redarmy990

just opened my post and low and behold my green card has arrived.

not been in the USA a month yet and SSN and Green card both here.

now i suppose its maryland driving test next.

And my first baseball game tommorow happy days

YouWantFriesWithThat

Congratulations!!!



I took my VA test earlier this year - my neighbour's 17 yr old was a great source of tips and advice!!

One good thing with all this immigration stuff is that in some ways it makes you feel very young again!! (And of course, in many other ways, very old!!!)

Peaksy

Lucky you - my SSN never arrived and my green card arrived with dates so far from the truth (apparently my permanent residency started before I had even met my USC wife!) I had to send them back for free replacements via form I-90.

I took and passed my VA driving test last week - literally a drive round the block with no specific tests (unless you count parking in the car park!).

YouWantFriesWithThat

Peaksy

Yep, bit of a joke really (VA test).

I nearly asked my examiner if he wanted me to take the test with a phone glued to my ear as that seems to be the norm for driving here, but thought better of it.......

Moxie

Good one Made me laugh.

redarmy990

hi peaksy and fries

did you have to do the 2 hour drug and alcohol awareness course.

and how much did the everything cost for the drivers test

thanks
dean h

ps im constantly trying to tell the marylanders to put there f---ing phones down when there driving.

its something i never did in england and wont do here.

jeffreyhy

their

Regards, JEff

mamasue

They're.

YouWantFriesWithThat

Nope, no drug & alcholhol course but had to do pass the theory part of the test before taking the road test. Can't remember the fee? Can't even remember if there was a fee??!!

One thing driving over here has taught me is to be more patient and more tolerant / restrained - patient having to wait for 5 minute lights and tolerant regarding the antics of other drivers.

There is a also, of course, the not insignificant issue of wanting to keep very much on the right side of the law...........

Gotta say the fact that you can just turn up and take the test, rather than having to book it months in advance like in the UK, is great.

jeffreyhy

Yes, that too.

Regards, JEff

Peaksy

Fee is 20$ if you pass an is valid for the duration of your green card if a 2 yr one.

You need to go in again and pay the fee all over again for a new licence before it expires providing evidence of extended residency (eg. Your 10 yr green card).

No idea what it is if you fail.

As others have said, it's the knowledge, vision and road skills test you have to do.

redarmy990

just over the border here in md theres a $200 drug and alcohol awareness course to do before the computer test,then the driving test which is $45.

i know what you mean about patience, you sit at the lights for a few mins the lights change and if you wait a second the horns start pipping.

was driving on rockville pike the other day,a stretched limo was in the wrong lane at the lights. some old woman just sat there on the horn ,as she wanted to right turn. the limo driver couldnt go anywhere as his car was too long to move. so impatient round here.

im also going to produce a sign that reads GET OFF YOUR F---ING PHONE.

washsaint

Ouch....is the drug and alcohol awareness course mandatory?

That's what I love about Virginia.....lower taxes, more personal freedoms (using cell phone in car is not illegal) and not having to pay through the nose for everything.

redarmy990

hi
according to the website yes its mandatory for all drivers who have never held a
state licence.

i have emailed them to ask just to make sure i was reading it correctly.

i could travel around 8 mile and be in virginia which makes it even more frustrating.
if only the wife lived closer to dc

maybe thats why theres so many poor drivers over here with every states rules different.

its my new life and i accepted the terms

redarmy990

oh and when i looked the course is 3 hours long arrgggghhhhhhhhh