Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
Jun 7th 2008, 1:48 am
#1
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
When I was 17 I passed my UK driving test and felt over the moon 
- 13 years down the line I'm forced to take a driving test in BC Canada - although I passed I cant say I felt over the moon, total opposite in fact.
The reason being its another government money spinner. I have been driving for 13 years and 6 years with the British Police. I accept the fact I am in another country and there are different rules - such as you drive on the other side of the road. What I don't accept is it is OK to drive on your UK licence for 6 mths without a test...... so what changes after that.
During those 6 mths I had no accidents and I can say I felt very comfortable driving on the right. Hang on 6 mths have passed lets screw him for some money. Every government is the same....
What have I gained today? Another plastic card to put in my wallet.... but no driving experience,...
- 13 years down the line I'm forced to take a driving test in BC Canada - although I passed I cant say I felt over the moon, total opposite in fact.The reason being its another government money spinner. I have been driving for 13 years and 6 years with the British Police. I accept the fact I am in another country and there are different rules - such as you drive on the other side of the road. What I don't accept is it is OK to drive on your UK licence for 6 mths without a test...... so what changes after that.
During those 6 mths I had no accidents and I can say I felt very comfortable driving on the right. Hang on 6 mths have passed lets screw him for some money. Every government is the same....
What have I gained today? Another plastic card to put in my wallet.... but no driving experience,...
Jun 7th 2008, 2:07 am
#2
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
Would you like a little cheese with your whiiiiine? 
Get over it and move on.
Get over it and move on.
Jun 7th 2008, 2:35 am
#5
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Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
Lucky you didn't get ticketed as you can only drive for 90 days on a UK licence in BC as far as i know.
Jun 7th 2008, 2:43 am
#6
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Jun 7th 2008, 3:59 am
#7
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Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
I have read threads on this before and I am confused
How do you define someone who if over in Canada as a visitor if they have a WP? Surely there are a temproary resident and therefore by definition a "resident" as opposed to someone on holiday who is clearly a "visitor".
Not that it matters either way to me as I am not going to BC. I just find the whole thing confusing
How do you define someone who if over in Canada as a visitor if they have a WP? Surely there are a temproary resident and therefore by definition a "resident" as opposed to someone on holiday who is clearly a "visitor".
Not that it matters either way to me as I am not going to BC. I just find the whole thing confusing
Jun 7th 2008, 4:25 am
#8
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Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
I have read threads on this before and I am confused
How do you define someone who if over in Canada as a visitor if they have a WP? Surely there are a temproary resident and therefore by definition a "resident" as opposed to someone on holiday who is clearly a "visitor".
Not that it matters either way to me as I am not going to BC. I just find the whole thing confusing
How do you define someone who if over in Canada as a visitor if they have a WP? Surely there are a temproary resident and therefore by definition a "resident" as opposed to someone on holiday who is clearly a "visitor".
Not that it matters either way to me as I am not going to BC. I just find the whole thing confusing
A visitor is a tourist -- someone who is swanning around Canada and is not a Canadian citizen, not a permanent resident, not a temporary work permit holder, not a study permit holder, not a refugee seeking asylum.
Oh, sorry, people like AlexinBc and Maple Leaf, who were with their Canadian spouses while they were waiting for their permanent resident visas to come through via the spousal sponsorship route, were not just swanning around Canada.
But you get the idea.
x
Jun 7th 2008, 4:28 am
#9
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Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
That is what I would think, but there apppears to be many who think that as long as you are not a PR you can call yourself a visitor and drive for 6 months. It has even been suggested that a quick border hop enables the 6 months to be started over again!
Jun 7th 2008, 4:44 am
#10
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Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
Immigrants to B.C. who hold a Canadian, American, Austrian, German, Swiss, Japanese or South Korean driver's licence must apply for a B.C. driver's licence within 90 days of moving here. A new equivalent class B.C. driver's licence will be issued in most cases without a road test or knowledge test. New residents who hold licences from other countries will be required to take a road test.
You may drive for up to 6 months as a visitor or non-resident worker in B.C. If you are attending a designated educational institution, you may be exempt from transferring to a BC licence. If you hold an International Driving Permit, you must also carry the accompanying foreign licence.
