Newbies to the US from Canada: Anyone else having trouble adjusting?

[NikLR 13,227]

Driving for 2 years in CA with a Canadian license when you are a resident of California is actually against California law which requires new state residents to get a state driver's license within 10 days of establishing residence.

[Lights 56]

i have never had a problem with my canadian license in LA and my canadian frainds in LA have their canadian license too and drive insured no problem.. i called geico and got insured on my canadian license and when i got my visa i went to DMV did a written test and then a driving test and i passed 'with the minimum' lol i actually did bad but im a goo sales person haha but i got my CA license.

i actually drove 2 years with a canadian license, california plates and insured in america.. so i dont know why you had a problem? maybe you were confused:/

No, I wasn't confused. I did all my paperwork legally, in time. Different DMV, different employees. Some didn't know how to process it and when I came back, the new employee knew. It's a hit or miss. I was just saying that was my only frustration... But you're lucky you didn't have issues with driving on a Canadian license for that long.

I was insured fine from day 1. But some employees aren't sure and that creates small delays.

[iPod 89]

Just a word of caution.

I just read a thread on this forum the other about someone who got pulled over driving in CA with their Canadian drivers license and they ended up in court and they had to pay a $1,000 fine.

Of course the DMV wouldn't give him a license because he didn't have his EAD or other required ID's, but the judge was unmoved.

Maybe the laws or rules have changed since I believe that thread was from a while ago.

[Lights 56]

Just a word of caution.

I just read a thread on this forum the other about someone who got pulled over driving in CA with their Canadian drivers license and they ended up in court and they had to pay a $1,000 fine.

Of course the DMV wouldn't give him a license because he didn't have his EAD or other required ID's, but the judge was unmoved.

Maybe the laws or rules have changed since I believe that thread was from a while ago.

This is still true. You are not allowed to drive on a Canadian license when you have established residency in California, like @NLR said.

California insurance companies will insure you, but that doesn't mean you're compliant to the state laws. You also can't hold 2 licenses if you have a BC license... so once your BC license is expired, you can only have either a BC one or California one, whichever you're a resident of.

There really is no issue, if you are immigrating legally. Just a delay dependent on who you encounter at the DMV. Heck, I know someone who had to go back twice because they got divorced and changed their name. But if you're following the process legally, although it's annoying and you may have to go back an extra time, it does work itself out.

But yes... for those Canadians who are establishing residency in the California... it's a big no no to be driving with your Canadian license.

Edited March 4, 2016 by Lights

[bloopygirl 20]

New Jersey is the same, you have 60 days or something to get the license after becoming a resident

The salt thing is true.. my husband puts a mountain of salt on everything that I cook for him. It's so weird/gross.

[Chalandrae 32]

New Jersey is the same, you have 60 days or something to get the license after becoming a resident

The salt thing is true.. my husband puts a mountain of salt on everything that I cook for him. It's so weird/gross.

Salt? Come on, NOOOOOOOO ONE does it...

I actually had to eat a meal and suck it up because it was too salty... I litteraly drank 3 cups of water during that meal. I told him later, in a nice and polite way.

[bloopygirl 20]

That's tragic!! Nobody here has cooked for me yet so I have no idea if they all do it. I don't think my husband knows how to cook. lol

[Chalandrae 32]

I'm trying to teach him how to only put a small amount and let the people eating it season the food to their taste.

[NikLR 13,227]

Salt is needed for a lot cooking. But I think introducing Americans to the rest of the spice rack is a Canadian custom. So far my husband has been pretty willing with the exception of italian seasoning. It sometimes contains fennel which he dislikes due to the licorice taste.

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

one post removed for tos violation
Condone or instruct, either directly or indirectly, others on how to commit fraudulent or illegal immigration activities in any way, shape, manner or method.

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[Teddy B 17,252]

one post removed for tos violation

Condone or instruct, either directly or indirectly, others on how to commit fraudulent or illegal immigration activities in any way, shape, manner or method.

one post removed for quoting that tos violation

What happened? Someone give instructions on how to smuggle in Timbits?

[NikLR 13,227]

Lol no. But if someone brought me timbits, I'd do a little jig.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Lol no. But if someone brought me timbits, I'd do a little jig.

You got any Tim's out your way? The closest one to us is in Maine, about an hour or so away.

[NikLR 13,227]

You got any Tim's out your way? The closest one to us is in Maine, about an hour or so away.

Nope. Colorado has no tims. about 1/2 hr away is a place called lauras donuts which makes a decent honey crueller though. I'd have to wait for rush hour to be done to even think of it though. No donut is worth over an hour of traffic.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Nope. Colorado has no tims. about 1/2 hr away is a place called lauras donuts which makes a decent honey crueller though. I'd have to wait for rush hour to be done to even think of it though. No donut is worth over an hour of traffic.

I wish we had a Tim's closer to us. I'm hooked on their coffee. We have a monthly subscription through Amazon for Tim's K-cups. We have one of the best donut shops right down the street from us, I try to stay out of there but it isn't easy.