What the what?

[Dan and Ali 3]

I was just talking with some co-workers about the process of immigrating down to the US and a guy I work with who is a dual citizen told me that he has TWO driver's licenses ... One from BC and one from Idaho. I kind of balked when he said that but he seems to think it's totally acceptable. He said the DMV in Idaho didn't mention anything about handing in his BC license, so he has both. His parents live in Idaho so he uses their address to maintain the Idaho license. He actually tried telling me that he has both because "as a dual citizen, [he] has the right".

So ... this guy is majorly out to lunch, right? He's an generally well-respected guy in my office and seemed really confident in this knowledge but it doesn't seem right to me ... but maybe there is something about being a dual citizen that allows you to have both?

[Rustbelt 0]

I can't speak for Idaho, but I think most states ask you to hand in your existing one if you're doing a license swap. If you have to redo the whole test, you could end up with two, I guess. When I moved from the UK to the US first time around I had to do the driving test and so got to keep my UK license (which has now disappeared in one of my many moves). It's not a right of dual citizenship, though. Having two passports is kind of a "right" I suppose, but not two driver's licenses.

- Steve's wife

[Lenie7 0]

I think most states in the U.S. don't care if you have a driver's license somewhere else and they will not confiscate it. If you apply for a license in a particular state, they just care if you are licensed in another state, but not so much if you are licensed in another country. I know it is different in Canada and they will take your U.S. license if moving up there.

I honestly think it is okay to have a license in both countries, although I'm not sure how Canadian provinces view it. Either way, I don't think being a citizen of both has a lot to do with it.

I was just talking with some co-workers about the process of immigrating down to the US and a guy I work with who is a dual citizen told me that he has TWO driver's licenses ... One from BC and one from Idaho. I kind of balked when he said that but he seems to think it's totally acceptable. He said the DMV in Idaho didn't mention anything about handing in his BC license, so he has both. His parents live in Idaho so he uses their address to maintain the Idaho license. He actually tried telling me that he has both because "as a dual citizen, [he] has the right".

So ... this guy is majorly out to lunch, right? He's an generally well-respected guy in my office and seemed really confident in this knowledge but it doesn't seem right to me ... but maybe there is something about being a dual citizen that allows you to have both?

[trailmix 77]

Yes, as already stated, it has nothing to do with citizenship.

It is State and Province specific too, i'm sure.

It is also up to the friendly person behind the counter!

[Dan and Ali 3]

Wow, I had no idea! So I might not necessarily have to surrender my Alberta license ... neat. That's a good thing, I like the picture on it and don't want to get another one if/when we move back ;P

[Otto 83]

Karin has her German driver's linces and a Texas one too.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

That's funny! I like the picture on my DL as well, as I was in almost optimal shape when it was taken. Mind you, I look literally about ten years younger in the photo...young enough that some could assume it's a fake ID... It's the same with my passport, which I got within a month of the aforementioned DL. I look a LOT different in the photo than I do now...

[trailmix 77]

Wow, I had no idea! So I might not necessarily have to surrender my Alberta license ... neat. That's a good thing, I like the picture on it and don't want to get another one if/when we move back ;P

Which state are you moving to?

[warlord 73]

This sort of has to do with Canada. Idaho law off of their DMV states:

One License Law—When applying for an Idaho Class D driver’s license, you must surrender any driver’s license or ID card issued to you from another state, U. S. Territory, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia. You do not need to surrender a driver’s license issued in a foreign country. However, once you are issued an Idaho driver’s license, you are not allowed to use or show your foreign license for the purpose of operating a motor vehicle. If you are applying for an Idaho Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you must surrender any license(s) issued to you by any jurisdiction(s).

So because Canada is issued in a foreign country, Idaho does not require you to surrender your licence from another country.

Of course as mentioned, this is all a state by state issue not a "Dual Citizenship" one as in Colorado he would have had to surrender his Canadian license for example...

[trailmix 77]

Or in the case of Florida, they let krikit keep her Canadian license but cut the corner off my Husband's Alberta license

[Dan and Ali 3]

Wow, I had no idea! So I might not necessarily have to surrender my Alberta license ... neat. That's a good thing, I like the picture on it and don't want to get another one if/when we move back ;P

Which state are you moving to?

Utah. But I might consider moving to Idaho if they let me keep my license ...

Just kidding ;P I think I'd die of boredom in Idaho. No offense intended to any Idahoans here, it's just not for me ... I like potatoes but not THAT much! ;D

[trailmix 77]

Wow, I had no idea! So I might not necessarily have to surrender my Alberta license ... neat. That's a good thing, I like the picture on it and don't want to get another one if/when we move back ;P

Which state are you moving to?

Utah. But I might consider moving to Idaho if they let me keep my license ...

Just kidding ;P I think I'd die of boredom in Idaho. No offense intended to any Idahoans here, it's just not for me ... I like potatoes but not THAT much! ;D

[Lenie7 0]

I LOVE potatoes. Maybe I should move there...

Edited December 1, 2009 by Lenie7

[SapphireDreams 71]

New York State took my Ontario license. I was more sad for sentimental reasons, my new photo is better than my old one!

[mozplay 29]

Maryland wanted my old one too. I just so happened to have an old one on me from a previous address so that's the one they got. tee hee