K1 arrival plan - NJ

[Henley1989 10]

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!!

I arrived last wed, got license on thursday and got married 2 days ago!

At the registrars office I needed ID, birth certificate and proof of address (I used a bank account form that I had just opened with my fiance) it had my name and address which was all I needed. If you have not already, open a joint account with your wife. Wells fargo worked well for me, but maybe that was because my fiance was already with them

I did not have SSN and it was not required. (I did get it yesterday so happy days)

[noxavis 0]

hi guys..me again ...I finally got married on december 1st and am now almost ready to send in my AOS..just a couple points I'm confused about..I just posted this in the German Forum but maybe someone here can answer me more quickly. On the AOS instructions form here on this forum it says to send in your I-693 Medical Examination. Is that the sealed envelope (it says DO NOT OPEN- it contains a copy of your medical examination) that I have received from the embassy in Germany together with my k1 Visa? do I send in the closed envelope? and do I also include the cd they gave me with my x-rays?..I'm guessing this process might be slightly different from country to country so hopefully someone can help!

[Henley1989 10]

hi guys..me again ...I finally got married on december 1st and am now almost ready to send in my AOS..just a couple points I'm confused about..I just posted this in the German Forum but maybe someone here can answer me more quickly. On the AOS instructions form here on this forum it says to send in your I-693 Medical Examination. Is that the sealed envelope (it says DO NOT OPEN- it contains a copy of your medical examination) that I have received from the embassy in Germany together with my k1 Visa? do I send in the closed envelope? and do I also include the cd they gave me with my x-rays?..I'm guessing this process might be slightly different from country to country so hopefully someone can help!

Congrats!I had to hand in the sealed envelope to the officer at POE. I believe they send that on?

The 1693 as far as I know you need to fill out IF your vaccinations are not complete... Someone can clarify. I didnt fill it out as my vaccinations were complete from London. Maybe for Germany its different.. To re-iterate, I just read around and followed advice from people, im no expert

[Henley1989 10]

Hows everyone doing in NJ?

[Gizzmondo 51]

Just found this thread (whoops)

Been in Lyndhurst NJ since October

[Henley1989 10]

Nice. Ive been in Jackson since November... Moving up north soon...

[Mag&Chef 17]

Just found this thread (whoops)

Been in Lyndhurst NJ since October

Welcome!

I'm in NJ since october 2015.

[Emmylou151 44]

Hi as said before you have to wait until you have your EAD or G/C in hand for your driving licence, when you do go to get it as long as you show them your full UK one if you have one then you should only have to do the eye & written test as you should get a waver for the road test as you have a full UK licence.

Brian

Can you drive in the mean time with UL licence?

[TabeaK 517]

Hi all!

How are the new NJ residents doing? Arrived just over three weeks ago, got SSN, got married, filed AOS, got bank account. So far very smooth sailing. Expecting NOA-1 in mail any day now.

Oh, and been living through my first NJ blizzard right now of course.

I am thinking about giving the DMV a shot on Monday, given that some people a couple pages back have been successful to get NJ licenses pre-EAD. I am still somewhat confused about the process, how some insist on EAD while others don't...and I cannot find any decent written guidance online.

Any further experiences here?

I have 6 points of ID (Passport, I-94 with more than 60d of validity left, marriage certificate, SSN card, my German license + translation). So I should be good - technically they should at least give me a license valid until the end of the I-94 - assuming I pass the necessary test. But man, these nebulous regulations on the NJ DMVwebsite suck.

[Henley1989 10]

Hi all!

How are the new NJ residents doing? Arrived just over three weeks ago, got SSN, got married, filed AOS, got bank account. So far very smooth sailing. Expecting NOA-1 in mail any day now.

Oh, and been living through my first NJ blizzard right now of course.

I am thinking about giving the DMV a shot on Monday, given that some people a couple pages back have been successful to get NJ licenses pre-EAD. I am still somewhat confused about the process, how some insist on EAD while others don't...and I cannot find any decent written guidance online.

Any further experiences here?

I have 6 points of ID (Passport, I-94 with more than 60d of validity left, marriage certificate, SSN card, my German license + translation). So I should be good - technically they should at least give me a license valid until the end of the I-94 - assuming I pass the necessary test. But man, these nebulous regulations on the NJ DMVwebsite suck.

Hello!

So I have been here almost 3 months. Got SNN, got Married, Got bank account/secured CC, sent off AOS, decided to leave DL till I get EAD. Hopefully getting job offer this week for start when I get EAD (in about 3 weeks)

Just enjoying the blizzard... Couple things I struggled with.. Getting store CC (although I now have a credit score), health insurance (such a complex application, but I know I might get fined come TAX time if I dont have it), buying a car (went to one dealer had a terrible experience so now waiting till I have decent credit and can get a loan myself)

Whereabouts are you living?

[TabeaK 517]

In New Brunswick, Middlesex County.

I got a secured CC as well - waiting for it in the mail to build credit score..

I shall report back on the DL issue tomorrow - I will try and brave the DMV.

[TabeaK 517]

Success! I am a proud new owner of a 6 month NJ driver's license.

Here is what happened:

All the following occured at the Freehold DMV in Monmouth County, NJ - we specifically drove down from New Brunswick due to Mag & Chef's review.

If you want a license prior to AOS/EAD it is imperative you go to the DMV/MVC with 60d or more left on your I-94, otherwise they will not give you a license in NJ.

