Transferring UK driving license to a NH driving license through EAD/K1/AOS

[Jonrodrii 1]

Good afternoon,

 

Anyone knows the process or/and requirements to obtain a NH or any US state driving license, considering rules are similar, through a K1 visa AOS I-485 pending and an approved I-765 with currently having my SSN and EAD?

 

tried contacting via email and calls to DMV to find out what paperwork do I need to show when making an appointment, but no luck.

 

Thank you,

Jon

[Cw1977 124]

8 minutes ago, Jonrodrii said:

Good afternoon,

 

Anyone knows the process or/and requirements to obtain a NH or any US state driving license, considering rules are similar, through a K1 visa AOS I-485 pending and an approved I-765 with currently having my SSN and EAD?

 

tried contacting via email and calls to DMV to find out what paperwork do I need to show when making an appointment, but no luck.

 

Thank you,

Jon

hi. You don’t ‘transfer’ your U.K. licence. It has no relevance to the state. You need to go whatever the local state requires as if you were getting a licence for the first time (written and or driving test) depending on which state it is. 
 

I moved to California and had to pass the online test then do a fairly simple 20 min driving test. Some states are similar, many are easier. 
 

this is how you get one in NH

 

https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/apply-your-first-drivers-licensenon-driver-id

Edited January 31 by Cw1977

[Jonrodrii 1]

 

8 minutes ago, Cw1977 said:

hi. You don’t ‘transfer’ your U.K. licence. It has no relevance to the state. You need to go whatever the local state requires as if you were getting a licence for the first time (written and or driving test) depending on which state it is. 
 

I moved to California and had to pass the online test then do a fairly simple 20 min driving test. Some states are similar, many are easier. 
 

this is how you get one in NH

 

https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/apply-your-first-drivers-licensenon-driver-id

thank you,

 

But do you know if I would required to provide an additional document considering I am not a US citizen, I believe the link you provided is for a US citizen to get a driving license. 

 

What documents did you had to provide when you went for your tests etc.?

Edited January 31 by Jonrodrii

[Cw1977 124]

1 minute ago, Jonrodrii said:

 

thank you,

 

But do you know if I would required to provide an additional document considering I am not a US citizen, I believe the link you provided is for a US citizen to get a driving license. 

 

What documents did you had to provide when you went for your tests etc.?

im not an expert on NH, but from what I can see, you are unable to get a drivers licence there if you are on a K1 visa

[Jonrodrii 1]

Just now, Cw1977 said:

im not an expert on NH, but from what I can see, you are unable to get a drivers licence there if you are on a K1 visa

I do have my EAD and SSN though. otherwise I wouldn't be able to drive here until I get my green card? possibly up to 15 months from now?

[Cw1977 124]

4 minutes ago, Jonrodrii said:

 

thank you,

 

But do you know if I would required to provide an additional document considering I am not a US citizen, I believe the link you provided is for a US citizen to get a driving license. 

 

What documents did you had to provide when you went for your tests etc.?

I took my passport and my green card, plus my social security number

1 minute ago, Jonrodrii said:

I do have my EAD and SSN though. otherwise I wouldn't be able to drive here until I get my green card? possibly up to 15 months from now?

you can drive on your U.K. licence for up to 12 months in US

[appleblossom 3,343]

53 minutes ago, Cw1977 said:

you can drive on your U.K. licence for up to 12 months in US

Maybe it is different in your state but that’s certainly not the case in MA. Here you’re required to get a DL as soon as you’re resident. The 1 year rule only applies to tourists etc, anybody moving here has to take the test asap. 

[Cw1977 124]

33 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

Maybe it is different in your state but that’s certainly not the case in MA. Here you’re required to get a DL as soon as you’re resident. The 1 year rule only applies to tourists etc, anybody moving here has to take the test asap. 

yes you are correct. Def different state to state. I think several are 12 months but there’s def some that are not. Just another one of the quirks of which state you move to!

 

good catch/correction

Edited January 31 by Cw1977

[alliejourney 74]

In Ohio my husband was not able to get his driver's license until he had his EAD and SSN, and at that point had to follow the protocols for any person over 18 obtaining their first driver's license. As far as documentation, we had to bring two pieces of mail/utility bills to prove proof of address, and we also brought his I-94 showing he entered on a K1 visa and the NOA showing he had a pending AOS application. Also brought his passport, EAD, and SSN for the biometric information that was needed. Again, though, this was all specific to Ohio, but just to give you an idea of what was required of us.

