Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

The biggie thing my US family drilled into me was coming to a complete stop at a stop sign - waiting for the car to roll slightly. That's about it. :thumbsup:

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

Ok got it. I might need to brush up on US road signs but I guess that's no big deal.

A driving test in Manhattan might be odd, traffic hardly moves :)

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

Well a quick update to say we've made it :)

Travelled with 4 large suitcases and 2 small carry-ons.

All stuff arrived, nothing lost or broken. Also our cat is here, no problem. Although picking up from JFK cargo area without a car was no fun at all.

Got two shipping boxes in UK to come out in a few weeks once we've found an apartment.

Meanwhile we're staying in an airbnb and will apply for SSN ASAP. Seems that may be required to secure apartments we like.

Of course we'll have no credit history initially, hoping this won't be too much of a setback getting started.

I'm sure in 6m or a year we'll be in a good situation, for now if we can get over hurdle of securing a place and building credit history, we'll be all good.

Enjoying it so far, actually it almost hasn't sunk in yet...

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

I got my first US license in Manhattan. You don't need to drive much for a US test. Just around the block a couple of times at 25mph really.

Are you on the island or in one of the other boroughs?

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

Likely we'll be living in Brooklyn to start with (really like it) although working in Manhattan so will be there a lot too.

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

Sounds like you had a very similar experience to me. My fiancee moved to manhattan at the end of January and I followed 2 months later with a few suitcases of our stuff.

Then I had to go back to the UK for 3 days to hand back the keys to our temporary flat and pick up the remainder of our possesions, 3 large suitcases of clothes and sentimental household ornaments.

It has been nearly an 8 month process for us, so landing at JFK for the final time with the last of our things to bring over and knowing we'd made it finally was a wonderful feeling.

It helped that BA had upgraded me from economy to business on the return to the US! I'd never flown anything other than cattle class before and I made full use of the facilities/malbec on that final journey back.

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

Glad to hear it has worked out for you too 🙂

From application to move we made it in about 4months, but I came out after 3 to get started working.

Busy times, especially with a 3 bed semi full of stuff to sort out.

Think it will all have been worth it though, definitely enjoying it so far.

Also update to say we found and are accepted on our first rental too 😄

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

So I've found out you get 1yr in NYC on an international driving permit, which I got just before heading out fromUK, just in case...

So in the year I'll sit the US NY test to get a NY driving license. I'll start out on my UK/international for any rentals and also apply for non-driving NYC driving license which apparently acts as a photo ID. (Non-driving driving license, hah WTF).

One thing, I have to surrender my UK license on getting a US one? If so, what happens when I come back to UK? We'll be back often even while we're living in the US and had assumed UK license would just be picked back up.

Not the case? ☹️

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

No, no, no!

You get 30 days on your UK licence/ to get an NY license once you have "taken up residence" in NY. The consequences can be ugly if you get in a wreck as only then will the police examine your licence situation, and you face having "driving without a valid license" added to any other charges you face, and without a valid license your insurance is void too! :eek: Which means another charge and also massive personal liability.

The one year on a non-US license (an IDP isn't necessary if you have a UK licence as the IDP just translates your UK licence) is only for visitors and those on certain temporary visas, such as F-1 students and J-1 cultural exchange visas.

I took my test in NY and the examiner didn't take, or even ask for, my UK licence, but even if he does, and you return to the UK you can easily apply for your UK licence to he reissued. Your UK licence is pretty much useless (not valid if you have set up home in the US) and you should use your US license when driving in the UK anyway, not least because the police/ courts in the UK can't add points to it! :thumbsup:

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

No, it doesn't work that way. An international license is useless. You now live in NY and need a proper NYS license. You can drive in the UK on a US license.

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

I see.

Right ok, I'd better apply for the test then.

Guess I'm starting from scratch, theory and all.

On the plus side the actual driving should really be no issue, 'stick' is fine too.

Brushing up on road signs and rules probably the main part for me.

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

Focus on penalties (fines and points) for driving infractions, and laws related to drunk/drugged driving. That said, a lot of your mandatory 5hr classroom training covers those things too.

For the purposes of the test, forget about manual transmissions, you'll be taking the test in an automatic.

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

5 hours! On site? 🤦‍♂️

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

Yup! :nod: I did mine in White Plains.

Re: Leaving UK for USA
 

Omg - maybe I can break that up a little or do on weekend combined with a trip somewhere