Drivers license NY state

[chelseakevin 0]

hello

my fiance has entered the United States on the k1 visa

we just received his Social Security card and are getting married july 30th.

we are just wondering how to go about getting a drivers license does he have to take a road test? or a written test ?

thanks

[Dias Melhores 0]

hello

my fiance has entered the United States on the k1 visa

we just received his Social Security card and are getting married july 30th.

we are just wondering how to go about getting a drivers license does he have to take a road test? or a written test ?

thanks

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/license.htm#identification

Drivers From Other Nations

A valid driver license from another country is also valid in NYS. You do not need to apply for a NYS driver license unless you become a resident of NYS.

According to NYS law, a resident of another country can get a NYS driver license. The DMV does not recommend this because:

NYS recognizes your foreign driver license if you remain a resident of the nation that issued the license. You do not need to have a NYS driver license to drive in NYS unless you become a resident of NYS.

If you have a driver license from any nation except Canada, you must pass a written test, complete a 5-hour pre-licensing course and pass a road test to qualify for a NYS driver license. See "New Drivers - How to Apply".

You must show a Social Security Card. If you are not eligible for a Social Security Card, you must provide a letter or form SSA-L676 from the US Social Security Administration (SSA) that states that you are not eligible. The SSA Letter or form must have been issued no more than 30 days before the date of your application. You must also show the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documents that the SSA used to determine that you are not eligible for a Social Security Card. The USCIS was formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Read the specific requirements on the identification requirements page.

When you receive your NYS driver license, you must surrender your foreign driver license to the DMV road test examiner. The local DMV office keeps your foreign driver license, and then destroys the license after 60 days. If you plan to return to your home country and use your foreign driver license, ask the road test examiner how to make sure that your foreign driver license is not destroyed. If you need to get your foreign driver license, go to the local DMV office where you applied for your NYS driver license.

Edited June 28, 2009 by Dias Melhores

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Moving this to the Moving Here and Your New Life in America forum as that where we usually move driver's licence questions (and there are quite a few existing threads in there on the topic the OP might like to read). Hopefully some NY residents will be able to give you further answers and their own experience.

[*julez* 124]

My UKC husband had to take a written test, the 5 hour course and a road test to obtain a NYS driver's license. They did not make him surrender his UK license.

[AlHayatZween 2]

hi,

A valid driver license from another country is also valid in NYS. You do not need to apply for a NYS driver license unless you become a resident of NYS.

it is my understanding that if your fiance already has a dl from the UK, he should be fine for the moment, as long as he is not looking at employment where he is required to have a NYS driver's license.

i think we had to wait until my husband got his working papers b/f he could apply for his dl (he did not have a dl in his country).

he had to take the written test first, the 5-hour course, and then the road test.

good luck!

hz

[MIDUVIL 34]

hi,

A valid driver license from another country is also valid in NYS. You do not need to apply for a NYS driver license unless you become a resident of NYS.

it is my understanding that if your fiance already has a dl from the UK, he should be fine for the moment, as long as he is not looking at employment where he is required to have a NYS driver's license.

i think we had to wait until my husband got his working papers b/f he could apply for his dl (he did not have a dl in his country).

he had to take the written test first, the 5-hour course, and then the road test.

good luck!

hz

Hello,

I'm living in NYS-

I have to take my written test, 5 hours of courses and the road test. They never asked me to surrender my foreign driving licence.

Be aware that if in the DMV website, they told you that you can use your international driving licence to drive, and take your NYS driving licence after being a resident (I don't know exactly how they presented it), that is the DMV's point of view-

A police agent can decide that if you are living more than 90 days, you are a NY resident-What is not true.

My husband and me, we were unable to know really what to do, anybody was able to help us, and even DMV don't know how all those thing function.

Edited July 1, 2009 by MIDUVIL

[antda 13]

Hi ChelseaKevin,

I too am a NYS resident and have my NYS driver's license.

However, my situation is a little bit different from yours as I did the following instead:

-Before I got my 2yr Green Card, I just drove with my Canadian Driver's License, as it was still valid and I wasn't legally a US Resident yet until after I got my US green card. But after I got my green card.....

-2006-11: Got my 2yr US Green Card (based on AOS from Visitor's Visa)

-2007-01: SSN Card Received (delayed due to immigration status verification)

-2007-01: Then I got an application from the DMV for my NYS driver's license, and got my NYS license afterwards.

-Went to the DMV with the following identification and residency proof: SSN Card, US Green Card/I-551, US Marriage Certificate, Utility Bill

-As well, I went with my Canadian Driver's license, as I was going to "directly transfer" my Canadian Driver's license for a US one, with no further testing required for people who have Canadian driver's licenses. I didn't have to do the written or the road tests, and only did an easy eye test, which I passed. They did though take my Canadian driver's license away, since I was exchanging it for a US one (lol..I don't need two driver's licenses anyways, especially a former Canadian one that was in my maiden last name).

And 10 minutes later....-I got my NYS temporary paper license

-I got the actual NYS Driver's license card (in my married last name) in the mail 1-2 weeks afterwards...

-My NYS driver's license is valid for 5 years....(lol..longer than my 2yr green card...go figure...)

-Overall, I found the NYS DMV to be quite nice and helpful....The best government agency here in the USA, in my opinion!....

Other useful links for you in obtaining a NYS driver's license:

-Application for NYS driver's licence that you can fill out, print, and bring to you when you go to the DMV:

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv44.pdf

-Proof of Identification and NYS residency that you can print out here and bring to you when you go to the DMV:

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/id44.pdf

Hope this helps. Good luck with the rest of your immigration and DMV journey too.

Ant

hello

my fiance has entered the United States on the k1 visa

we just received his Social Security card and are getting married july 30th.

we are just wondering how to go about getting a drivers license does he have to take a road test? or a written test ?

thanks

Edited July 3, 2009 by AntandD