California Drivers License

[GamericaC 7]

Hi all!

Firstly, apologies if I am in the wrong forum or if this has been answered elsewhere, it can be a bit of a maze trying to find the answers I’m looking for so I thought I’d just straight up ask!

I received my Green Card today (YAY!!) and I’ve heard lots of different chat about applying for a drivers license and various different rules etc. When I had my interview, I actually asked the woman who interviewed us about applying for drivers license and she said once I have my card, to use it to apply for a license. I did hear that, once a resident, if I didn’t apply for a license, I could be fined, which I obviously want to avoid. I’ve been driving since 2001 and have a full UK Drivers license, but when I went to book an appointment on the DMV, the closest date I could find was in the middle of October in a town miles away! 

So, my question is, should I book an appointment and if asked, take a screenshot of my booking to prove that I’m waiting to get my license? Also, do I need to take a driving test? So I guess that’s two questions, really. I’m just so confused about the whole situation and also a bit giddy that I’ve finally got my Green Card! 

Thank you all so much in advance!

[ineedadisplayname 499]

48 minutes ago, GamericaC said:

Hi all!

Firstly, apologies if I am in the wrong forum or if this has been answered elsewhere, it can be a bit of a maze trying to find the answers I’m looking for so I thought I’d just straight up ask!

I received my Green Card today (YAY!!) and I’ve heard lots of different chat about applying for a drivers license and various different rules etc. When I had my interview, I actually asked the woman who interviewed us about applying for drivers license and she said once I have my card, to use it to apply for a license. I did hear that, once a resident, if I didn’t apply for a license, I could be fined, which I obviously want to avoid. I’ve been driving since 2001 and have a full UK Drivers license, but when I went to book an appointment on the DMV, the closest date I could find was in the middle of October in a town miles away! 

So, my question is, should I book an appointment and if asked, take a screenshot of my booking to prove that I’m waiting to get my license? Also, do I need to take a driving test? So I guess that’s two questions, really. I’m just so confused about the whole situation and also a bit giddy that I’ve finally got my Green Card! 

Thank you all so much in advance!

You are most likely considered as resident even though you didn't have a greencard. Driving on a foreign license is a risk. You have to decide if it worth it or not if the police stops you. I drove with my EU license for like 6 months. Didn't speed, etc and drove only if really needed. Beside being fined by the police (most likely have other legal consequences) the insurance might not cover if they find out that you are driving with an UK license but actually you are not suppose to....

 

Read up the laws for California and do a risk assessment. E.g you are driving in LA, lots of traffic etc higher chance to get into an accident, and so on.

 

Having an appointment won't cut it if the police stops you.....They don't care.... you are not licensed, you should not be on the road. Consider a doctor who practices but has no degree yet. There is no guarantee that you will pass your drivers exam. Most likely you will need to take written and driving test unless there is a reciprocity between the US and UK.

 

Edited August 22, 2019 by ineedadisplayname

[Ontarkie 14,231]

~~Moved to moving Here and Your New Life, from General Immigration Related Discussion~~

[Boiler 45,544]

You have been a State resident for a loooong time, so yes if you want to drive you need to obtain a license.

[GamericaC 7]

Ok so I’m gonna have to stop you all there, these are exactly the comments that confused me in the first place!

Firstly, from reading the information on the USCIS website, I’m not a resident until I receive my green card, just flying in on a K1 visa doesn’t automatically make me a resident (Even though I’ve been ‘residing’ here). It’s impossible to obtain a license without proper documentation and that includes wither an EAD or Green card. I can, if I wanted to, drive on my UK license. I wouldn’t have been fined or been in trouble, anyone else reading these comments will be just as scared and confused as I was before I did some research.

I was hoping someone who was in the same situation as me would be able to reply. So please, before you comment, I would appreciate advice from someone who really knows what they’re saying and not just someone’s opinion.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, but it is detrimental if it isn’t based in fact. There are endless threads about this that contain contradictory views, I just wish someone could be clear about this and not just spread confusion based on opinion!

[Boiler 45,544]

USCIS does not determine Driving Licenses, the DMV does.

 

(Fact)

[GamericaC 7]

Yes but other forums and comments have said that when people have tried to go to the DMV to get a license, they turn them away because they didn’t have a GC or EAD. It just all seems to contradict each other and nobody makes any sense! 

I really do appreciate your help though. It’s just a frustrating experience and the earliest date to book an appointment in my local DMV office is mid November, so I’m gonna have to go and queue for hours just to get some info (And hopefully a license, as I’ll take everything with me!)

[Boiler 45,544]

California has the AB60 License for those who can not prove legal presence but are resident.

