got close to our ask.

You should be able to do everything with your UK license. I had to provide a drivers' abstract from Canada to prove my driving experience and that I had history with an insurance company there.

[Henley1989 10]

Unless the dealership is actually offering 0% it is doubtful you will get it. From our experience 1.9-2.9 was the lowest over 5 years at most of the dealerships, still good though. We bought from ford, and they had a 0% over 6 years offer on the model of car we liked. It was our second choice for the car I wanted, but there was no question the 0% won out.

We were careful to crunch our numbers before we went. And made sure we had our calculator with us haha. We knew how much we wanted to pay for the car over all. They will ask you what your monthly budget is and while that is a factor, that's not the point -- they come back with higher interest offers, or they lengthen the term without adjusting the monthly payment etc. We found the dealerships to be pretty hard to bargain with and we walked away several times before buying. In the end they still drove a hard bargain and we did have to settle a bit but we got close to our ask.

You should be able to do everything with your UK license. I had to provide a drivers' abstract from Canada to prove my driving experience and that I had history with an insurance company there.

Thanks. I always see a lot of deals about 0% this and 0% that, but there are obviously catches and lots to take into account.

As long as I know what I want to spend a month, how much I want to put down and for how long for, I should be ok. I will be careful to ask for all hidden fees and I will definitely bring my calculator haha

Once I get my first quote, I will speak to a bunch of other dealers to see if they can beat it. If you dont ask, you dont get.

[Henley1989 10]

So I went on the NJ driving license website and I went through the 6 point document checklist for a new license for non citizens. I managed to get 6 points, so what exactly is stopping me from getting a license?

I have or will have soon:

Bank statement to my address

Marriage certificate

Passport with i-94 and INS or BCIS. I have the i-94 but not sure what the other 2 are so perhaps this is the holdup?

[saracatherine 4]

I just came across this post now, and moved to East Brunswick NJ a few months ago! I didn't even realize that you could apply for a SSN the day after POE. We got married and are filing our AOS after our i94 expired (Due to financial issues) but since my i94 is expired is there anyway for me to get a SSN even though my i94 is expired or do I have to wait till I get AOS? I figured this might be a good place to ask since everyone here is from NJ!