mikelincs

His UK license was revoked on medical reasons, which he says was a misdiagnosis, so that is why he is blaming the NHS, so he didn't have a UK license to swap for one where he is, in fact he couldn't have swapped it in any case.

holly_1948

Agreed with the other posters.

Obtaining a drivers license (sic) in a US state as an immigrant who presently holds no driving licences at all
is barely more arduous than as an immigrant who can presently drive on a foreign licence/license.
So the OP should just go through the Tennessee(?) process as a new driver.

And deal with the UK licence if/when he has an actual need to drive in the UK.

tennesseestud

I will hold a permit and pass a practical test, I was cleared to drive only a few weeks ago.

Yes the NHS had everything to do with my licence being revoked in 2010 before I had any plans of moving. I went through THREE court tribunals to access unemployment because I was told to leave my position due to my condition. I didn't do an employment tribunal, I had the DWP to fight so I didn't loose my home.

The whole moving away from Britain thing was extremely well silver lined ... However I will fight for my rights and I don't believe I should be locked out of a DVLA process to restore my privilege to drive in my own home nation, while being registered on the Electorial Register there ... Which is more than some born citizens of Britain can claim to have.

I am of course venting about the EEC 1997 Directive that is screwing us all over here. I hope to raise the issue with my local MP and have it discussed as part of Brexit that British Nationals should have a route to maintaining thier records with the DVLA.

Like I said previously ... I am allowed to pay my student loan and keep my voter registration current. While my case is very specific every single expat is facing the same issue with the residency rule.

Either an alternative form to D1 for expats could be processed or an exception made in D1 for British Nationals.

I'm am blaming the EU because that's not something Britain has done to us. I am blaming the NHS because they had my licence revoked on a misdiagnosis. Lastly had I not moved abroad I may have been treated wrongly for decades for a condition I don't have. So yes, the NHS has to take some flack there.

I don't wish to drive in America on my GB state licence. Missing the point. I don't wish to return home maybe aged 45 to have to get a medical 3 year licence for a condition that was misdiagnosed by a failing healthcare system when I was 28.

I do not see why I should be locked out of starting 7 years of proving a misdiagnosed condition is under control.

Giantaxe

You do have the privilege to drive in the UK, namely on the license of the place you are a resident for - Tennessee.

The records are maintained; in fact, I recently looked mine up at the DVLA, despite having been out of the country for 30+ years.

It's not an issue. You are eligible for a license in your place of residence and can use it worldwide. If you return to take up residence in the UK, you will be able to apply for a UK license there.

calman014

Why not just take a few lessons at a US driving school to get refreshed on all the rules, take your theory and then the practical test? It can barely be more expensive than the paperwork route you are talking about? Sure it's bad luck to have lost your UK licence this way.. but what does it cost these days in the US...$ 10 or something...?

DaveLovesDee

Because those are the rules in place.

And to clarify, EU regulations are set by the EU. EU Directives are set by each national government within the parameters of the relevant Directive.

Tr1boy

Was the mis-diagnosis anger management?

tennesseestud

Ok you all are missing the point. I was cleared to drive a few weeks ago. I am almost ready to take the written test, I know more about driving knowledge in this state than the US Citizens around me. That not the issue.

Forget Tennessee. Forget other countries.

The UK (more accurately, the EU) are saying I cannot apply for my revoked licence back because of the residency rule. I have to sign the D1 and admit I am breaking the law ... In order to begin the process the DVLA want me to follow.

It's entrapment.

Because of that my residency in the US now delays the process of being medically assessed by the DVLA.

Aka ... I cannot start the 7 year medical review process. I'm trying to make the case that I've been without the DL for 7 years and that during that time my diagnosis of Narcolepsy has been overturned and the sleep apnea went from severe to mild (almost non existent). During those 7 years I had been medically assessed and treated and 7 years on from the misDX I'm safe to drive.

However on the D1 ... I have to BREAK THE LAW to even have my case processed.

Regardless of left hand drive right hand drive issues, the DVLA are refusing to allow me to interact with them and get my full licence reinstated.

tennesseestud

Yes this is not in doubt the title.of the post speaks of the residency rule. I'm not aiming to drive in America on a UK DL though I'm sure many people have.

I have no DL.

tennesseestud

Good one. I mean anyone would be angry ... Being told by the NHS you don't have sleep apnea be pushed onto Ritalin and other controlled substances including Amphetamine only to access a robust healthcare system that calls all of that into question and fixes the problem.

You'd think it would be the other way around, America pushing Amphetamine on you. But nope, I was actually denied access to Amphetamine here and pushed onto CPAP which didn't work. I had to have my nose broken, re-set, flesh scooped out and my tonsils removed as an adult. This fixed it in America ... But during all that I was denied all controlled substances and had to rely on Coffee alone.

The first doctor I went to wanted to have my jaw broken and moved. I didn't go for that as I thought that was too extreme for the situation.

Yeah to be booted out of your job, be denied welfare and have your DL taken away ... All based on a lie ... Yes you'd be angry too.

Nothing to do with America, everything to do with the BS back home.

Pollyana

Are you planning to move back to the UK? If not, why are you worrying about having a UK licence anyway?!

tennesseestud

Nobody plans. My parents at some point will die or other family might get sick and I might go home for a while. In that case I'd come home and drive on my American licence, if I had one (driving on an American DL, while having UK one revoked).

It's going to take 7 years of sleep studies when I return home ... After already have undergone 7 years of sleep studies aged 30 to 37.

If I came home today ... I wouldn't get my full UK unconditional DL back until the age of 44. If I came home aged 60 ... I'd have to start the process aged 60.

The D1 is saying I can't start the medical screening process unless I break the law and lie about being resident.

tennesseestud

Like I said. Venting. The DVLA told me to have my mom get the form and send it to me. The DVLA now say not to post it, they can't process the case.

It's the straw on the back of 7 years of crap and when I found the reason is the residency rule it just broke my patience.

My local MP will get a letter, I fight.

mikelincs

But you aren't a UK resident, so why should you involve an MP you are not a constituent of?

DaveLovesDee

And you'd need to be resident in the UK with a UK doctor for those studies....

You'd also have to satisfy the Habitual Residence Test (including the part about whether you came back for medical treatment.

I wouldn't lie to a government department either. You're not resident in the UK, nor do you appear to intend to do so at this time. Yet you want the UK rules that the rest of us expats have to follow outside the UK. Yes, it sucks that you were wrongly diagnosed (though what was the U.S. treatment for?), but that's an NHS-DVLA problem. Most countries in the world including non-EU countries, and all U.S. states have residency requirements for driving licences. Stop blaming the EU.