Getting drivers license?

[Scotty23 3]

Hi, I am wondering if anyone can tell me at what point of the green card process can you get your drivers license in America? If you have a license from back home are you able to drive here? Or do you have to wait until you have your green card? 

[yuna628 9,680]

10 minutes ago, Scotty23 said:

Hi, I am wondering if anyone can tell me at what point of the green card process can you get your drivers license in America? If you have a license from back home are you able to drive here? Or do you have to wait until you have your green card? 

That will depend on the state regulations where you live. You will need to look at your state DMV website. In my state for instance, there was no need to wait until the green card arrived. The earliest you can obtain it here is with an EAD (and other things such as a valid SSN and your name on a piece of mail or bank statement - so ensure that you get those things as soon as possible). Drivers with a valid foreign license can skip most of the long hours of classes and drive time requirements, and take a simple written and road test. Once my husband got his EAD, he had his valid MD license within a week. This was a temporary license good for as long as the EAD is valid. You return to the DMV once your green card arrives and swap it out for a full one.

[HRQX 4,145]

30 minutes ago, Scotty23 said:

Or do you have to wait until you have your green card? 

^^ Seems likely.

Even those with K-1 visas encounter issues:

The alternative is to move to a different state where you are allowed to receive a drivers license.

Edited July 2, 2019 by HRQX

[junkmart 320]

40 minutes ago, Scotty23 said:

Hi, I am wondering if anyone can tell me at what point of the green card process can you get your drivers license in America?

Varies by state.

 

40 minutes ago, Scotty23 said:

If you have a license from back home are you able to drive here?

Also varies by state. In Texas, one can drive on their foreign DL for up to 90 days AFTER receiving GC (becoming a resident of Texas).

 

41 minutes ago, Scotty23 said:

Or do you have to wait until you have your green card?

This varies, too.

[geowrian 22,337]

Check with your local state's DMV rules. Driver licenses are issued by the state so they set their own rules for requirements.

 

Generally, once somebody is a resident of a state (don't confuse this with anything related to immigration status/residency!), they cannot drive on an out of state (including out of country) license after x days.

[HRQX 4,145]

22 minutes ago, junkmart said:

In Texas, one can drive on their foreign DL for up to 90 days AFTER receiving GC (becoming a resident of Texas).

One can be a resident of Texas before receiving the GC. As @geowrian stated: "don't confuse this with anything related to immigration status/residency!"

"New Texas residents can legally drive with a valid, unexpired driver license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canadian province, or qualifying country for up to 90 days after moving to Texas." https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/movingtotexas.htm

Edited July 2, 2019 by HRQX

[junkmart 320]

2 minutes ago, HRQX said:

One can be a resident of Texas before receiving the GC. As @geowrian stated: "don't confuse this with anything related to immigration status/residency!"

"New Texas residents can legally drive with a valid, unexpired driver license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canadian province, or qualifying country for up to 90 days after moving to Texas." https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/movingtotexas.htm

thanks, I've read that, and visited my local DPS, and consulted with my immigration attorney. I was advised by all that since I am not eligible for a license until after getting a green card, that the green card date will be considered the date I became a resident of Texas.

[HRQX 4,145]

4 minutes ago, junkmart said:

thanks, I've read that, and visited my local DPS, and consulted with my immigration attorney.

Did you print out the following, and showed it to them: http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/documents/verifyingLawfulPresence.pdf

Quote

Applicants for adjustment of status Note: These are individuals applying to become lawful permanent residents.

Immigration documentation with an alien number or I-94 number

This can include but is not limited to a form I-797 indicating pending I-485 or pending application for adjustment of status.

On page 3

[HRQX 4,145]

11 minutes ago, HRQX said:

Did you print out the following, and showed it to them: http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/documents/verifyingLawfulPresence.pdf

On page 3

Also:

Both users above had their applications sent to secondary verification. @baconmunch got the license before the AOS-based EAD was approved.

[geowrian 22,337]

37 minutes ago, junkmart said:

thanks, I've read that, and visited my local DPS, and consulted with my immigration attorney. I was advised by all that since I am not eligible for a license until after getting a green card, that the green card date will be considered the date I became a resident of Texas.

So if, for example, it took 3 years to get a green card, you wouldn't be a resident of Texas? Where would be your residency? What about taxes?

 

/sarcasm

Even people who enter the US illegally can have US residency. It just requires living in an area for a minimum period of time (varies by state) with intent to remain there.

Edited July 2, 2019 by geowrian

[junkmart 320]

2 hours ago, HRQX said:

Also:

Both users above had their applications sent to secondary verification. @baconmunch got the license before the AOS-based EAD was approved.

Well, it's already a done deal for me. Nothing I can do about it now. But thanks for all the feedback. Hope it helps  the OP.

[junkmart 320]

2 hours ago, geowrian said:

So if, for example, it took 3 years to get a green card, you wouldn't be a resident of Texas? Where would be your residency? What about taxes?

 

/sarcasm

Even people who enter the US illegally can have US residency. It just requires living in an area for a minimum period of time (varies by state) with intent to remain there.

Understood. Thanks

[junkmart 320]

3 hours ago, junkmart said:

4 hours ago, Scotty23 said:

If you have a license from back home are you able to drive here?

Also varies by state. In Texas, one can drive on their foreign DL for up to 90 days AFTER receiving GC (becoming a resident of Texas).

OP, what I SHOULD have said above was, In Texas, one can drive on their foreign DL for up to 90 days AFTER becoming a resident of Texas.

[fip & jim 452]

Hey Scotty, here's the link for NJ driver's licence requirements: https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/license/docselector/index.htm. There are various document requirements that are acceptable. The issue may be the period between I-94 being valid and then proving legal presence during AOS. Here in Michigan they accepted the 797c (AOS NOA) as proof of my legal presence but different states have different requirements. If you manage to get a licence in the 90 days that the I-94 is valid then you may be "out of status" between then and receiving the NOA for your AOS application, and therefor unable to legally drive.  

[Amadia 711]

When I moved here, I took my passport and home country's driver's license to my local DMV. My driver's license was used as verification of existing driving history and not having to take the pre-license test as new drivers have to take. My I-551 stamp in my passport was sufficient evidence for me to start the process of getting my Florida driver's license.

 

My driver's license was issued same day after my driving test was completed and my conditional green card did not arrive until the end of that said month.