Driving in the US after DV arrival

[NikLR 13,220]

it's probably not worth it unless the driving exam etc is easier than where they will be living in the future.  Since Texas and Oklahoma are on the table, I'd say they're likely easier than Michigan. 

[Alabamak1 688]

29 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Back when my now wife came on her K1, I seem to remember using official mailings from USCIS to prove residency after she got her SSC to get her learners permit.  When our cousins arrive we can try using the postage from their physical GCs as proof of residency as @carmel34 suggested.  The big issue is that we do not know exactly how long they will be with us, so I was wondering if it was worth the hassle if they left after a couple of weeks.  My wife is off next week, maybe she can go down to the MI SoS and ask someone there.

If they later move, that's if they get the job and other things....i don't see this happening in just a few weeks. I would suggest to get something like  magazine subscription and then later cancelling it. That gives you a starting point. Now, people when they immigrate, have to watch in what they spend their money since there might not be no income or in between income(s).....i would still try to get DL as soon as possible. IDP requires a car that is also insured. To many if's, might as well bite the bullet and wait for the GC.  

[NikLR 13,220]

1 minute ago, Alabamak1 said:

If they later move, that's if they get the job and other things....i don't see this happening in just a few weeks. I would suggest to get something like  magazine subscription and then later cancelling it. That gives you a starting point. Now, people when they immigrate, have to watch in what they spend their money since there might not be no income or in between income(s).....i would still try to get DL as soon as possible. IDP requires a car that is also insured. To many if's, might as well bite the bullet and wait for the GC.  

What could would that do?

Michigan requires a very specific set if items that can be used to establish residency in the state, and that certainly isn't one of them. LMAO

[Alabamak1 688]

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Applying_for_lic_or_ID_SOS_428_222146_7.pdf

 

other documents containing you name and address may be accepted with managers approval..... look it up 

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

13 minutes ago, Alabamak1 said:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Applying_for_lic_or_ID_SOS_428_222146_7.pdf

 

other documents containing you name and address may be accepted with managers approval..... look it up 

Lol, that is highly unlikely because they want something that proves you live somewhere. Signing up for a special $5 a year magazine sub and putting an address on it proves nothing. Signing up for insurance or water or gas on the other hand, does. You asked how do new immigrants do it? They do it because they need to arrange those things ASAP , they rent somewhere, they get insurance, they get utilities, they put their kids in school, etc - they easily get the required proof. Why? Because when you live somewhere, it’s easy to do!

 

there is absolutely no reason to fuss about getting a DL in a state you’re going to be in for a few weeks. That is not “residence” by any definition. 

 

By the way re another strand of the discussion, an IDP is meaningless by itself, it’s not a license, it’s just a translation of a license. 

Edited January 12, 2019 by SusieQQQ

[yuna628 9,527]

3 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Thanks a bunch.  This is what I see for Michigan.

 

“Residents of a foreign country who are temporarily in the United States may drive in Michigan with their home country license and, if the license is not in English, an English translation of the license or an International Driving Permit.”

 

The issue is that my wife’s cousin and her husband are coming with a DV GC and they will be staying with us for an unspecified amount of time.  He has some leads for jobs in Texas and Oklahoma, so I am not sure where they will end up, so it may be difficult to show Michigan residency to get a DL.  I cannot find anything else at the MI SOS that says how long someone can drive legally with a foreign DL and IDP.  We may try to get a DL once they receive their physical GCs as they will be mailed to our address.

 

 

Bill: I don't see any issue why they can't use the DL they have + their IDP (if their DL is in a foreign language) especially if they are only remaining for a short time. They won't have established residency in that state enough, and won't have their names on bills that a DMV will typically accept yet (I have enough Michigan friends to know you need your name on something more viable than a mag sub and the requirements aren't too different than this state). They'd need to have their name on some kind of insurance though unless the car is already insured (and you're confident they aren't going to wreck it ).  If you're overly concerned though or want to speak to someone face to face, you could always ask 'em at the desk. They'll like be a little clueless, but Michigan has a high immigrant population, and I'm sure they've encountered something like this before. Once they have a GC though, maybe even before that I'd work on asking them to try and establish something *somewhere*, because eventually they'll need a license from some state. And in that case all they'd have to do when they'd move is trade it in.

Edited January 12, 2019 by yuna628

[JFH 12,189]

*~*~*moved from “diversity visas” to “moving to the US” - question about obtaining a drivers license*~*~*

[carmel34 3,526]

My husband isn't even here yet (still waiting on I-130), and he's already receiving mail here at my address in Caifornia--utility bills, credit card, health insurance card, etc. so he can go get a DL as soon as he arrives here and he gets his SSN and card.  It can be done if you know what's required and plan ahead.  For many of these things it's a simple phone call, no SSN needed.  It gives us something to do during this long wait, and also serves as evidence of a bona fide relationship.

