In Alabama, Can I Drive for a Year on Int'l. License/IDP? [split topic]

[swji89 41]

Next to issues of multiple citizenships, driver licenses are my second pet peeve within the realm of immigration. Don't ask me why, as I won't tell you my secret.

That said, Alabama is quite strict when it comes to issuing a DL to a non US citizen.

Here's the sentence I want you to burn into your head:

Non-Citizens

You can drive in Alabama for one year, provided you have a valid foreign driver's license and an International Driver's Permit. This permit, issued by your home country, is not a substitute for the foreign license, but a translation of it that makes things easier for U.S. officials to understand.

Once you have your Green Card, you apply for an Alabama driver license by following this link:

http://dps.alabama.gov/Documents/Documents/DriverLicense-HowToObtain.pdf

It clearly tells you that the EAD you have is not sufficient documentation of a lawful status, as required by Alabama state law. You wasted time and effort by not reading what has been outlined very thoroughly.

Sorry to bump another old thread, but wondering if any Alabama residents can shed more light on this.

I've been looking at the Alabama Driver Manual from this year (http://dps.alabama.gov/documents/manuals/driverlicensemanual.pdf) and I can find no reference to being able to drive on an international license/IDP combo for a year before having to apply for a Bama license? Is there any truth to this in reality?

Also, similarly to what has been mentioned elsewhere in this thread, an EAD + SSN card combo is actually listed as an acceptable secondary document for non-residents. The question is, is an EAD accepted as proving you are able to be in the states for at least 160 days which is also mentioned?

[TBoneTX 43,020]

The above post has been split from an old thread (now closed) in another forum.

VJ Moderation

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

The thing about old threads is subtle changes on driving requirements can happen. It appears you have looked at the most recent Bama info. Yes, your EAD card shows legal presence for a year so meets the 160 day minimum requirement.

The only reference I have seen about driving on a foreign license are from Alabama universities to students. They basically tell students, if you will be here less than 160 days, you can drive as a visitor. If you have legal presence over 160 days, you are eligible for a driver license.

So...as a K1 with legal entry of 90 days, are you anything more than a visitor? Has immigration given you anything more on paper to say you are resident? Or do you simply hope to become a permanent resident by marrying and applying for AOS? You are going to find that K1s don't fit the rest of the categories and seem to get left out of specific information on a lot of things.

I think the year of driving as a visitor comes from an old treaty 1949 World Convention on International Road Traffic

[swji89 41]

The thing about old threads is subtle changes on driving requirements can happen. It appears you have looked at the most recent Bama info. Yes, your EAD card shows legal presence for a year so meets the 160 day minimum requirement.

The only reference I have seen about driving on a foreign license are from Alabama universities to students. They basically tell students, if you will be here less than 160 days, you can drive as a visitor. If you have legal presence over 160 days, you are eligible for a driver license.

So...as a K1 with legal entry of 90 days, are you anything more than a visitor? Has immigration given you anything more on paper to say you are resident? Or do you simply hope to become a permanent resident by marrying and applying for AOS? You are going to find that K1s don't fit the rest of the categories and seem to get left out of specific information on a lot of things.

I think the year of driving as a visitor comes from an old treaty 1949 World Convention on International Road Traffic

Indeed, yet the only reference to not needing an Alabama license to drive in the latest info. is to RESIDENTS who have come from elsewhere (which I am not until I get that GC!) with a special note about those serving in the armed forces, while the only NON-RESIDENTS who don't need it are those whose own countries don't issue driving licenses (I'd like to know where that is!!)

I'll have to find out in person how strict they are about the documents. The info. says you need 2 photo identifications (including 1 from the primary list) and then 3 non-photo identification (again including 1 from the primary list). The only one I'll have from the primary list at any point is my British passport with the K1 visa in it... which will have a 90 day expiry on it, I suppose? Who knows how much confusion that will cause when presented with the EAD (a secondary piece of evidence as previously noted)... and whether they will accept that as both one of my photo identifications and one of the 3 non-photo ones! However, the 'visitor' classification is interesting, as you say. That being said the official info. does list 'K' visas as one of the classifications eligible to apply for a license so theoretically be fine.

I know it must be difficult for local government officials and workers to deal with all this as I suspect K1s are a small minority in many states!

[AnGeLxX 154]

I'm in Alabama since a year now. I'm going to get my driver license today. I went before but they didn't accept my EAD-SSN, they told me to come back when I have my Green card. Ah well..

[swji89 41]

I'm in Alabama since a year now. I'm going to get my driver license today. I went before but they didn't accept my EAD-SSN, they told me to come back when I have my Green card. Ah well..

:S This really seems like potluck depending on who you see at the office, doesn't it?

[AnGeLxX 154]

Yea I have feeling it does..lol well I'm done with it. I passed for my written test and road test last week

[swji89 41]

Yea I have feeling it does..lol well I'm done with it. I passed for my written test and road test last week

Well done. Enjoy!