Drivers License in Illnois

[HanVis 7]

Hi everybody! 

 

So I have just been blessed enough to receive my green card.

 

I am about to change my drivers license. I know I will have a written test and eye exam but it says if I have a license from a country that drives on the left side of the road, I'll need to take the driving test too. My twist is, I passed my test whilst in Canada, working abroad. 

 

I don't have the Canadian license as I had to surrender it to the UK government to get my British one. Do you think they will make do the test? I don't even have a car here yet! 

 

Thanks in advance. 

[DELETEME1234 208]

15 minutes ago, HanVis said:

Hi everybody! 

 

So I have just been blessed enough to receive my green card.

 

I am about to change my drivers license. I know I will have a written test and eye exam but it says if I have a license from a country that drives on the left side of the road, I'll need to take the driving test too. My twist is, I passed my test whilst in Canada, working abroad. 

 

I don't have the Canadian license as I had to surrender it to the UK government to get my British one. Do you think they will make do the test? I don't even have a car here yet! 

 

Thanks in advance. 

Yes you will have to do the road test. I just so happen to deal with a similar thing with them, I just today got confirmation that they only have reciprocity with Italy, France and Germany so it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

[ineedadisplayname 497]

It won't really help you, but I think most of us needed to take all the tests (the "big" test, road-sign test, vision test, driving test) even tho we had valid European DLs....

It is not that hard. Memorize the distances in miles, yards, etc for following distance, when to turn off your high beams when other vehicle is approaching, ect the rest is almost the same.

 

You can borrow a car from somebody you know, or even rent one for a day. Drive it there with your UK license (valid for 90 days after your arrival) and if everything goes well you leave with an US license.

 

 

[Boiler 45,499]

Wondering why you surrendered it to the DVLA, anyway does not matter, I know a few States have reciprocity arrangements for Canadian License Holders which it seems you are not, mine does not, on the plus side the US test is unbelievably easy.

[HanVis 7]

Thanks for the answers! 

 

I didn't think I'd be able to avoid it but never hurts to ask. I however at about 6 months since I arrived so it seems I shouldn't even drive myself there! 

 

Might have to be the wife who drives me there. 

 

I surrendered to the DVLA due to me planning on staying in the UK, I hadn't met the other half at that point.

 

I ruddy hate exams. 

[Boiler 45,499]

Every state varies but I am not aware of any that allow new residents 6 months.

 

I did my written test by mistake, I have not read the manual, multiple choice , multiple guess really, got one involving 4 ways and who goes first, really simple and obvious.

 

[HanVis 7]

27 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Every state varies but I am not aware of any that allow new residents 6 months.

 

I did my written test by mistake, I have not read the manual, multiple choice , multiple guess really, got one involving 4 ways and who goes first, really simple and obvious.

 

So will they treat me like a new driver basically? 

 

I am sure it won't be complex, beats the fun of hazard perception in the UK. I'll have to look into more about the driving test and hope they don't try and take me into downtown Chicago! 

[brainless69 251]

Do we need to wait till we receive our green card before we can apply for a drivers license? I am also living in chicago!

[HanVis 7]

10 minutes ago, brainless69 said:

Do we need to wait till we receive our green card before we can apply for a drivers license? I am also living in chicago!

I'm glad to hear from someone in Chicago! 

 

I was under the belief you needed at least the EAD, that was delivered the day I had my interview so I basically bypassed it 😊. 

[Boiler 45,499]

1 hour ago, HanVis said:

So will they treat me like a new driver basically? 

 

I am sure it won't be complex, beats the fun of hazard perception in the UK. I'll have to look into more about the driving test and hope they don't try and take me into downtown Chicago! 

I never got more than a couple of blocks away from the test center.

[brainless69 251]

1 hour ago, HanVis said:

I'm glad to hear from someone in Chicago! 

 

I was under the belief you needed at least the EAD, that was delivered the day I had my interview so I basically bypassed it 😊. 

In Chicago for the time being, going to sort out AOS then we will be moving...

 

Doing my research it doesnt say anything about needing the EAD so i guess i will give it a try. Not sure where about you are in Chicago but i have read that the easiest office to pass drivers test is north elston ave. DMV... 

[HanVis 7]

2 minutes ago, brainless69 said:

In Chicago for the time being, going to sort out AOS then we will be moving...

 

Doing my research it doesnt say anything about needing the EAD so i guess i will give it a try. Not sure where about you are in Chicago but i have read that the easiest office to pass drivers test is north elston ave. DMV... 

Thanks for the heads up! I'm in Lakeview East so it's only a 20 minute drive away - should certainly be worth it! 

 

I think I was reading about the REAL ID needing something along the line of the EAD/GC as proof of residency. I want the REAL ID so I'm not needing my passport for ID at airports. I'll be honest, I have only looked at the REAL ID requirements once, on a bus so could be wrong 😂. 

 

[yoda one for me 322]

38 minutes ago, HanVis said:

Thanks for the heads up! I'm in Lakeview East so it's only a 20 minute drive away - should certainly be worth it! 

 

I think I was reading about the REAL ID needing something along the line of the EAD/GC as proof of residency. I want the REAL ID so I'm not needing my passport for ID at airports. I'll be honest, I have only looked at the REAL ID requirements once, on a bus so could be wrong 😂. 

 

AFAIU, your permanent resident card is considered ID appropriate for flying with and as I understand you have to keep that on you all the time anyway  Source: https://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/files/resources/realid_factsheet.pdf

[millefleur 5,046]

**Moved from General Immigration-Related Discussion to Moving to the US and Your New Life In America; DL's usually discussed there**