Kae

Hello everyone,

Today, my sweetie and I were talking about things to do when he gets here, visa in hand. We started talking about one thing in particular we hadn't really talked about before. Neither of us have given much thought into what will be needed for him to get his driver's license.

We know that he will need a SSN in order to get one. He'll need a piece of mail addressed to him at my address to prove that he is a resident of this address correct? And I assume that his UK birth certifiacte and passport will be needed.

Finally, I'm curious if he will be asked to take the driving part of the test. I know he will need to take the writen test and the eye test, but have no idea about the driven. If he needs to take the driven, I should have him on my car insurance before we go in to take the exam?

Any help from those that have been through this process can lend me is greatly appreciated. Especially those moving to the States from the countries where you're used to driving on the other side of the road, as I'm wondering how tough a driving test would be in this situation.

kariml

Hi
You would have to check with your state law on that. I am Kentucky and my husband just got his driver's license today. It has been a major pain in the rear and almost more complex than the visa process! I think the problem is a lot of the employees of the local DMVs are not very educated on the procedures for non US citizens. This is what made it such a maze in our case. He had to take the written and road test. He had to have a reinstatement letter (which I still to this day have no clue what that is) and his SSN and EAD were required for it.

Leslie

Hi Kae,

There was a similar thread to this a month or two ago.

1) Yes, he will have to take the driving test.
2) Yes, you should add him to your insurance.

I can't remember what else we came up with on that thread but I do remember those two things. I haven't got that far yet in the process, but my husband and I have talked about it several times. Should be an adventure!

Leslie

Noorah101

I had a related question, which occurred to me recently. What if my fiance's English isn't good enough to take the written test? I'm sure he'd like to drive ASAP upon arriving, since Phoenix is way too big for him to walk where he needs to go. It will be a while before his English will be fluent enough to understand questions about insurance, or complicated driving scenarios. Has anyone gone through this with someone whose English isn't fluent enough?

Thanks!

Rene (day 90 at NVC)

Michael D. Young

Kae wrote:

    > Hello everyone,
    > Today, my sweetie and I were talking about things to do when he gets
    > here, visa in hand. We started talking about one thing in particular we
    > hadn't really talked about before. Neither of us have given much
    > thought into what will be needed for him to get his driver's license.
    > We know that he will need a SSN in order to get one. He'll need a piece
    > of mail addressed to him at my address to prove that he is a resident of
    > this address correct? And I assume that his UK birth certifiacte and
    > passport will be needed.
    > Finally, I'm curious if he will be asked to take the driving part of the
    > test. I know he will need to take the writen test and the eye test, but
    > have no idea about the driven. If he needs to take the driven, I should
    > have him on my car insurance before we go in to take the exam?
    > Any help from those that have been through this process can lend me is
    > greatly appreciated. Especially those moving to the States from the
    > countries where you're used to driving on the other side of the road, as
    > I'm wondering how tough a driving test would be in this situation.

The requirements to be issued a driver's license vary from state to state.
You need to check with your state DMV for their requirements.

http://www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Motor_Vehicles.shtml

I went to Ireland for three weeks a couple years ago and rented a car.
After three or four days of driving I adjusted to being on the "wrong" side
of the road and car. So I would assume that anyone that has been driving
for any amount of time will catch on rather quickly to driving on the other
side of the road and car.

Leslie

Hi Rene!!

I know that in Texas they have Hispanic translators. Maybe you could translate for him. But they might not allow that because you could be giving him the answers and they wouldn't know. LOL. Or maybe there is an alternate test like touch the screen w/ pictures instead of words?!

In other words, I have no idea.

Leslie

Pallyn

Yes. My husband started English as a Second Language classes through the local literacy council as soon as he got here. He had to take the written test the same way as everyone else, but while he was studying, the regulations on who could take it changed. He then had to wait until after our adjustment interview to take the test. This was PA and things have changed since he got his license. I think they are now accepting proof that you have applied to adjust. He trashpicked and fixed up a bike to ride to work in the meantime, cause mine was too small. Phoenix won't be as cold, so your husband will be ahead of the game as far as that goes. The times the bike slipped out from under him on the ice caused considerable rants. The fact that the trashpicked bike was pink was a big hit at the construction sites, as well. He is happily licensed and driving around in his little escort wagon, has come a long way.

Mrtravel

Kae wrote:
    > Hello everyone,
    > Today, my sweetie and I were talking about things to do when he gets
    > here, visa in hand. We started talking about one thing in particular we
    > hadn't really talked about before. Neither of us have given much
    > thought into what will be needed for him to get his driver's license.
    >

As people have mentioned, there is no US Driver's License (well, for
most people). In California, for instance, you will soon be able to get
a license even if you are here illegally. I would think this would be
the most liberal of the state laws....

Unfortunately, my registration was due Oct 11. Oct 1 was the date for
the new fees... I paid $495 Ouch......... But that includes the
"I<heart>CISCO" $40 plate. Yes, in California, you can have a heart.

Noorah101

Hi Leslie!

I thought of that too, maybe they would allow an interpreter, but had the same thought...I could be giving him the answers...lol Seems to me my former father-in-law (also Iranian) had a translator for his test, or maybe just had a verbal one. But that was about 20 years ago, I'm sure things are quite different now!

