Your recommendations about what kind of documents I should take with me before I move to the U.S.

[Turquoise 8]

Hello!

 

A new day, a new question

 

I wanted to know what are your recommendations about what kind of documents, statements, apostilled documents should I take with me to the U.S.?

 

For safety reasons, I'm thinking to order a statement that I am not married that is translated in English (from a legit translation company) and get that document apostilled.

 

I know I will need to redo my drivers license in the U.S., but I was thinking to order a statement in English to at least show them that I have a drivers license from my country.

 

I'm thinking to order a certified copy of my birth certificate which is translated in English and Apostilled. I already have a translated and apostilled birth certificate.. would it be worth it to make a copy too? Or it would be just a waste of money?

 

What are your thoughts and  recommendations?

 

I really appreciate all of your previous answers to my questions before! It's really nice that VJ is such a big community that are willing to help each other.

 

Edited yesterday at 12:02 PM by Turquoise

[appleblossom 5,154]

**Thread moved as it’s not a K-1 question**

 

These days you can get most docs online, but definitely get the birth cert. Driving licence is probably no use, but that depends on the state you’re going to - most will require you to take the test as if you’ve never driven before anyway. 
 

The only other thing that I’ve since found useful was our medical records. So I’d get those if you can. 
 

Good luck. 

[JeanneAdil 7,302]

vaccination records

school diploma 

school and / or college records

country ID if they have one so u can renew it when needed

 

u don't need a statement of non marriage 

 

u can drive 1 year in PA (maybe not outside the state) on a foreign licence

what u need is to be on a auto insurance plan so its best to convert to PA state license ASAP

Auto insurance and the driver being covered is very important 

 

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/faqs/driver-licensing-faqs/driver-and-licensing-miscellaneous-faqs

[Turquoise 8]

1 minute ago, JeanneAdil said:

vaccination records

school diploma 

school and / or college records

country ID if they have one so u can renew it when needed

 

u don't need a statement of non marriage 

 

u can drive 1 year in PA (maybe not outside the state) on a foreign licence

what u need is to be on a auto insurance plan so its best to convert to PA state license ASAP

Auto insurance and the driver being covered is very important 

 

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/faqs/driver-licensing-faqs/driver-and-licensing-miscellaneous-faqs

Wow, thank you for all the info!! 

[appleblossom 5,154]

4 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

u can drive 1 year in PA (maybe not outside the state) on a foreign licence

 

MA has a similar rule, but it wasn't applicable to us, as we were taking up residency there. It seems PA is similar - 

 

"All new residents with out-of-state non-commercial driver's licenses must obtain a PA Driver's License within 60 days of establishing Pennsylvania residency. "

[Fr8dog 514]

No USCIS need for anything with apostilles. 

Request all your documents in EU format. This includes an English translation and those are accepted by the USCIS.

Your drivers license can not be converted into a US one (there are only 4 countries that have that agreement with the US and Latvia is not one of them.

You can drive on your Latvian license (again this is a EU format so it includes the English translation on it). You need to get a US license but there is a grace period and a lot of DMV's don't know how to deal with the K1. Your SO can needs to you to their policy and that can be done with a foreign license. If you can get an English driving record the insurance may accept that and give you a discount (ours didn't).

 

Do not ever send originals to the USCIS (only photocopies) unless specifically instructed to do so. However always bring the original with you to any interview you will get later on (personally I always had the original+copy with me just in case they lost something and was glad I did).

[yuna628 9,916]

Is your license not written in English? If it is not you can get an IDP which will translate it for anyone that might question. Having your license already will waive you from doing some of the young or early driving requirements such as road hours, but it will not exempt you from a written test, road test, or other documentation requirements. You will need to refer to PA's MVA instructions. Most state's will want proof of residency such as your name and new address on a bank statement or bill, I94, EAD or green card, and a SSN. If you are arriving on a K1 getting all that will take a while. So once you've arrived it's important to get the ball rolling on documents you need.

Edited 18 hours ago by yuna628

[Bethie 125]

9 hours ago, Turquoise said:

Hello!

 

A new day, a new question

 

I wanted to know what are your recommendations about what kind of documents, statements, apostilled documents should I take with me to the U.S.?

 

For safety reasons, I'm thinking to order a statement that I am not married that is translated in English (from a legit translation company) and get that document apostilled.

 

I know I will need to redo my drivers license in the U.S., but I was thinking to order a statement in English to at least show them that I have a drivers license from my country.

 

I'm thinking to order a certified copy of my birth certificate which is translated in English and Apostilled. I already have a translated and apostilled birth certificate.. would it be worth it to make a copy too? Or it would be just a waste of money?

 

What are your thoughts and  recommendations?

 

I really appreciate all of your previous answers to my questions before! It's really nice that VJ is such a big community that are willing to help each other.

 

Any documents that you cannot easily replace from the USA.

[Turquoise 8]

4 hours ago, Fr8dog said:

I always had the original+copy with me just in case they lost something and was glad I did)

Was it just a regular copy of your original? Or a certified copy? 😅

[Sam Burns 217]

11 hours ago, appleblossom said:

All new residents with out-of-state non-commercial driver's licenses must obtain a PA Driver's License within 60 days of establishing Pennsylvania residency. "

This does not apply to international drivers licenses

[Crazy Cat 45,579]

7 hours ago, Sam Burns said:

This does not apply to international drivers licenses

I think it applies to all new residents.  

Edited 3 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[appleblossom 5,154]

22 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

I think it applies to all new residents.  

Ditto. As I mentioned, MA has the same rule, but only for people who aren’t taking up residency. So somebody on a 6 month visitor visa can drive on an international driving licence for that time no problem. Somebody that has moved to the US can’t. 
 

PA seems to be the same. 

[Sam Burns 217]

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

I think it applies to all new residents.  

No it doesn’t, my wife moved here (PA) from Poland in 2023 and drove for a year on her Polish license, which is what I meant by international license. I verified this with the PA DMV website.

Edited 2 hours ago by Sam Burns
Added more detail