SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[Danno2 0]

Hi folks. I recently got the thumbs up from my sweetheart to start this fun journey. I have been loving the posts and the great community that has evolved....THANKS!

This driver’s license thing... had me worried, so I have looked and looked and have yet to find where the state will offer us an unpleasant surprise.

I grew up in VT and lived in Mass.... I have to hand it to the freedom loving people of Arizona...this is what they say:

38) What is needed for a person from another country to drive in Arizona?

You may legally drive in Arizona using a valid driver license from another country. An International Driving License or Permit is not required, but is recommended since it can be printed in English, and can be used in conjunction with the driver license from the other country. If an International Driving License or Permit is used alone, it must be issued by a country other than the United States. ...

Wish us luck!

Joe

Good luck to you Joe. If anyone refers you to the documentation its just because its that freakin good. 98% of what you will need for the USCIS will be covered in the K-1 guide. Once you get your NOA2 through living with your girl is where this thread can be invaluable. If you want your girl to get here as efficiently as possible and you file at CSC you will want to start working on this after you get the NOA1. Post NOA1 for Smarties If your filing at VSC sit back and relax for 90 days.

[*Robert* 2]

Since each state is different, everyone needs to do their research for their particular state's requirements. In the case of Florida, they issued both a State ID and DL to my wife, and the expiration dates were not tied to her 2 year GC expiration date.

[ThaitoUSA 15]

In Maryland, one needs to show two primary sources of ID. One can be a Passport and the other can be:

Out-of-Country driver’s license, with an international driver’s license,

or a translation into English, if required

It seems as though they want both.

There are other acceptable primary sources, such as a marriage certificate, but we'll use that for proof of MD residence, and sources can't be used twice.

Edited April 22, 2009 by ThaitoUSA

[anya-D 8]

Yes. Earlier discussions talked about difficulty switching sides (left to right) but I think your method and reading US websites this may be easier. Thanks!

It has been very difficult for Nam to remember what side of the road she is suppose to drive on. She had 10 hours of lessons in Bangkok, and grew up riding motorbikes in her hometown. I have a feeling if they don't have solid years of actual driving experience count on them not going out by themselves for quite some time.

Just tell her to remember that her (the driver) is always on the inside (middle) of the road and the passing car will pass 'her'. That's how I go back and forth driving in US and Thailand I - in the life of me.. cant tell which country drive right or left

[Thai Rath 1]

As someone state previously, some states will issue a driver's license prior to the issuance of a greencard and some don't (or make it not worth your while). Just remember, in some states (Massachusetts, for instance), the IDL is only good for 1 year; something to remember if your entire AOS process takes more than a year. Though in MA the 1 year clock resets each time you enter the country and that may be true in other states, so if you have AP and you leave and reenter the U.S. you're fine.

I've heard that some states only recognize the IDL for tourists and won't if you are here on an immigrant visa or a non-immigrant visa with the intent to immigrate, which is what the K-1 visa is. You may want to search the forums for that info...

Edited April 22, 2009 by Thai Rath

[Kang Lang 7]

Since each state is different, everyone needs to do their research for their particular state's requirements. In the case of Florida, they issued both a State ID and DL to my wife, and the expiration dates were not tied to her 2 year GC expiration date.

true of california as well. we applied for my husband's i.d. 3 weeks after he arrived back in the u.s. in fact he applied the day he got his social security card in the mail which we applied for exactly 15 days after he landed back here and his i.d. doesn't expire until 2011. hope that helps some the californians!

an interesting side note on california they stopped offering the dmv study guide in thai at the end of 2006 but still offer the exam in thai.

good luck to you all still waiting!

[bill13060 0]

Since each state is different, everyone needs to do their research for their particular state's requirements. In the case of Florida, they issued both a State ID and DL to my wife, and the expiration dates were not tied to her 2 year GC expiration date.

true of california as well. we applied for my husband's i.d. 3 weeks after he arrived back in the u.s. in fact he applied the day he got his social security card in the mail which we applied for exactly 15 days after he landed back here and his i.d. doesn't expire until 2011. hope that helps some the californians!

an interesting side note on california they stopped offering the dmv study guide in thai at the end of 2006 but still offer the exam in thai.

good luck to you all still waiting!

Thats good to know that they will issue the exam in thai. Now all i have to do is wait for my wife to get here so she can learn to drive. She can ride a moped like crazy, but cannot drive to save her life. She's always telling me " I'll drive for you" so one day i took her up on it and recieved a bill for a crashed rental car. She didn't understand when i told her only push the gas pedal a little to get going, she floored it and i was like sheeit

[AaronLV 12]

I've heard that some states only recognize the IDL for tourists and won't if you are here on an immigrant visa or a non-immigrant visa with the intent to immigrate, which is what the K-1 visa is. You may want to search the forums for that info...

