Transfer Canadian license to US

[Canadian87 67]

Question regarding transferring my Canadian license to the US (Michigan).

What happens to my license from Ontario? Does the DMV notify Ontario that I transferred my license? Do they keep the license, or clip it to make it invalid?

Anyone who has gone through this who can shed some light?

 

Thanks

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

They may ask you to turn it in and they destroy it, or because it's Canadian they may allow you to retain it. In the US anyways when you renew your license in person they generally take the old one and dispose of it. 

[Amadia 711]

When I came here, I went to the DMV within the 30 days required for getting a state ID or license. I had my valid Trinidad and Tobago driver's permit with 2 years validity still on it. The DMV clerk only had me show them that as proof that I was an experienced driver and did not require the mandatory 4-hour test for Florida drivers along with my passport and i-551 stamp.

They did not take my Trinidad license, did not request me to turn it in nor did they destroy it in any way.

 

This was in the State of Florida and other states' DMV regulations may differ.

I suggest contacting the DMV in Michigan and inquiring further but I believe there is no "transferring of license", only you applying for a US state driving license.

[IslandQueen 45]

When I went to DMV in FL with my international dl, I had to take the vision test, computer test and the road test. The only thing I didnt have to do was driving school. My DL was photocopied and uploaded in their system then given back to me. 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

Don't know how it is in Canada but in Germany your drivers license is valid as long as you're alive so I'll keep it as long as I'm alive and nobody is going to destroy it 😁 

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

In Texas, the lady at DMV said they would send my wife's Taiwan drivers license back to Taiwan when she swapped it for a Texas DL....in Texas you can skip all the testing if you surrender your foreign license (only specific countries).

Edited June 19, 2019 by missileman

[BananaButton5 175]

As far as I know you can legally use your Canadian license for one year (or until it expires if that's under a year) until you need to get a license in the state you live in. 

[Dashinka 24,593]

My wife's cousins came to Michigan back in January and applied for a MI DL, they also have Russian DLs, and the Michigan SoS could not have cared less.  You will be applying for a new Michigan DL as if a new driver and should be able to keep your Canadian DL.  Now Michigan may allow you to waive the written and driver test with a Canadian DL, not sure about that, but they would not with a Russian DL.

 

Good Luck!

[Dashinka 24,593]

5 minutes ago, BananaButton5 said:

As far as I know you can legally use your Canadian license for one year (or until it expires if that's under a year) until you need to get a license in the state you live in. 

Most states require a new resident to get a valid DL in a period of less than a year. Michigan allows no grace period for new residents.

 

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-5647_12539_48306-180171--,00.html

Edited June 19, 2019 by Bill & Katya

[Canadian87 67]

Thanks everyone!

I wish I could my MI DL, but I don't have a SSN yet or an EAD. Been sitting on my behind while waiting for that to come through. 

Thankfully we have our interview next month; the end is in sight.

[junkmart 320]

38 minutes ago, missileman said:

In Texas, the lady at DMV said they would send my wife's Taiwan drivers license back to Taiwan when she swapped it for a Texas DL....in Texas you can skip all the testing if you surrender your foreign license (only specific countries).

Sorry to hijack, but do you know if Mexico is one of those countries?

[BananaButton5 175]

22 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Most states require a new resident to get a valid DL in a period of less than a year. Michigan allows no grace period for new residents.

 

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-5647_12539_48306-180171--,00.html

Someone here told me a year for Canadian but I just looked into it further and you're right. Most states are 90 days from the start of residency. 

[Dashinka 24,593]

10 minutes ago, Canadian87 said:

Thanks everyone!

I wish I could my MI DL, but I don't have a SSN yet or an EAD. Been sitting on my behind while waiting for that to come through. 

Thankfully we have our interview next month; the end is in sight.

The pain of dealing with the AOS.  Hopefully you get your EAD or GC soon.

 

Good Luck!

[KelsJosh 100]

Hey, so i just tried for the second time to get a colorado drivers license and i had all the right stuff this time but they said my stuff wasn't updated in SAVE yet..

I entered the U.S. on April 1st so its been over 90 days already and i have my SSN and everything.. but does it update when you apply for AOS again? Not sure if they didnt put my info in right or what..

the receipt on my 797c is june 21.

 

Hope someone can shed some light on this haha  I still have my Canadian license but obviously would like to get my colorado license!

[junkmart 320]

1 hour ago, KelsJosh said:

Hey, so i just tried for the second time to get a colorado drivers license and i had all the right stuff this time but they said my stuff wasn't updated in SAVE yet..

I entered the U.S. on April 1st so its been over 90 days already and i have my SSN and everything.. but does it update when you apply for AOS again? Not sure if they didnt put my info in right or what..

the receipt on my 797c is june 21.

 

Hope someone can shed some light on this haha  I still have my Canadian license but obviously would like to get my colorado license!

That's interesting. I have no helpful information, but am curious how this turns out. I thought that Colorado was one of the few states to give license even to undocumented immigrants who reside in Colorado. Supposedly all they need to show is foreign identity document, ITIN or SSN, and proof of Colorado residency.