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Caleb Aaron

Driver's license with little English

By Caleb Aaron in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

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Caleb Aaron Rookie

Caleb Aaron   4

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Country: Belgium
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My wife has been in the States with me for almost three months now, and she's learning English on the fly. She is Belgian, and her mother tongue is German. 

She is a very good driver and a Belgian international DL holder, but my understanding is that her Belgian license is not valid for the long term here in Ohio. We both want her to get her American license as soon as she can, but her English is not good enough to take the exam yet. I don't believe the written exams are available in German. Has anybody had this issue, and possibly a solution? 

 

Thanks for any help. 

 

Caleb

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   43,195

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
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Sign her up for free English classes at churches or other places that offer them.

Or, enroll her in intensive-English courses, which might be best for her in the longer run.

Immediately, show her every sign in your state's Driver Manual and tell her the translations.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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green_rabbit Explorer

green_rabbit   69

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Senegal
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In my state, you can have a translator over the phone for the written test, and I believe in the car for the practical test as well. I'd ask at the DMV what they offer.

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JFH Grand Master

JFH   12,189

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
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Learning English is a useful skill so this should give her even more motivation to learn it faster. Is she currently working? If not, have her use her free time by enrolling in online classes or local English classes. Immerse her in English at every opportunity. Even if you can speak German, don’t. 

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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Prizm123 Proficient

Prizm123   1,084

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Ukraine
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my wife just watched youtube videos to learn english. i offered to have her go to a class for it, but she said the videos are fine. she was able to take the written test in english

RoC sent 10/30/21

NOA 11/16/21

Check Cashed 11/18/21

Biometrics Waived 01/19/2022

 

 

Beware the fury of a patient man.- John Dryden

Political attempts to require that others share your personal truths are, in their limit, dictatorships.- Neil deGrasse Tyson

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MarryMe987654 Enthusiast

MarryMe987654   241

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Philippines
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On 4/7/2021 at 9:56 PM, Caleb Aaron said:

My wife has been in the States with me for almost three months now, and she's learning English on the fly. She is Belgian, and her mother tongue is German. 

She is a very good driver and a Belgian international DL holder, but my understanding is that her Belgian license is not valid for the long term here in Ohio. We both want her to get her American license as soon as she can, but her English is not good enough to take the exam yet. I don't believe the written exams are available in German. Has anybody had this issue, and possibly a solution? 

 

Thanks for any help. 

 

Caleb

When I took my written exam 2 years ago in Florida, I was asked for the language of the exam that I am going to be taking. I saw other people taking the exam in other languages as well... That might be an option available for your wife.

New Petition:

Apr 5,  2023: Naturalization

Apr 6, 2023: I-130 for my mother

Apr 6, 2023: NOA1

Apr 9, 2024: Approved

Apr 13, 2024: Sent to NVC

Apr 18, 2024: Received email fr NVC and paid the AOS/IV fee

Apr 23, 2024: CEAC website shows "Paid"

Apr 25, 2024: Uploaded Civil and Financial documents

May 1, 2024: Documents accepted except for marriage certificate (unreadable) and death certificate (wrong file)

 

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Skyman Community Regular

Skyman   289

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Philippines
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On 4/8/2021 at 10:56 AM, Caleb Aaron said:

but my understanding is that her Belgian license is not valid for the long term here in Ohio.

Some years ago I tracked down, finally calling the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio, that a foreign licence is good for a year unless you get a job or enroll in school.  I have to add that is for a license in English so if her license isn't in English that might be a problem.  An international license isn't really a license but just an English interpretation of her Belgian license so that might work.  That would at least give her some more time.  Might be a good idea to enroll her in a driving school if her English is good enough for that.  My wife is a good driver but I plan to put her through driving school when I can.

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