Drivers license and foreign license

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

We're in the early stages of the K-1 process and to kill time I'm researching what all I need to do when I get over there. Question of the month: drivers license.

 

Question: How long is my Dutch drivers license valid while my AOS is pending?

Everyone keeps mentioning how hard it is not being able to drive without a license, that they all need to wait till they get their GC or EAD to get one. But I also read everywhere that my foreign license (Dutch in my case) is valid for a year. So what am I missing here?

 

 

This website of the Indiana DMV says you have 60 days to get a new license if you already have a license in another state. Further down the page it goes into details on what you need if you apply for an IN license with a foreign license, but again nothing on how long my foreign license is valid.

https://www.in.gov/bmv/2558.htm

https://www.in.gov/bmv/2532.htm#1

 

 

 

I did find these two links from University of Indiana, but how valid are their claims?

https://ois.iu.edu/living-working/transportation/indiana-license.html

Quote

If one of the following situations pertains to you, then you will need to get an Indiana driver’s license:

• You do not have a driver’s license from your home country.
• You have been in the United States for more than one year.

http://international.iupui.edu/indianapolis/driving.html

Quote

You must have a valid driver’s license to drive in the U.S. There are two kinds of licenses you can use.

• You can drive legally in the U.S. for one year using a driver's license from your home country and an International Driver's Permit (IDP).
• An Indiana driver’s license is recommended if you will be in the U.S. more than 6 months, or if you will purchase a car.

 

 

 

[ronniebreda 120]

I am not a hundred percent sure on these laws because when we were going through the same thing, we also found a lot of mixed information (sorry!). 

However, I would highly suggest getting an International Drivers License from the Netherlands before you move to the US. This is what my husband did and I think it could be helpful because US Police are not going to understand the Dutch Drivers License. 

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

1 hour ago, ronniebreda said:

I am not a hundred percent sure on these laws because when we were going through the same thing, we also found a lot of mixed information (sorry!). 

However, I would highly suggest getting an International Drivers License from the Netherlands before you move to the US. This is what my husband did and I think it could be helpful because US Police are not going to understand the Dutch Drivers License. 

Thanks very much! Is that the one you can get at the ANWB? Cause that looks too simple to even be valid. 

[ronniebreda 120]

3 hours ago, Little_Vixen said:

Thanks very much! Is that the one you can get at the ANWB? Cause that looks too simple to even be valid. 

Yes, the one you can get at the ANWB. My husband said the same thing, but its all they seem to offer. It does have a ton of languages in it which does support the international part. I hope this can help you in some way!

[Ontarkie 14,507]

On 1/15/2018 at 8:53 AM, Little_Vixen said:

We're in the early stages of the K-1 process and to kill time I'm researching what all I need to do when I get over there. Question of the month: drivers license.

 

Question: How long is my Dutch drivers license valid while my AOS is pending?

Everyone keeps mentioning how hard it is not being able to drive without a license, that they all need to wait till they get their GC or EAD to get one. But I also read everywhere that my foreign license (Dutch in my case) is valid for a year. So what am I missing here?

 

 

This website of the Indiana DMV says you have 60 days to get a new license if you already have a license in another state. Further down the page it goes into details on what you need if you apply for an IN license with a foreign license, but again nothing on how long my foreign license is valid.

https://www.in.gov/bmv/2558.htm

https://www.in.gov/bmv/2532.htm#1

 

 

 

I did find these two links from University of Indiana, but how valid are their claims?

https://ois.iu.edu/living-working/transportation/indiana-license.html

http://international.iupui.edu/indianapolis/driving.html

 

 

 

You have 60 days like everyone else that moves to Indiana. 

 

International drivers license will not work it is only a translation of your foreign license.

You are no longer a visitor and  cannot use your foreign license after a certain period. That could be 10 days once you move or 90 days, it depends on the state. For IN it's 60 days.

Again when your fiance moves he is no longer a visitor, but a resident so all foreign driver license rules do not apply.

[Lemonslice 4,976]

Your spouse vehicle insurance provider can also advise if you will be covered. 

[Ontarkie 14,507]

14 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

Your spouse vehicle insurance provider can also advise if you will be covered. 

They often give out bad advice. As many on here have found out the hard way. They may cover you but you are not legally allowed to use a foreign license according to the state's law. 

 

I was also insured with my Canadian license, but that means nothing to the police when they pull you over. You are to have a state license by the time that State requires. 

[Lemonslice 4,976]

11 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

They often give out bad advice. As many on here have found out the hard way. They may cover you but you are not legally allowed to use a foreign license according to the state's law. 

 

I was also insured with my Canadian license, but that means nothing to the police when they pull you over. You are to have a state license by the time that State requires. 

I am sorry, I should have specified in addition to the RMV/DMV requirements on when you have to switch your licence - you need valid insurance as well as a valid licence.  