You also need 6 points ID + proof of address + SSN. I used my passport + K1 visa + valid I-94 (with 61 days left on it) - total value 4 points. As secondary ID, I used my marriage certificate (3 points). I also needed to show them my SSN card and a proof of address (I used a letter UPS sent me). First, I went to reception where they checked my docs and made me fill in two slips of paper (first application for license in NJ). They collected all my evidence and questioned me as to my immigration status. They then took all the docs to "verify with homeland security" - they asked me to wait 15mins while that occurred. Then they called me up and said everything was okay, but that I needed to test and pass today, otherwise they couldn't give me a license as the validity on my I-94 would be too short (<60d).

So I went to a window, where they checked my docs again and made me buy a permit ($10). With that I went to another window, where they checked my docs once again, gave me a vision test and had me do the knowledge test (computer based, need to get 40/50 correct). They also checked my pre-existing German driver's license and International driving permit - this satisfied their requirement for past driving experience and they waved the road test. After passing the knowledge test, they sent me to yet another window - where my docs were checked again, they took a picture, I paid about $8 in license fees and they printed my license on the spot. They gave me 6 months validity on my license (until June 27 2016), which is 3 months longer than my I-94 is valid for (my AOS is pending). So I will go once I get my EAD to extend the license.

All in all, very easy process and the Freehold DMV-people were very corteous and knowledgeable. Was in and out in 1.5h.

[Henley1989 10]

Success! I am a proud new owner of a 6 month NJ driver's license.

Here is what happened:

All the following occured at the Freehold DMV in Monmouth County, NJ - we specifically drove down from New Brunswick due to Mag & Chef's review.

If you want a license prior to AOS/EAD it is imperative you go to the DMV/MVC with 60d or more left on your I-94, otherwise they will not give you a license in NJ.

You also need 6 points ID + proof of address + SSN. I used my passport + K1 visa + valid I-94 (with 61 days left on it) - total value 4 points. As secondary ID, I used my marriage certificate (3 points). I also needed to show them my SSN card and a proof of address (I used a letter UPS sent me). First, I went to reception where they checked my docs and made me fill in two slips of paper (first application for license in NJ). They collected all my evidence and questioned me as to my immigration status. They then took all the docs to "verify with homeland security" - they asked me to wait 15mins while that occurred. Then they called me up and said everything was okay, but that I needed to test and pass today, otherwise they couldn't give me a license as the validity on my I-94 would be too short (<60d).

So I went to a window, where they checked my docs again and made me buy a permit ($10). With that I went to another window, where they checked my docs once again, gave me a vision test and had me do the knowledge test (computer based, need to get 40/50 correct). They also checked my pre-existing German driver's license and International driving permit - this satisfied their requirement for past driving experience and they waved the road test. After passing the knowledge test, they sent me to yet another window - where my docs were checked again, they took a picture, I paid about $8 in license fees and they printed my license on the spot. They gave me 6 months validity on my license (until June 27 2016), which is 3 months longer than my I-94 is valid for (my AOS is pending). So I will go once I get my EAD to extend the license.

All in all, very easy process and the Freehold DMV-people were very corteous and knowledgeable. Was in and out in 1.5h.

Great!

Ive been here almost 3 months so im assuming my 60 days is up and ive missed it. I get my EAD soon so I will go after I get that. For the knowledge test, do you have to study?

[TabeaK 517]

Yes, do at least some practice tests online and read the NJ driver handbook. Few of the actual driving rules are different from what I am used to in Germany - and not that different from what I remember from driving in London while I was living there (apart from the whole driving on the wrong side...), but in my case the test consisted of at least one quarter questions specific to NJ. Things like how many points you get for speeding or how soon you have to let the MVC know when you move or change your name or what times a special permit driver is allowed to drive etc. No way knowing these details without a little study. I'd have definitely failed without reading the book as there were simply too many of those questions to successfully guess.

The test consists of 50 questions, is not timed and you can skip questions you are not sure about to come back later. The test ends when you have 40 right answers. Took me about 10-15mins to get through.

[Mag&Chef 17]

Yes, do at least some practice tests online and read the NJ driver handbook. Few of the actual driving rules are different from what I am used to in Germany - and not that different from what I remember from driving in London while I was living there (apart from the whole driving on the wrong side...), but in my case the test consisted of at least one quarter questions specific to NJ. Things like how many points you get for speeding or how soon you have to let the MVC know when you move or change your name or what times a special permit driver is allowed to drive etc. No way knowing these details without a little study. I'd have definitely failed without reading the book as there were simply too many of those questions to successfully guess.

The test consists of 50 questions, is not timed and you can skip questions you are not sure about to come back later. The test ends when you have 40 right answers. Took me about 10-15mins to get through.

Congrats Tabeak for your Dl, it was exactly what happened to me in freehold, they were very helpful, and for me I got an issue with my canadian registration (in canada the title = registration) and here title and registration are two different things.

so at freehold one agent a nice men with long hair, he was wonderful helping me explaining to them that in Quebec we don't have a Title.

it's a great feeling when you are done with all this stuff and you have your car with Nj plates wowww.

so I'm in Monroe (Middlesex county) for 3 months and half, I m married, get my SS card, DL, registration, kept old bank account and add CC, health insurance (very complicated), car insurance, sent off AOS/EAD/AP. and waiting.....

Good luck to everybody

Edited January 26, 2016 by Mag&Chef