This is untrue. They must recognize your DL from another country until you become a permanent resident. I have seen some people state that there is a 1 year rule, however if you look through the Dept of Transportation laws, there is no such regulation.

Since each state is different, everyone needs to do their research for their particular state's requirements. In the case of Florida, they issued both a State ID and DL to my wife, and the expiration dates were not tied to her 2 year GC expiration date.

Each state is different in their requirements to obtain a drivers license. But ALL states have to recognize the Domestic License that is in thai and english, or the international license.

Thats good to know that they will issue the exam in thai.

It is good they offer the test in Thai, however it really is not very helpful when they do not offer the book in Thai.

true of california as well. we applied for my husband's i.d. 3 weeks after he arrived back in the u.s. in fact he applied the day he got his social security card in the mail which we applied for exactly 15 days after he landed back here and his i.d. doesn't expire until 2011. hope that helps some the californians!

You got lucky. Must have had a clerk that didn't know the rules.

[Thai Rath 1]

I've heard that some states only recognize the IDL for tourists and won't if you are here on an immigrant visa or a non-immigrant visa with the intent to immigrate, which is what the K-1 visa is. You may want to search the forums for that info...

This is untrue. They must recognize your DL from another country until you become a permanent resident. I have seen some people state that there is a 1 year rule, however if you look through the Dept of Transportation laws, there is no such regulation.

Aaron, I said they won't recognize the IDL which is different from the DL from another country -- two separate licenses.

And as for the one year rule, here is where the RMV in Massachusetts states it's only valid for one year: http://www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/21317.pdf

[*Robert* 2]

I've heard that some states only recognize the IDL for tourists and won't if you are here on an immigrant visa or a non-immigrant visa with the intent to immigrate, which is what the K-1 visa is. You may want to search the forums for that info...

This is untrue. They must recognize your DL from another country until you become a permanent resident. I have seen some people state that there is a 1 year rule, however if you look through the Dept of Transportation laws, there is no such regulation.

Aaron, I said they won't recognize the IDL which is different from the DL from another country -- two separate licenses.

And as for the one year rule, here is where the RMV in Massachusetts states it's only valid for one year: http://www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/21317.pdf

But in order for an IDL to be valid, you must also have a valid DL from your home residence. When your DL expires, so does your IDL, until you renew your DL.

[AaronLV 12]

But in order for an IDL to be valid, you must also have a valid DL from your home residence. When your DL expires, so does your IDL, until you renew your DL.

I was just typing that, you beat me to it!!

[*Robert* 2]

But in order for an IDL to be valid, you must also have a valid DL from your home residence. When your DL expires, so does your IDL, until you renew your DL.

I was just typing that, you beat me to it!!

Great minds think alike!

[AaronLV 12]

And as for the one year rule, here is where the RMV in Massachusetts states it's only valid for one year: http://www.mass.gov/rmv/forms/21317.pdf

This becomes an argument of States Rights. Does the state have the right to enact laws that limit the agreements of treaties signed by the USA? The short answer is No they do not (you can look at supreme court cases that trend this way).

I have a friend that has multiple drivers license from different states (9 to be exact, including 2 foreign countries), and who has successfully argued that the states have no power to take or require him to surrender his out of state licenses, even thought they have laws on the books to the contrary. He is not a lawyer, just has a lot of free time on his hands at one point in his life.

This all becomes a mute point as soon as your spouse receives their green card and becomes a permanent resident.

Anyways I don't want to turn this into a policy debate. Have your spouse get a thai license in Thai/English, let her drive on the license (since legally she can from a federal POV), and then when she gets her GC have her take the skills test and get her US license. Another side note when you go to any DMV, don't even show them the foreign license cause they may try to take it (This was told to me by the DMV clerk, technically they are not suppose to but some will take it, as she said it has no bearing on getting a US License so why give it up)

[*Robert* 2]

I have a friend that has multiple drivers license from different states (9 to be exact, including 2 foreign countries), and who has successfully argued that the states have no power to take or require him to surrender his out of state licenses, even thought they have laws on the books to the contrary. He is not a lawyer, just has a lot of free time on his hands at one point in his life.

I wish I had known that when I came to FL!!! I hated giving up my Hawaii drivers license, because besides just being cool, if I were to go back to HI for vacation, that DL got me a lot of discounts, especially on golf!!!

[AaronLV 12]

That is one of the places he won in court. On my next vacation there I am going to get a license. The discounts with a HI license is great. Kind of the same in NV, you get deals places with the local license.