[Lemonslice 4,859]

See:

 

[carmel34 3,634]

10 hours ago, GamericaC said:

It’s just a frustrating experience and the earliest date to book an appointment in my local DMV office is mid November, so I’m gonna have to go and queue for hours just to get some info (And hopefully a license, as I’ll take everything with me!)

Ah yes, California DMVs.....  I live in California and my husband, newly arrived in the US from Brazil on a CR-1 spousal visa, is preparing the documents and studying the DL booklet needed to get a California DL.  I recommend going to a DMV that is efficient and does not have long five-hour wait times, not all California DMVs are the same, some are better. Research pays off.  Appointments are two months out, so we are planning to go in and wait in line now rather than wait two months.  All the required documents and explanation of the process are on the California DMV website.  Good luck!

[laylalex 7,289]

California doesn't care that you aren't a permanent resident until you get your green card. You're a resident after you have made this your home for a certain number of days (I can't recall how many, but it's really short, like 10 days). And that means in order to drive legally, you need to get a CA license. DMV wait times for new licenses are the worst -- I know, I went through it with my fiance when he moved here on an L1B at the end of 2017. He has a full UK license but he didn't want to get in trouble. Back then, it took over a month to get an appointment (I think it was Los Gatos he ended up going to, but I can't remember). I don't think the timing has gotten easier since then. He had to take both the written and the behind the wheel tests as there is no reciprocity with the UK. Luckily he didn't have a need to drive ASAP so the wait was something he could live with.

 

Be aware that there are NO walk ins for behind the wheel tests. Shop around on the DMV website to see where you can get the earliest appointment and take it. You can also check from time to time to see if anything earlier has opened up, but I wouldn't count on it! It just takes forever out here, and has for a long time. I know it sucks.  

[Lana&Ivy 215]

You cannot drive on your UK license legally after 10 days of arrival in California.  For the DMV, and more importantly, the local police, residency is about intent.  USCIS rules don't matter to them.  Though I am insured using my Canadian License on our family vehicles, I cannot legally drive them here without a California license.  I'm still waiting for my AB 60 paperwork to come through (haven't yet received EAD or GC)

 

You must sit both the written test and the behind the wheel test even with a foreign license.  And yeah, the wait times for a DMV appointment around here are insane.  

[mnk 62]

Basically being and resident of the US and a resident of a certain state are two different things, and each state has its own criteria for determining who is a resident. For states, its things like applying for a DL, enrolling in public school, living there for 9 months of the year. Unlike US residency, it is not something that is applied for, it usually something that people try to prove or disprove for reasons such as college tuition or taxes.

 

This is a two step process. You will have to apply for a license and take a written test, and then take a behind the wheel test. You can make an appointment to apply and take the written test, or you can walk in. Having an appointment certainly makes it a lot easier. However, if you can't wait the two months, then find a day when you can spare the whole day (worst case scenario) DMV and go without an appointment. You cannot take the behind-the-wheel test without an appointment, but you can't schedule that appointment without first applying for the license and passing the written test. In the time between passing the written test and the behind-the-wheel test, you will have your driving permit. This allows you to drive with a licensed driver in the car.

 

Note for walk-ins in LA: make sure you go to the right office! My husband and I made the mistake of going to the nearest DMV office, waiting in the line that wrapped around the outside, only to get to the front and find out that one office only dealt with car registrations etc and another office only handled anything to do with licenses. Of course we had gone to the wrong one, so we wasted a couple hours. I have never seen the division of tasks like that at any other offices in the state. Just double check before you wait in line.

 

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl07

Edited August 22, 2019 by mnk

[GamericaC 7]

Thank you so much everyone for your help, advice and experience! It is an absolute mess of a system, you’d think after going through the chaos of the Visa process, I’d be used to this by now! I’m going to walk into the local DMV tomorrow (I checked and they do licenses! Thanks for the heads up though!) and just wait in line. It’s a lot easier than waiting the 2 months! I’m still applying for work so I’m not desperate for a car yet and I’m within walking distance of the shops etc, so I’ll make sure I get everything right as I don’t want to land up in any trouble for something that is totally avoidable once made clear! I wish there was clearer communication between USCIS and the DMV!

[SalishSea 17,839]

I think you are confusing the two quite separate versions of "resident" as it applies in this case.  'Lawful permanent resident' is an immigration status, where 'state resident' is not.  The various agencies that oversee US immigration and the California DMV are entirely separate.

 

We live in Washington, and my husband has had his driver's license since last November.  Our local field office (Seattle) is so backed up, we don't even expect his AOS interview until next year.