K1 arrival plan - NJ

[Mag&Chef 17]

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.

Hi.

when I got my DL, they told me, as soon as I get my AOS done to go back and have the normal one.

first of all you have to gather all the required doc (NJ 6 points ID docs) as soon as after your POE.

I suggest to go for SS a week after POE, I think that you already knew this steps but here is what we did and it works:

1- SS office.

• I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport from here https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/consent.html.
• Fill up this form https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf, be sure to don't miss them up with your name. if you want your SS in less than 02 weeks., we were lucky with a very nice SS Agent he told us to put the exact name as your passport and I-94, then after marriage if you want to change your name go back to SS office to change it.

2-DMV: go to DMV even if you don't have your SSN, they will put you in system to take advantage of you 60 days, because you 60 days period to apply for DL after your POE otherwise you will lose this opportunity.

so, you will fill up two pieces of paper, of course after gathering your 06 point ID (online document selector) http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/6PointID.htm it helps, they need a proof of address, so before your POE ask any organism in your home country to send you documents to your new address (I asked my bank and my life insurance company to do it, and I got it on my name on the NJ address from Canada )

then line up for first agent who will put you in the system and they will tell you that you are missing your SSn, you will tell them that you applied for it and are waiting. then they will ask you to came back when it ready, like that you have your name in the system, this is very important for them, after that don't forget to bring the NJ driver manual from there, (by the way study seriously + online tests).

- when all your doc are ready, you go back and they will make a permit for you so you will have to do the knowledge test (10$) and eye test on site (same day).

- for your DL, first I went to Edison DMV. they put me in the system , then when I got my SS card (05 days after application) I went to Freehold (middlesex county) for the test, some one recommend them to me. and it was true they knew perfectly what is a K1 visa.

- be sure to bring your abstract from your home country DMV (in english) + your valid driving licence (in english) or translated there cause here it will cost more bucks

so for your question about Driving test its depends on 03 ponts: knowledge test + Validity of your DL + how long have you been driving "abstract"

sorry for my english cause I m a french speaking.

Hope I helped.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Mag&Chef

[TabeaK 517]

Thanks Mag & Chef, that's helpful.

Let me get this straight:

1. Get SSN first - I plan on going to the office as soon as I can print my I-94. Possibly the day after POE.

2. Go to DMV within 60d of POE.

3. Go back to DMV with SSN and 6 points of documents to do eye and knowledge test.

4. Hope international driving license (in English) waives road test.

There is no such thing as a driving abstract in Germany - I have my original German license (unlimited validity, had it for 15 years, it doesn't expire) and my international license (basically a translation in 4 languages, including Englisch, that goes along with the German license for driving abroad).

[jk1984 0]

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?

The problem is the I-94 expires in 90 days. So they want the EAD or Green card....doesn't matter about the 6 points, that's just for ID purposes.

Did you get a car?

[Henley1989 10]

The problem is the I-94 expires in 90 days. So they want the EAD or Green card....doesn't matter about the 6 points, that's just for ID purposes.

Did you get a car?

Nope still working on it. The dealer needs to speak to the bank as they wont deal with me if I dont have a US license. I told them cant my fiance be a co-signer on the finance but the guy was clueless..

There are people saying I should go to the DMV center now anyway even without EAD to get on the system?

[Mag&Chef 17]

Thanks Mag & Chef, that's helpful.

Let me get this straight:

1. Get SSN first - I plan on going to the office as soon as I can print my I-94. Possibly the day after POE.

2. Go to DMV within 60d of POE.

3. Go back to DMV with SSN and 6 points of documents to do eye and knowledge test.

4. Hope international driving license (in English) waives road test.

There is no such thing as a driving abstract in Germany - I have my original German license (unlimited validity, had it for 15 years, it doesn't expire) and my international license (basically a translation in 4 languages, including Englisch, that goes along with the German license for driving abroad).

HI! my pleasure!

for 1- I got my I-94 printed home , 24h after POE

for 2- if you can have most of your 6points ID docs go to DMV.

for 4, if you can proove that you are driving since a long time, that's helps to waive driving test. cause at DMV, I sw the agent looking at a big book with all th kind of DL from all over the world to compare my DL.so I wish you a good luck for that,

[jk1984 0]

Nope still working on it. The dealer needs to speak to the bank as they wont deal with me if I dont have a US license. I told them cant my fiance be a co-signer on the finance but the guy was clueless..

There are people saying I should go to the DMV center now anyway even without EAD to get on the system?

Yeah I mean totally go and try, why not? I didn't have any luck at my DMV (in Edison -- also double check which dmv you need to go to because you can only write the test at certain ones), they wanted the EAD.....but it's totally worth a try if other people have had it work for them. The dmv employees are clueless at times, so you may need to ask for a supervisor, I didn't press too hard because my i94 was going to expire in a couple weeks anyways.

[Mag&Chef 17]

Yeah I mean totally go and try, why not? I didn't have any luck at my DMV (in Edison -- also double check which dmv you need to go to because you can only write the test at certain ones), they wanted the EAD.....but it's totally worth a try if other people have had it work for them. The dmv employees are clueless at times, so you may need to ask for a supervisor, I didn't press too hard because my i94 was going to expire in a couple weeks anyways.

