Texas Drivers license

[KennethBk 65]

Hi everyone, good morning. I just called the Texas department of public safety to enquire about a drivers license, the lady I spoke to said I can drive with a Nigerian license for a year. I just want to be sure so I don’t get in trouble, does anyone have experience with driving with a Nigerian license ?

[Lil bear 3,831]

2 minutes ago, KennethBk said:

Hi everyone, good morning. I just called the Texas department of public safety to enquire about a drivers license, the lady I spoke to said I can drive with a Nigerian license for a year. I just want to be sure so I don’t get in trouble, does anyone have experience with driving with a Nigerian license ?

The issue is not what country your drivers license is from but what your residency status is in Texas. As you are entering on a K1 visa and adjusting your status to a LPR, you are no longer considered a visitor but a resident of Texas. As such you are required to obtain a Texas drivers Licence within 30 days.  The catch is that, although you are considered a resident of Texas , you won’t have lawful US residency status until you receive your Green Card ( 12 +months ) or your Employment  Authorization Card (5+months) after filing your AOS paperwork.. until you can show lawful stay status you can’t get a TX licence. Unfortunately most K1 entrants face months of being unable to work or drive for this reason. The advice you were given was based on either incomplete understanding of your situation or incorrect understanding of the TX requirements. Sorry 😢

[Lil bear 3,831]

Moved to “ Moving to the US” as question is not specific to a country/ region but to US specific requirements 

[Crazy Cat 39,220]

28 minutes ago, KennethBk said:

Hi everyone, good morning. I just called the Texas department of public safety to enquire about a drivers license, the lady I spoke to said I can drive with a Nigerian license for a year. I just want to be sure so I don’t get in trouble, does anyone have experience with driving with a Nigerian license ?

Not true.......90 days is the limit.......Sometimes DPS staff make mistakes.

 

https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/reciprocity.htm

Driving privilege reciprocity allows a person to use a valid, unexpired foreign license to operate a motor vehicle in Texas for up to one year or until a person becomes a Texas resident, whichever date is sooner. Once a person becomes a new Texas resident, they must apply for a Texas license within 90 days to continue to drive legally. For more information, please review the Moving to Texas page.

Edited September 5, 2019 by missileman

[KennethBk 65]

18 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

The issue is not what country your drivers license is from but what your residency status is in Texas. As you are entering on a K1 visa and adjusting your status to a LPR, you are no longer considered a visitor but a resident of Texas. As such you are required to obtain a Texas drivers Licence within 30 days.  The catch is that, although you are considered a resident of Texas , you won’t have lawful US residency status until you receive your Green Card ( 12 +months ) or your Employment  Authorization Card (5+months) after filing your AOS paperwork.. until you can show lawful stay status you can’t get a TX licence. Unfortunately most K1 entrants face months of being unable to work or drive for this reason. The advice you were given was based on either incomplete understanding of your situation or incorrect understanding of the TX requirements. Sorry 😢

Thanks for the response, yeah I wasn’t sure about her answer. I haven’t  submitted my adjustment of status yet but hopefully before the end of the month, I’ve been here for less than two weeks. So does it mean I’m not allowed to drive at all ? 

[KennethBk 65]

9 minutes ago, missileman said:

Not true.......90 days is the limit.

 

https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/reciprocity.htm

Driving privilege reciprocity allows a person to use a valid, unexpired foreign license to operate a motor vehicle in Texas for up to one year or until a person becomes a Texas resident, whichever date is sooner. Once a person becomes a new Texas resident, they must apply for a Texas license within 90 days to continue to drive legally. For more information, please review the Moving to Texas page.

Yeah I thought 90 days too but I wasn’t sure if the Nigerian license is valid 

[Crazy Cat 39,220]

1 minute ago, KennethBk said:

Thanks for the response, yeah I wasn’t sure about her answer. I haven’t  submitted my adjustment of status yet but hopefully before the end of the month, I’ve been here for less than two weeks. So does it mean I’m not allowed to drive at all ? 

You can legally drive for 90 days.......after that, you can legally drive ONLY with a Texas drivers license.

[KennethBk 65]

19 minutes ago, missileman said:

You can legally drive for 90 days.......after that, you can legally drive ONLY with a Texas drivers license.

Thanks a lot, you have been very helpful. 

[PattieK 2]

I read somewhere that two weeks with K1 visa before marriage, you can use K1 to get social security and then use it, the K1 visa and passport to apply for a DL. This has to be before marriage and adjustment of status. Anyone with this experience can add to this. 

[Crazy Cat 39,220]

1 minute ago, PattieK said:

I read somewhere that two weeks with K1 visa before marriage, you can use K1 to get social security and then use it, the K1 visa and passport to apply for a DL. This has to be before marriage and adjustment of status. Anyone with this experience can add to this. 

It doesn't work like that in Texas....You must have a Social Security number and proof of legal presence in the US.......at minimum, a receipt for the I-485 after filing for adjustment of status.

[HRQX 4,145]

14 hours ago, KennethBk said:

I haven’t  submitted my adjustment of status yet but hopefully before the end of the month

After you receive the I-485 receipt notice: https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/documents/verifyingLawfulPresence.pdf Page 3 "Applicants for adjustment of status"

[Falcon Cara 378]

9 hours ago, missileman said:

It doesn't work like that in Texas....You must have a Social Security number and proof of legal presence in the US.......at minimum, a receipt for the I-485 after filing for adjustment of status.

SSN is not a must in Texas, you can sign a waiver. I asked in person at the DPS

[Crazy Cat 39,220]

1 hour ago, Falcon Cara said:

SSN is not a must in Texas, you can sign a waiver. I asked in person at the DPS

Yea, under some circumstances that is possible.

https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/ssn.htm

Edited September 6, 2019 by missileman

[Talako 756]

We went around and around with trying to get a TX driver's license, and ultimately we had to wait until she got her GC.  We could have used an EAD, but the GC came before the EAD.

[KennethBk 65]

52 minutes ago, Talako said:

We went around and around with trying to get a TX driver's license, and ultimately we had to wait until she got her GC.  We could have used an EAD, but the GC came before the EAD.

Oh wow, how long did it take to get the green card ?