I guess Sadegh had better learn the bus routes pretty quickly! :-)

Rene (day 90 at NVC)

Mattias Hembruch

In article <[email protected]>,
mrtravel <[email protected]> wrote:
    >Kae wrote:
    >> Hello everyone,
    >> Today, my sweetie and I were talking about things to do when he gets
    >> here, visa in hand. We started talking about one thing in particular we
    >> hadn't really talked about before. Neither of us have given much
    >> thought into what will be needed for him to get his driver's license.
    >>
    >As people have mentioned, there is no US Driver's License (well, for
    >most people). In California, for instance, you will soon be able to get
    >a license even if you are here illegally. I would think this would be
    >the most liberal of the state laws....
    >Unfortunately, my registration was due Oct 11. Oct 1 was the date for
    >the new fees... I paid $495 Ouch......... But that includes the
    >"I<heart>CISCO" $40 plate. Yes, in California, you can have a heart.

$495?!? To register a car in California?? Ouch!! Maybe I shouldn't move
there after all.. How long is the registration good for? PLEASE don't tell
me it's an annual thing?!?

Here in Ontario I think it's max $100/year..

Mattias

Mrtravel

Mattias Hembruch wrote:
    > In article <[email protected]>,
    > m
    > $495?!? To register a car in California?? Ouch!! Maybe I shouldn't move
    > there after all.. How long is the registration good for? PLEASE don't tell
    > me it's an annual thing?!?

In California, it's a property tax.
I believe it is 2 percent of the value at purchase, then it starts going
down after the 2nd year. Plus there are some other fees on top of that.
In my case $40 for the personalization (I<heart>CISCO)

The good news is the "tax" part is deductible on your federal return.

A few years ago, the state legislature voted to cut this tax
dramatically. Due to the economy and a projected deficit in the budget,
Gov Davis unilaterally decided he would dump this rollback by himself,
which he did... This was the last straw for many, and one reason why the
recall was successful...

Mattias Hembruch

In article <[email protected]>,
mrtravel <[email protected]> wrote:
    >Mattias Hembruch wrote:
    >> In article <[email protected]>,
    >> m
    >> $495?!? To register a car in California?? Ouch!! Maybe I shouldn't move
    >> there after all.. How long is the registration good for? PLEASE don't tell
    >> me it's an annual thing?!?
    >In California, it's a property tax.
    >I believe it is 2 percent of the value at purchase, then it starts going
    >down after the 2nd year. Plus there are some other fees on top of that.
    >In my case $40 for the personalization (I<heart>CISCO)
    >The good news is the "tax" part is deductible on your federal return.
    >A few years ago, the state legislature voted to cut this tax
    >dramatically. Due to the economy and a projected deficit in the budget,
    >Gov Davis unilaterally decided he would dump this rollback by himself,
    >which he did... This was the last straw for many, and one reason why the
    >recall was successful...

I see..

So, if I bring my Canadian car into the country (assuming I USify it) which
is 10 years old... What's the value deemed to be? Book value? Or 2% of when
I purchased it in 1999 (which would have been 5 years ago by the time I get
to CA in 2004)?

I guess that's one way to keep people from trading in old, polluting cars
for newer, cleaner models... :-)


Mattias

Denis

On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 18:27:02 +0000, Kae <member@british_expats.com>
wrote:

    >Hello everyone,
    >Today, my sweetie and I were talking about things to do when he gets
    >here, visa in hand. We started talking about one thing in particular we
    >hadn't really talked about before. Neither of us have given much
    >thought into what will be needed for him to get his driver's license.
    >We know that he will need a SSN in order to get one. He'll need a piece
    >of mail addressed to him at my address to prove that he is a resident of
    >this address correct? And I assume that his UK birth certifiacte and
    >passport will be needed.

I didn't need my birth certificate here in Phoenix. I did however need
some sort of documentation that I was here legally. The K1 Visa in my
passport did it the first time but they only gave me a license valid
to the end of the 90 days. I had to renew my license with my EAD. You
need to check the requirements of your local DMV

    >Finally, I'm curious if he will be asked to take the driving part of the
    >test. I know he will need to take the writen test and the eye test, but
    >have no idea about the driven. If he needs to take the driven, I should
    >have him on my car insurance before we go in to take the exam?

I had to take the driving part of the test and I was asked for my
insurance card. The test was simple, parallel park the car and then
drive round the block (4 right turns!)

    >Any help from those that have been through this process can lend me is
    >greatly appreciated. Especially those moving to the States from the
    >countries where you're used to driving on the other side of the road, as
    >I'm wondering how tough a driving test would be in this situation.

--
Denis

The only substitute for good manners is fast reflexes.

Mrtravel

Mattias Hembruch wrote:

    > I see..
    >
    > So, if I bring my Canadian car into the country (assuming I USify it) which
    > is 10 years old... What's the value deemed to be? Book value? Or 2% of when
    > I purchased it in 1999 (which would have been 5 years ago by the time I get
    > to CA in 2004)?
    >
    > I guess that's one way to keep people from trading in old, polluting cars
    > for newer, cleaner models... :-)
    >

I don't know how they handle out of state cars. This is probably on the
DMV website. The value wouldn't be 2 percent, the tax would be. At some
point the value of the car stops dropping. I doubt it would be based on
the 99 price.

Noorah101

Hi Denis!

When you had to renew after getting your EAD, I'm assuming you had to do that in person at DMV, right? They had to see the EAD? That's probably what will happen for my fiance, too.

You had to take both the written AND the driving test, right? That's good news that they only required seeing the K1 visa to start. You didn't need a SSN?

Thanks for the helpful tips in Phoenix!
Rene (day 90 at NVC)