I agree, at Edisson they drive me crasy, than I decided to change for freehold, there was a very nice lady. then for title+registrationit was another storry caus in Quebec (canada) they dont gave you a title, its a registration certificate wich serve as registration and title, so i went to another DMV on route 130S. there I was able to have my title after a hard time, then registration + inspection went vey easy.

hope I helped

[Henley1989 10]

I agree, at Edisson they drive me crasy, than I decided to change for freehold, there was a very nice lady. then for title+registrationit was another storry caus in Quebec (canada) they dont gave you a title, its a registration certificate wich serve as registration and title, so i went to another DMV on route 130S. there I was able to have my title after a hard time, then registration + inspection went vey easy.

hope I helped

Im right next to Freehold. Is it worth me going there? I heard its really busy so best to go first thing in the morning?

[Mag&Chef 17]

Im right next to Freehold. Is it worth me going there? I heard its really busy so best to go first thing in the morning?

Yes, we went there on saturday at 7:30, were the first ones.

good luck, their supervisor is very helpful, thats correct, you will be Ok, but study study study for the knowledge test.

my advice for Vjmembers in our case is: don't waste time after POE, go straight to SS office and DMV, its can be done in a day, just to have your name in the system.

Good luck

Edited November 11, 2015 by Mag&Chef

[Henley1989 10]

Yes, we went there on saturday at 7:30, were the first ones.

good luck, their supervisor is very helpful, thats correct, you will be Ok, but study study study for the knowledge test.

my advice for Vjmembers in our case is: don't waste time after POE, go straight to SS office and DMV, its can be done in a day, just to have your name in the system.

Good luck

I have already got my SSN done but the bit im a little confused on, is why am I going to DMV now if I dont have EAD? Is there a reason for me to go now before I can actually get a license?

I will go on Saturday. What shall I take with me?

[Mag&Chef 17]

I have already got my SSN done but the bit im a little confused on, is why am I going to DMV now if I dont have EAD? Is there a reason for me to go now before I can actually get a license?

I will go on Saturday. What shall I take with me?

because you are not allowed to drive with your foreign DL for more than 60 days since your POE.

so if you want to have your DL now, cause it will helps a lot as an ID and don't wait until you send AOS/EAD/AP, and get your EAD, which can be more than 3 months, for that you must respect the limit of 60 days, it's what DMV's officers explain to us from DMV to DMV it was the same story.

the best is : bring the 6 point ID docs with you + foreign DL+proof of address in US on your name. they will put you in the system then after getting SSn go back, they will prepare for you a permit and pass knowledge+eye test, so you will get your DL in time.

for me I send my EAD on October 29, befor that I had my DL valid for 6 months + registration+title+inspection done

I know it's confusing,and stressful with marriage prep, but just relax and do step by step.

Good luck

[Henley1989 10]

because you are not allowed to drive with your foreign DL for more than 60 days since your POE.

so if you want to have your DL now, cause it will helps a lot as an ID and don't wait until you send AOS/EAD/AP, and get your EAD, which can be more than 3 months, for that you must respect the limit of 60 days, it's what DMV's officers explain to us from DMV to DMV it was the same story.

the best is : bring the 6 point ID docs with you + foreign DL+proof of address in US on your name. they will put you in the system then after getting SSn go back, they will prepare for you a permit and pass knowledge+eye test, so you will get your DL in time.

for me I send my EAD on October 29, befor that I had my DL valid for 6 months + registration+title+inspection done

I know it's confusing,and stressful with marriage prep, but just relax and do step by step.

Good luck

Thanks very much.

So Im taking:

Foreign License

Passport with Visa

Copy of 1-94

Bank statement with name and address on it.

I was thinking about financing a car, so should I wait because I cant drive for more than 60 days?

Thanks for your help

[Mag&Chef 17]

Thanks very much.

So Im taking:

Foreign License

Passport with Visa

Copy of 1-94

Bank statement with name and address on it.

I was thinking about financing a car, so should I wait because I cant drive for more than 60 days?

Thanks for your help

My pleasure

yes for documents, and at DMV they will give you a small card to fill up,so choose (initial and on the back of the card put UK driver licence) and leave it with your papers when they turn you back.

for financing I think you have to wait until you get your DL, any way they will ask for DL, and know if you show your foreign one, they will

by the way the lady at Freehold is not really knowful, but she asked her supervisor and it was ok.

[Henley1989 10]

My pleasure

yes for documents, and at DMV they will give you a small card to fill up,so choose (initial and on the back of the card put UK driver licence) and leave it with your papers when they turn you back.

for financing I think you have to wait until you get your DL, any way they will ask for DL, and know if you show your foreign one, they will

by the way the lady at Freehold is not really knowful, but she asked her supervisor and it was ok.

Thanks. Actually I think my fiance can take out the car finance loan with me as a co-signer. I would just drive the car using my UK license (thats what I do now using her car)

[noxavis 0]

Hi guys, sorry if this has been asked in this thread before, I'm not quite sure if I read every single post.

I arrived in NJ on Thursday and want to get the marriage license Monday. On the website it says to bring ID, SSN, proof of address, a witness and the $28 fee. Now I have everything except proof of address here in the states. Anyone who's already married know if it's required for both of us? Can I just give them my German (proof of) address for now? How did you guys do it? Thanks!!