Driver's License Reciprocity- Michigan

[Redro 4,611]

Random question: wanting to hear opinions.

Korea has a reciprocity agreement with Michigan. So, if you have a license from Michigan you can exchange it in Korea from a Korean license. The husband  >a USC< did this a few years back and all he needed was an Apostille.

So, I have my Korean driver's license (I've had it for 5 years) but I'm not a Korean citizen. I'm wondering if I'll be able to exchange my Korean license for a Michigan one

Michigan SOS has this to say about the reciprocity agreement: 

 

Michigan has entered into agreements with the governments of South Korea and Germany regarding the honoring of foreign driver's licenses.  Under the agreements, German and  South Korean citizens over the age of 18, who are lawfully present in the United States and have established residency in Michigan, will be able to exchange their valid German or South Korean driver's license for a Michigan driver's license.

 

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1627-503731--,00.html

 

Should I be preparing myself to go through the entire DL  process again or do you think I'll just be able to exchange my license. 

 

FIY: Other States just indicate you can exchange a foreign license and do not mention citizenship... 

 

Example Colorado: 

Testing

Colorado has reciprocal agreements with the following countries. If you have a driver license from any of these countries, the testing requirements will be waived.

Canada

France

Germany

The Republic of South Korea

Taiwan

 

https://dmv.colorado.gov/new-colorado-another-country

 

 

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

Interesting 

and i found this making it easier in Michigan to drive on international license (if u carry English translation with it) as there is a long list of treaty countries with the state

 

https://michiganimmigrant.org/sites/default/files/SB501English-July2020.pdf

 

Albania | Algeria | Argentina | Australia | Austria | Bahamas | Bangladesh | Barbados | Belgium | Belize | Benin | Botswana | Brazil |Bulgaria | Burkina Faso | Cambodia | Canada | Central African Rep. | Chile | China (Taiwan) | Colombia | Congo | Congo Democratic Rep. | Costa Rica | Cote d’Ivoire | Cuba | Cyprus | Czech Rep. | Denmark | Dominican Republic | Ecuador | Egypt | El Salvador| Fiji | Finland | France | Gambia | Georgia | Germany | Ghana | Greece | Grenada | Guatemala | Guyana | Haiti | Honduras |Hong Kong | Hungary | Iceland | India | Ireland | Israel | Italy | Jamaica | Japan | Jordan | Korea | Kyrgyz Rep. | Laos | Lebanon | Lesotho | Luxembourg | Macao | Madagascar | Malawi | Malaysia | Mali | Malta | Mauritius | Mexico | Monaco |Morocco | Namibia | Nicaragua | Netherlands | New Zealand | Niger | Nigeria |Norway | Panama |Papua New Guinea | Paraguay | Peru |Philippines | Poland | Portugal | Romania | Russian Federation | Rwanda | St. Lucia | St. Vincent & the Grenadines | San Marino | Senegal | Serbia and Montenegro | Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Singapore |Slovak Rep. | South Africa | Spain | Sri Lanka | Suriname | Swaziland |Sweden | Syrian Arab Rep. | Tanzania | Thailand | Togo | Trinidad & Tobago | Tunisia| Turkey | Uganda | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom | Uruguay | Vatican City | Venezuela | Vietnam Rep. | Western Samoa | Yugoslavia | Zambia | Zimbabwe

[Redro 4,611]

25 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Interesting 

and i found this making it easier in Michigan to drive on international license (if u carry English translation with it) as there is a long list of treaty countries with the state

 

https://michiganimmigrant.org/sites/default/files/SB501English-July2020.pdf

 