[Ontarkie 14,507]

1 minute ago, Lemonslice said:

I am sorry, I should have specified in addition to the RMV/DMV requirements on when you have to switch your licence - you need valid insurance as well as a valid licence.  

Ah yes,

 

There have been a few members who just took their agents advice and drove without switching. They ended up in court trying to fight it later. 

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

14 hours ago, ronniebreda said:

I am not a hundred percent sure on these laws because when we were going through the same thing, we also found a lot of mixed information (sorry!). 

However, I would highly suggest getting an International Drivers License from the Netherlands before you move to the US. This is what my husband did and I think it could be helpful because US Police are not going to understand the Dutch Drivers License. 

 

12 hours ago, Little_Vixen said:

Thanks very much! Is that the one you can get at the ANWB? Cause that looks too simple to even be valid. 

An IDL is only a translation, you always need the original license with it. 

 

You can be covered for insurance even if you haven’t technically met the state requirement (where I am, in California, it’s 10 days and practically impossible to achieve).

 

It’s just much easier having a US license, for everything from traffic stops to ID, so while I know the tendency seems to be for immigrants to put it off as long as possible I’d suggest rather do it as soon as you can.

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

Thanks all for the answers!

I was made aware by another Dutch person that I could be insured on my husbands Insurance (if they cover it) on my foreign license as long as its valid (the 60 days then according to Ontarkie) and then on my IN license. He is looking into that for me.

 

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

It’s just much easier having a US license, for everything from traffic stops to ID, so while I know the tendency seems to be for immigrants to put it off as long as possible I’d suggest rather do it as soon as you can.

It's not a matter of putting it off, I want to get my license as soon as possible. It's just impossible to get an IN license before your EAD (some even have trouble getting it before the GC). The EAD takes 60 to 90 days, GC can be a lot longer. I just want to make sure I don't break any laws.

[ronniebreda 120]

13 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

 

An IDL is only a translation, you always need the original license with it. 

 

You can be covered for insurance even if you haven’t technically met the state requirement (where I am, in California, it’s 10 days and practically impossible to achieve).

 

It’s just much easier having a US license, for everything from traffic stops to ID, so while I know the tendency seems to be for immigrants to put it off as long as possible I’d suggest rather do it as soon as you can.

A translation is important...especially if you have seen a Dutch Drivers License which has no English. 
I don't think immigrants are putting it off...I know that in most states you have to have an EAD before you can get your drivers license. For my husband that took 87 days which seems to be relatively fast compared to some. 
And getting your drivers license is on top of everything else you have to do like plan a wedding, get married, open a bank account, get a credit score, etc. Get it as soon as you can, but give immigrants a break..

Edited January 18, 2018 by ronniebreda

[AshMarty 360]

My husband just completed this a couple of months ago (lucky for him Maryland is one of the few states that allowed him to get a temporary 10 month license without a EAD/GC ). Since he knew he only had 60 days to drive on his Australian license. He used the time his Australian license was still valid to take the driver courses required and tests required for a license in Maryland. He also went to the DMV to make sure he had all the information he needed for his license. 

 

Some people have even used the time while their I-94 was valid to get a license (even though it will expire at the end of the I-94) so they can just go and renew it when the EAD/GC is approved. 

Edited January 18, 2018 by AshMarty

[Lemonslice 4,976]

3 hours ago, ronniebreda said:

A translation is important...especially if you have seen a Dutch Drivers License which has no English. 
I don't think immigrants are putting it off...I know that in most states you have to have an EAD before you can get your drivers license. For my husband that took 87 days which seems to be relatively fast compared to some. 
And getting your drivers license is on top of everything else you have to do like plan a wedding, get married, open a bank account, get a credit score, etc. Get it as soon as you can, but give immigrants a break..

Exactly, that's one of the disadvantages of the  K1/AOS - the new resident is sometimes unable to drive/work/travel for a little while.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

7 hours ago, ronniebreda said:

A translation is important...especially if you have seen a Dutch Drivers License which has no English. 
I don't think immigrants are putting it off...I know that in most states you have to have an EAD before you can get your drivers license. For my husband that took 87 days which seems to be relatively fast compared to some. 
And getting your drivers license is on top of everything else you have to do like plan a wedding, get married, open a bank account, get a credit score, etc. Get it as soon as you can, but give immigrants a break..

I didn’t say a translation wasn’t important - that comment was in response to OP saying it “looks simple” (which I quoted in response so it should have been clear).

 

And different immigration journeys have different paths, many people land with immediate green cards and without having to plan a wedding (nobody takes very long to open a bank account)  ...and still put it off. I’ve known some people who’ve only got theirs a year or two after immigrating, following a traffic stop and warning or fine...  Glad to know you’re more focused than they are, but not everyone is the same.

 

Not sure quite why you needed to be so prickly in both parts of your response, but you’re clearly under a lot of stress judging by your long to-do list, good luck with it all.