__TJ__

Hi, buddy of mine landed copr yesterday, went to exchange English drivers licence today and Icbc said his copr is not accepted. He has to wait for PR card to arrive to get drivers licence! (Current wait time he was advised is three months)
He drives a crane for a living so HAS to get his BC licence to get his class 1 to work.

Are they right to refuse to accept his stamped passport and copr document?

(We know he ca. Drive cars here on English licence for 90 days)

scrubbedexpat091

Looking at the ICBC website it does indeed state they don't accept it as primary ID.

Going by their website, I would say there isn't much that can be done until the PR card arrives as its the only option for a foreigner for primary ID.

That is how I am understanding it based on their website.

http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing...cepted-ID.aspx

__TJ__

Thanks for that, have to see how long PR card takes. � ����

scrubbedexpat091

45 days for new arrivals according to CIC website.

__TJ__

He spoke to the ladies boss and explained the situation, and eventually they agreed to give him the paper licence so he can get his class one done, but made it clear he's not supposed to.

45 days without being able to work is crazy! I think I'm adding this as a warning to the wiki, especially relevant if you drive for a living!

Thanks for the info.

withabix

Well that's not true currently.

Daughter landed on 18th December 2015 and we don't have a PR Card for her yet....

scrubbedexpat091

Doesn't surprise me, I never found CIC website to ever be accurate....

Thats just most current they have posted as of Feb 29th.


Renewals are idiotically long at 151 days currently. So anyone renewing make sure to submit it early.

haggis88

It doesn't accept it as primary ID, but a passport, English driving license and proof of address should be more than enough to exchange the license...sounds like the BC insurance are being arsewipes

Edit: Wait, is it Insurance that won't accept the COPR or the Registry?

dave_j

It would seem that 'Canadian Time' has intervened in this case as many others.
These institutional delays that seem to affect all governmental departments cannot but make the system inefficient. The piles of documents that must populate office space and the time taken to sort them, unsort them, move piles, move them back and sort them again when they fall over, are like traffic jams on the highway - once cars stop it they take forever to get going again and like traffic jam delays they only get worse.

Aviator

In BC, driver licensing, insurance and vehicle registry are one and the same.

Skyva

Hi,
I flagpoled in January and do not have my PR card yet. I changed my UK licence for a temporary BC licence at Service BC, showed my COPR and passport, with no problems. They asked a few questions on the Highway Code, and did an eye test. I can get a full BC licence when the PR card arrives.

Hope this helps.

neilg14

I would try a different Registry.
I know 2 of them here in AB that are less than a mile apart have different rules on this and that even though they should be the same.