Edited January 13, 2019 by carmel34
*

[Dashinka 23,198]

6 hours ago, yuna628 said:

Bill: I don't see any issue why they can't use the DL they have + their IDP (if their DL is in a foreign language) especially if they are only remaining for a short time. They won't have established residency in that state enough, and won't have their names on bills that a DMV will typically accept yet (I have enough Michigan friends to know you need your name on something more viable than a mag sub and the requirements aren't too different than this state). They'd need to have their name on some kind of insurance though unless the car is already insured (and you're confident they aren't going to wreck it ).  If you're overly concerned though or want to speak to someone face to face, you could always ask 'em at the desk. They'll like be a little clueless, but Michigan has a high immigrant population, and I'm sure they've encountered something like this before. Once they have a GC though, maybe even before that I'd work on asking them to try and establish something *somewhere*, because eventually they'll need a license from some state. And in that case all they'd have to do when they'd move is trade it in.

They arrived this evening, and I discussed it with them and they said they were told they would be good for 60 days.  It is unfortunate the Michigan SoS doesn’t delve more into this aspect of folks arriving, I suppose maybe they do not get a lot of questions of this type.

 

That being said, I appreciate the discussion and all the responses.  As I have told others, VJ is full of good folks willing to assist those traversing various immigration journeys!

Edited January 13, 2019 by Bill & Katya

[NikLR 13,220]

8 hours ago, Alabamak1 said:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Applying_for_lic_or_ID_SOS_428_222146_7.pdf

 

other documents containing you name and address may be accepted with managers approval..... look it up 

It'd be just as easy to get the items actually ON the list vs some BS items though.  

 

Regardless the OP's cousins likely will be moving sooner than later so they have time to set up any items that may be needed, hopefully in their new state of residence. 

 

It would be nice if the all the DMVs were more clear on how long it takes to establish residency.   Heck even how each state handles their DMV varies though.  The US is made up of 50 little countries with one big overseer.  LOL

 

https://www.dhs.gov/archive/current-status-states-territories

 

[randomstairs 262]

12 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

If they can’t  prove residency, and if they are genuinely only there in MI temporarily, then they can’t get DLs as residents.  They won’t be penalized for that.

 

(california has a 10 day rule. It is literally impossible to get a DL in 10 days, there is no dmv in the state that you can get an appointment that quick, never mind the fact that you don’t normally get bills etc to prove residency that quick. Cops can be reasonable people too.)

In California, if you have a DL from another state, you only need to pass the written test which could be given on the same day in some DMVs. You can then drive with the other state's DL and the document from the DMV (it takes weeks to get the DL card in mail). To prove the address you don't need a utility bill per se. It can be a lease or another document from a long list of options. 

I believe foreign residents of CA can drive with their national DL after completion of the written test and obtaining the Instruction Permit (driver's permit). So to my understanding you have to apply for the DL within 10 days (as a resident) but still have enough time to actually get the DL. (I still need to double check on this with the DMV though.)

[TBoneTX 43,014]

A noncontributory post has been removed.

[LukeU 413]

On 1/12/2019 at 1:43 PM, Bill & Katya said:

How long can a DV GC holder drive In the US with a foreign DL and IDP?

 

Thanks!

I'm not sure how helpful the below post will be, but I sent a question in Nov '18 to DSIC@michigan.gov asking: 

"I will be entering the USA in the early part of next year on a K1 fianceé visa, I currently hold a full and clean driving license within the UK.
Will this driving license allow me to drive in the state of Michigan?" 

 

To which I received the response: 

"Thank you for using the Department of State's web site.
Residents of a foreign country who are temporarily in the United States may drive in Michigan with their home country license and, if the license is not in English, an English translation of the license or an International Driving Permit.

For more information to obtain a Michigan driver's license, please see the link below:

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1627---,00.html

If you have other questions, feel free to contact us at 888 SOSMICH (888-767-6424).

Sincerely,
Department of State Information Center" 

 

I've removed names etc, and I understand the above isn't greatly helpful but it's all I've had by contacting the state directly. 

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

14 hours ago, randomstairs said:

In California, if you have a DL from another state, you only need to pass the written test which could be given on the same day in some DMVs. You can then drive with the other state's DL and the document from the DMV (it takes weeks to get the DL card in mail). To prove the address you don't need a utility bill per se. It can be a lease or another document from a long list of options. 

I believe foreign residents of CA can drive with their national DL after completion of the written test and obtaining the Instruction Permit (driver's permit). So to my understanding you have to apply for the DL within 10 days (as a resident) but still have enough time to actually get the DL. (I still need to double check on this with the DMV though.)

We couldn’t even get an appointment for the written test in 10 days, but just drove with our foreign DLs and proof of the appointment and hoped that was enough. After we wrote the tests, my husband and I (different dmvs) both got temporary driving permits that we had to use with our foreign DLs till the actual test. Other people on VJ also in CA have however reported being subject to same requirements as new driver permits (have to drive with licensed drivers) so it appears inconsistent.  We never got pulled over so never checked any of it. We have one friend who got a $400 fine for not having a CA license after 4 months, and another who got let off with a warning having been driving on her home country license for over 2 years...

[accumbyte 148]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

We couldn’t even get an appointment for the written test in 10 days

The DMV is funny. On one page it mentions that appointments are necessary at regular field offices: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl07 On another page there is an exception for Saturday service: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/fo/fo_sat_offices/