I thought, but wasn't sure, that a non-resident worker meant someone who had a temporary work permit. I did a Google search and found a couple of websites that confirmed that that was the case.You may drive for up to 6 months as a visitor or non-resident worker in B.C. If you are attending a designated educational institution, you may be exempt from transferring to a BC licence. If you hold an International Driving Permit, you must also carry the accompanying foreign licence.
The rule doesn't make sense to me either. In Alberta temporary work permit holders are treated like permanent residents when it comes to issues like provincial health care insurance and drivers' licences. That seems more logical to me.
But the federal system of government does result in differences from one province to another.
x
Jun 7th 2008, 4:48 am
#11
Now on Vancouver Island
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 6,935
Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
When I was 17 I passed my UK driving test and felt over the moon - 13 years down the line I'm forced to take a driving test in BC Canada - although I passed I cant say I felt over the moon, total opposite in fact.
The reason being its another government money spinner. I have been driving for 13 years and 6 years with the British Police. I accept the fact I am in another country and there are different rules - such as you drive on the other side of the road. What I don't accept is it is OK to drive on your UK licence for 6 mths without a test...... so what changes after that.
During those 6 mths I had no accidents and I can say I felt very comfortable driving on the right. Hang on 6 mths have passed lets screw him for some money. Every government is the same....
What have I gained today? Another plastic card to put in my wallet.... but no driving experience,...
- 13 years down the line I'm forced to take a driving test in BC Canada - although I passed I cant say I felt over the moon, total opposite in fact.The reason being its another government money spinner. I have been driving for 13 years and 6 years with the British Police. I accept the fact I am in another country and there are different rules - such as you drive on the other side of the road. What I don't accept is it is OK to drive on your UK licence for 6 mths without a test...... so what changes after that.
During those 6 mths I had no accidents and I can say I felt very comfortable driving on the right. Hang on 6 mths have passed lets screw him for some money. Every government is the same....
What have I gained today? Another plastic card to put in my wallet.... but no driving experience,...
x
Jun 7th 2008, 4:50 am
#12
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Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
Well, what do you know, the Welcome BC website, which is an official website of the BC government states on its Driver's licence page:
The rule doesn't make sense to me either. In Alberta temporary work permit holders are treated like permanent residents when it comes to issues like provincial health care insurance and drivers' licences. That seems more logical to me.
But the federal system of government does result in differences from one province to another.
x
Immigrants to B.C. who hold a Canadian, American, Austrian, German, Swiss, Japanese or South Korean driver's licence must apply for a B.C. driver's licence within 90 days of moving here. A new equivalent class B.C. driver's licence will be issued in most cases without a road test or knowledge test. New residents who hold licences from other countries will be required to take a road test.
You may drive for up to 6 months as a visitor or non-resident worker in B.C. If you are attending a designated educational institution, you may be exempt from transferring to a BC licence. If you hold an International Driving Permit, you must also carry the accompanying foreign licence.
I thought, but wasn't sure, that a non-resident worker meant someone who had a temporary work permit. I did a Google search and found a couple of websites that confirmed that that was the case.You may drive for up to 6 months as a visitor or non-resident worker in B.C. If you are attending a designated educational institution, you may be exempt from transferring to a BC licence. If you hold an International Driving Permit, you must also carry the accompanying foreign licence.
The rule doesn't make sense to me either. In Alberta temporary work permit holders are treated like permanent residents when it comes to issues like provincial health care insurance and drivers' licences. That seems more logical to me.
But the federal system of government does result in differences from one province to another.
x
Jun 7th 2008, 3:27 pm
#13
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Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick CA
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Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
You can't please some people I guess.
Jun 7th 2008, 4:23 pm
#14
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Re: Passed.... BC Driving Test.... But Im not Happy
At least you passed. 
I have a South African friend that had to take his test here in Calgary and failed because he wasnt driving fast enough. He thought he was driving cautiously, but got told that he must drive the speed that the signs direct.
I have a South African friend that had to take his test here in Calgary and failed because he wasnt driving fast enough. He thought he was driving cautiously, but got told that he must drive the speed that the signs direct.