 

I think New Hampshire DMV website has all the info you need here! https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/apply-your-first-drivers-licensenon-driver-id

It includes a list of acceptable documents and should tell you everything you need and the entire process to follow.  

[Boiler 46,282]

9 hours ago, Cw1977 said:

I took my passport and my green card, plus my social security number

you can drive on your U.K. licence for up to 12 months in US

60  days in NH which is sort of average, I think it is 10 in CA

 

https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/non-us-citizen
 

Here is the link all the info on their web site.

[tree248 15]

Note that some states do have driver license reciprocity agreements with some countries that do allow the exchange of the drivers license from certain countries, either with no test or a written test only.

 

https://www.aamva.org/jurisdiction-data-maps#anchorforreciprocitymap

 

The first map on this page shows the agreements in place. The countries with direct reciprocity vary by state, if any, and are usually Canada (or select provinces), France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and/or South Korea. Note that no state has agreements with all of these countries, and some states have no agreements.

 

Also note that any immigration requirements to get the license must also be satisfied in states that have those requirements.

Edited January 31 by tree248

[tree248 15]

 

 

https://www.aamva.org/jurisdiction-data-maps#anchorforreciprocitymap

 

As an update, looking at the map there are a few other countries that have reciprocity agreements with at least one state. The updated list includes Canada (or select provinces), France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, UAE, Switzerland and/or South Korea. Note that no state has agreements with all of these countries, and some states have no agreements. Some of these countries have agreements only with one particular state.

 

Also note that any immigration requirements to get the license must also be satisfied in states that have those requirements.

 

Every province of Canada appears to have reciprocity agreements with the UK.

[SalishSea 18,225]

13 hours ago, Cw1977 said:

I took my passport and my green card, plus my social security number

you can drive on your U.K. licence for up to 12 months in US

Not in every state.   In Washington, it’s only valid for 30 days.   

[Jonrodrii 1]

 

4 hours ago, alliejourney said:

In Ohio my husband was not able to get his driver's license until he had his EAD and SSN, and at that point had to follow the protocols for any person over 18 obtaining their first driver's license. As far as documentation, we had to bring two pieces of mail/utility bills to prove proof of address, and we also brought his I-94 showing he entered on a K1 visa and the NOA showing he had a pending AOS application. Also brought his passport, EAD, and SSN for the biometric information that was needed. Again, though, this was all specific to Ohio, but just to give you an idea of what was required of us.

 

I think New Hampshire DMV website has all the info you need here! https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/apply-your-first-drivers-licensenon-driver-id

It includes a list of acceptable documents and should tell you everything you need and the entire process to follow.  

 

2 hours ago, tree248 said:

Note that some states do have driver license reciprocity agreements with some countries that do allow the exchange of the drivers license from certain countries, either with no test or a written test only.

 

https://www.aamva.org/jurisdiction-data-maps#anchorforreciprocitymap

 

The first map on this page shows the agreements in place. The countries with direct reciprocity vary by state, if any, and are usually Canada (or select provinces), France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and/or South Korea. Note that no state has agreements with all of these countries, and some states have no agreements.

 

Also note that any immigration requirements to get the license must also be satisfied in states that have those requirements.

 

4 hours ago, Boiler said:

60  days in NH which is sort of average, I think it is 10 in CA

 

https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/non-us-citizen
 

Here is the link all the info on their web site.

 

Thank you all for the useful information,

 

I just want to go in prepared as I heard many times how unfriendly the people from DMV are... they seem to have an awful reputation here in the US. So hopefully it won't be the case here.

Have any of you experienced bad times in the DMV?

 

[Jonrodrii 1]

4 hours ago, alliejourney said:

In Ohio my husband was not able to get his driver's license until he had his EAD and SSN, and at that point had to follow the protocols for any person over 18 obtaining their first driver's license. As far as documentation, we had to bring two pieces of mail/utility bills to prove proof of address, and we also brought his I-94 showing he entered on a K1 visa and the NOA showing he had a pending AOS application. Also brought his passport, EAD, and SSN for the biometric information that was needed. Again, though, this was all specific to Ohio, but just to give you an idea of what was required of us.

 

I think New Hampshire DMV website has all the info you need here! https://www.dmv.nh.gov/drivers-licensenon-driver-ids/apply-your-first-drivers-licensenon-driver-id

It includes a list of acceptable documents and should tell you everything you need and the entire process to follow.  

Thank you,

 

I do have a British driving license, which I am assuming your husband had one too as I see the country in your profile is United Kingdom. so this information is really helpful, even if its. different state, rules may be similar, and I can start preparing my documents to prevent a bad moment at NH DMV, considering their reputation.