Albania | Algeria | Argentina | Australia | Austria | Bahamas | Bangladesh | Barbados | Belgium | Belize | Benin | Botswana | Brazil |Bulgaria | Burkina Faso | Cambodia | Canada | Central African Rep. | Chile | China (Taiwan) | Colombia | Congo | Congo Democratic Rep. | Costa Rica | Cote d’Ivoire | Cuba | Cyprus | Czech Rep. | Denmark | Dominican Republic | Ecuador | Egypt | El Salvador| Fiji | Finland | France | Gambia | Georgia | Germany | Ghana | Greece | Grenada | Guatemala | Guyana | Haiti | Honduras |Hong Kong | Hungary | Iceland | India | Ireland | Israel | Italy | Jamaica | Japan | Jordan | Korea | Kyrgyz Rep. | Laos | Lebanon | Lesotho | Luxembourg | Macao | Madagascar | Malawi | Malaysia | Mali | Malta | Mauritius | Mexico | Monaco |Morocco | Namibia | Nicaragua | Netherlands | New Zealand | Niger | Nigeria |Norway | Panama |Papua New Guinea | Paraguay | Peru |Philippines | Poland | Portugal | Romania | Russian Federation | Rwanda | St. Lucia | St. Vincent & the Grenadines | San Marino | Senegal | Serbia and Montenegro | Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Singapore |Slovak Rep. | South Africa | Spain | Sri Lanka | Suriname | Swaziland |Sweden | Syrian Arab Rep. | Tanzania | Thailand | Togo | Trinidad & Tobago | Tunisia| Turkey | Uganda | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom | Uruguay | Vatican City | Venezuela | Vietnam Rep. | Western Samoa | Yugoslavia | Zambia | Zimbabwe

Yeah~ I'm confused because technically I'm allowed to drive in Michigan with my current Korean license on a tourist visa  (it's in English, they don't specify your license needs to match your citizenship and you don't have to show proof of legal presence) but I'm wondering about exchange rules. I need to apply for ID when I arrive and I don't think driving on a Korean license for a few years is kosher. 

 

Everything I've read in Korean states I'm supposed to apply for a Michigan DL within 30 days of arriving (it's difficult to find an English link to confirm  as I'm getting my information in Korean).

 

 https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Foreign_DL_Law_Enforcement_665001_7.pdf

 

New Michigan residents must title and register their vehicles immediately.  There is no grace period provided in Michigan law. The Michigan Vehicle Code defines "resident" as "every person who resides in this state and establishes that he or she is legally present in the United States."

New residents need to visit a Secretary of State branch office to apply for a Michigan driver's license (or state ID card), vehicle title, and registration as soon as they establish residency in this state.

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-5647_12539-180171--,00.html

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 30, 2021 by Kor2USA

[Boiler 45,884]

Seems if you have established residency then you can exchange.

 

If you have not and are legally present then you can use your Korean license. Not sure how you could not be resident and drive for a few years. B is good for 6 months.

Edited November 30, 2021 by Boiler

[Redro 4,611]

5 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Seems if you have established residency then you can exchange.

 

If you have not and are legally present then you can use your Korean license. Not sure how you could be resident and drive for a few years.

You don't think it matters if Michigan SOS states you can only exchange if you're a Korean or German citizen? 

I'm currently a Korean resident and have been for years.... 

Not sure if it's just a simplified explanation of the law or a hard and fast rule. 

Edited November 30, 2021 by Kor2USA

[P055UM 289]

Interesting that it always is the same countries that have the reciprocity agreements. It seems weird that certain states would have brokered slightly different deals with the same parties, like Colorado allowing any Korean DL holder, but Michigan only allowing citizen DL holders.

 

My experience in my state is that a) the websites are often not very useful or complete or accurate and b) the DMV has an entire department dedicated to ensuring that immigrants are given the correct licenses. So best to lay out your specific situation in an email and hopefully they will be able to give you a straight answer.

[Redro 4,611]

Just now, AW1704 said:

Interesting that it always is the same countries that have the reciprocity agreements. It seems weird that certain states would have brokered slightly different deals with the same parties, like Colorado allowing any Korean DL holder, but Michigan only allowing citizen DL holders.

 

My experience in my state is that a) the websites are often not very useful or complete or accurate and b) the DMV has an entire department dedicated to ensuring that immigrants are given the correct licenses. So best to lay out your specific situation in an email and hopefully they will be able to give you a straight answer.

Korea has reciprocity agreements with a lot of different states and countries. 

Their agreement with Idaho and Oregon include the stipulation that you have to sit for the written test but no where does it specify you have to be a citizen of the state/ country you received your license from...

