Waiting for driver's license

[Alex+R 0]

I'm curious about how driving authorization has affected your life. Were you or your spouse able to drive right away? In what way did the car, and being able or not being able to drive it, affect the immigrant's life?

Thanks!

Edited January 29, 2008 by Alex+R

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm curious about how driving authorization has affected your life. Were you or your spouse able to drive right away? In what way did the car, and being able or not being able to drive it, affect the immigrant's life?

Thanks!

Sounds like an essay question. If my memory was clearer and I less lazy, I'd have given you an essay. Unfortunately, all I recall is that she had to wait for her EAD to get her learners permit. Then she learned how to drive and she got her green card shortly before she passed her driving test.

[reeses16 8]

We moved not long after we got married. In Louisiana, he had to wait for his green card, but in Washington he was eligible immediately (I had to argue...he had to show something riduculous like 5 pieces of ID...we even had to take out his birth certificate).

Yes, I think having a car impacts an immigrants life greatly. Being able to drive mean a better job. Regardless of education level, it gives them access to better job opportunities and better quality of life. We don't have a car right now and my hubby easily spends 6-8 hrs a week waiting on the bus to go to school, when the drive takes 10 minutes on the interstate. : (

[*JG* 2]

I voted for my husband. He had to wait on GC, SSN, written test, learn to drive, driving test.

It took him 8 months to get his DL.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I had read up on California's requirement before Jinky arrived and according to my understanding, a foreigner may drive here legally if they are licensed in their country. The catch is that one must apply for a CA license within 10 days of establishing residency. Since Jinky could not technically call herself a legal resident until her AOS was approved, I took that to mean she could drive with her Philippine license until then...which is what we did.

Even with her ability to drive, for awhile, we only had one car so she had to rely on the city bus, but that proved to be a good thing as she really became acquainted with the area. Orange County has decent public transportation as a viable alternative to driving a car.

Edited January 29, 2008 by Mister Fancypants

[bora bora 1]

It's super easy in Florida - they even allow translators and have tests in Spanish.

My husband just had to pass the computer test and then he took the driver's test minutes later. He passed them both the same day .

The only thing about FL is that if you're not a citizen you have to wait for your DL to arrive in the mail. Hubby just renewed his DL since it was only valid for a year, due to pending AOS, and now that he has his GC his new DL will be good for six years.

[PlatyPius 5]

Mags has never had a license, nor learned to drive. However, she should be able to get the license quickly, IF she ever gets her state ID card. Indiana requires green card holders to be subjected to a verification through USCIS to make sure they are who their green card says they are, or some stupid #######. We've been waiting 2 months or so for the state ID card. Luckily, it only has to happen once, so the license will be instantaneous.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

I had to wait for EAD. Being in south Austin, with very limited public transportation, it was very hard. Things like going out for groceries or picking up the drycleaners were a challenge. It's also important during the job search.

Saludos,

Caro

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

nessa was able to drive on her brazil license for like 3 months but we got her dl within a month or two.

[tmma 467]

Mark could drive his car here on his NL license. He needed a GC or EAD to get a TX license.....Which he also needed to drive the company vehicle ( which he didn't get until he had his GC anyway). It all worked out and was no problem, really.

He did have to test ( written and practical) again-but really comparted to the Dutch or the British driving tests, that we both have done- it was a bit of a joke.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Hubster could have driven on UK license had he needed to, but got DL within about a month of arrival after waiting for GC & SS card. It wasn't an issue however seeing as he used and we still use public transport. We're bus peeps... LOL

[tom&tata 2]

Had to wait 90 days between written test & drive test in Indiana.

[sereia 0]

Its been tough for my husband as its very difficult to get around here without a car. But since I've been around a lot I'm the family chauffeur so he hasn't been THAT limited. He also got himself a bike but you can't get very far with that. I haven't even bothered checking if he's able to get a license or not (he doesn't have one from his home country) because my car insurance would go through the ROOF if he had a license and I'm not prepared to pay that just yet.

[PlatyPius 5]

He also got himself a bike but you can't get very far with that.

Depends.... I ride mine for 20-45 miles when I go out for a ride.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Its been tough for my husband as its very difficult to get around here without a car. But since I've been around a lot I'm the family chauffeur so he hasn't been THAT limited. He also got himself a bike but you can't get very far with that. I haven't even bothered checking if he's able to get a license or not (he doesn't have one from his home country) because my car insurance would go through the ROOF if he had a license and I'm not prepared to pay that just yet.

He will be able to get a CA license when he gets his EAD, though it sounds like he might need driver's ed first!