 

Just canvassing opinions before I craft my letter. I've found that communicating with  government officials and administrators at various institutions before you've received your visa/ GC is useless. They won't reply to your queries unless you're already in the US. 

[Boiler 45,884]

You realize that a US Driving Test is unbelievably simple? 

 

I did my written test by mistake, I just went into the office to find out what I needed to do and pick up paperwork, I got one question wrong.

 

The practical was driving around a block, Now I would given the choice not do it but not exactly an issue either way.

[P055UM 289]

25 minutes ago, Kor2USA said:

Just canvassing opinions before I craft my letter. I've found that communicating with  government officials and administrators at various institutions before you've received your visa/ GC is useless. They won't reply to your queries unless you're already in the US. 

Agree this can be tricky. Best of luck to you.

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

Needs to show residency for Michigan like name on utility bill / mail recd at a Michigan residency,  etc

just read thru the post for dl for the state 

[SalishSea 18,058]

Are you a USC?

 

I believe Washington has a similar setup for Korean citizens.  My husband had held a NZ driving license for 30+ years, and he had to retest for one here, even though the standards are lower, lol.  He did grumble a bit about it, but it wasn't a big deal.

 

He drove on his foreign license during all of his visits, and for the first 30 days after POE.

[Redro 4,611]

15 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Are you a USC?

 

I believe Washington has a similar setup for Korean citizens.  My husband had held a NZ driving license for 30+ years, and he had to retest for one here, even though the standards are lower, lol.  He did grumble a bit about it, but it wasn't a big deal.

 

He drove on his foreign license during all of his visits, and for the first 30 days after POE.

I'm not a USC and I'm not a Korean citizen either. 

 

Korea has an agreement with 23 states! 

Washington's agreement with Korea is similar in wording to Colorado no mention of citizenship, just "If you have a valid license from . . . " no tests required. 

https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/moving.html

 

Everyone seems to agree taking the test isn't a big deal (husband included) so I'll just suck it up. Drive on my foreign license when I first arrive and then get a Michigan DL (with or without the test) when I get proof of residency and my SSN. 

Edited December 1, 2021 by Kor2USA

[SalishSea 18,058]

Just now, Kor2USA said:

I'm not a USC and I'm not a Korean citizen either. 

 

Korea has an agreement with 23 states! 

Washington's agreement with Korea is similar in wording to Colorado no mention of citizenship, just "If you have a valid license from . . . " no tests required. 

https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/moving.html

 

Everyone seems to agree taking the test isn't a big deal so I'll just suck it up. Drive on my foreign license when I first arrive and then get a Michigan DL (with or without the test) when I get proof of residency and my SSN. 

Ah, okay.  The Kiwi was more cranky about the principle of retesting, particularly since the bar to get a DL is much higher in NZ than in WA.  Other than that, it was just the time and the fee that annoyed him.  

[wagner17 24]

On 11/30/2021 at 11:16 PM, Kor2USA said:

I'm not a USC and I'm not a Korean citizen either. 

 

Korea has an agreement with 23 states! 

Washington's agreement with Korea is similar in wording to Colorado no mention of citizenship, just "If you have a valid license from . . . " no tests required. 

https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/moving.html

 

Everyone seems to agree taking the test isn't a big deal (husband included) so I'll just suck it up. Drive on my foreign license when I first arrive and then get a Michigan DL (with or without the test) when I get proof of residency and my SSN. 

Try calling the DMV and ask.  I was shocked when I called the PA DMV 5 years ago to ask about reciprocity with Korea (it had just started at the time) and they were quite knowledgeable.

[Redro 4,611]

6 hours ago, wagner17 said:

Try calling the DMV and ask.  I was shocked when I called the PA DMV 5 years ago to ask about reciprocity with Korea (it had just started at the time) and they were quite knowledgeable.

I'll find out when I go to SOS (security of state). I agree they are extremely knowledgeable - they've always been helpful on my previous visits... just crowd sourcing for opinions on whether or not only citizens of Korea qualify for the reciprocity agreement (as outlined on the website).