drivers license

[oldbutspry]

My fiancee is in driving school right now.  She just asked me to find out if she should get an international driver's license.  I think she's thinking that may make it easier for her to begin driving in America.  Does anyone know what the advantages of getting an international driver's license might be?  It'd be great if she could then skip the written portion of the test (since her English is limited) but I figure that's rather incredibly unlikely.

I know this must be in the archives but I ran several searches and couldn't find anything useful.

Thanks,

John

[Rags]

... in response to drivers license, posted by oldbutspry on Aug 4, 2002

As posted below, an Intl. DL is merely a translation of the country's DL much like an Intl. Passport is. However, you are not required to surrender it when you get a new DL here as you will need it to drive in Europe. It does not (at least in Ca) get you out of any portion of the testing proceedure. It will give you fiancee more confidence to have it and you can use it to drive in the US for a limited time which eliminates the need to get a learner's permit. It could also save you a few bucks on your insurance by having more driving expirience time and showing that she took driver's education classes.

Be aware that you must show the I-94 (entrance card) as well as her passport for identification purposes. We had already applied for her AOS (where they take this document out of your passport) and were denied even though she had a letter showing her AOS appointment. (Sorry, the book says that that is not an INS document!)

[WmGo]

... in response to drivers license, posted by oldbutspry on Aug 4, 2002

Depending on the state, having an IDL might obviate the requirement of taking the drivers exam as a condition of obtaining the state license, as well as authorizing the immigrant to legally drive in the interim.

The real question is whether it is a good idea to do this even if possible. In terms of safety it is probably best for the immigrant to study the book and pass the written and physical tests.

[tfcrew]

... in response to drivers license, posted by oldbutspry on Aug 4, 2002

Just kidding
In Texas the test   can be given in Russian. Wish they would give that same (Russian) test to the Latins and Asians. In Richardson I saw a Chinese driving school car...the blind leading the blind here in DFW .....
Karl

[tfcrew]

... in response to Yikes ! Another foreign driver !, posted by tfcrew on Aug 4, 2002

"Turn reft at the right" (turn left at the light)?...I'm serious folks, this is happening here !!

[thesearch]

... in response to Have to do it..........my own follow up, posted by tfcrew on Aug 4, 2002

When I lived in San Francisco, we had a fairly large
Chinese population as most are probably aware if they have ever been to "The City" as it is called by locals.

The Chinese drivers would drive past every stop sign placing their car techically in oncoming traffic before knowing what the traffic was like on the road they wanted to cross or enter (three feet into the intersection or so) then they would turn their head left to right in repeatedly and violently in fast gyrations of hysterical motoin to see what was on the right and on the left. I swear they needed a chiropractor after a days driving.

[Charles]

... in response to drivers license, posted by oldbutspry on Aug 4, 2002

I can't speak to the pros and cons of the IDL, but if the concern is taking the test in English, most states permit you to take the test in Russian.  Check with your DMV about this.

[KenC]

... in response to drivers license, posted by oldbutspry on Aug 4, 2002

John,
Check with your state's DMV as I believe that the law varies from state to state.  Michigan allowed my wife to drive for a year before requiring a MI license.  We moved to CA and here they have the written test in Russian.  Check with your DMV.
KenC

[Philb]

... in response to drivers license, posted by oldbutspry on Aug 4, 2002

Anyone who does not surrender a valid  driver's license issued by another state when applying for a Wyoming driver's license must take both the written and the driving portion of the tests.  

This probably varies from state to state.

[Philb]

... in response to In Wyoming...., posted by Philb on Aug 4, 2002

I did some research on this.  Basically all an international driver's license is just a translation of her foreign driver's license.  

Again, this applies to Wyoming, a person can drive here on their foreign license upto 90 days or 30 days after they become a resident.  This would be when you get married.  Prior to that she is here temporarily.  

I was curious about this also and did a search at RWL.  There are a large number of posts on this subject and it seems that most states will allow you to drive on your foreign license until you become a resident.  So, in most cases a IDL would not be of any benefit.

All this said check with your particular state just to be sure.  Also, many states offer their written tests in different languages.

[thesearch]

... in response to More info, posted by Philb on Aug 4, 2002

Where do you live in Wyoming?
I spent a couple years there.

[Philb]

... in response to Re: More info, posted by thesearch on Aug 6, 2002

I live in Casper.  Have been here almost 14 years.

[Oscar]

... in response to Re: Re: More info, posted by Philb on Aug 6, 2002

Wow!  My Mother was from good old Glenrock, 20 miles away..

Oscar

[James B]

... in response to drivers license, posted by oldbutspry on Aug 4, 2002

My Fiancee is also in driving school, so we have much in common my friend.  I too hope your questions get answered, because it'll help me too.  I am in a different situation though, because I am in the military in and serving in Iceland.  When she comes here, she will have one year to drive and the international driving license is perfectly okay.  If nothing else, your fiancee will learn much and have a chance to get behind the wheel many times before she arrives.  The cost is incredibly low for all that they receive in their instruction and well worth it, I believe.

I often ask my fiancee what she is learning and just yesterday, she told me that she is learning the fines for different violations in Ukraine.  I asked her how much it costs for intoxication while driving and she told me it was incredibly high at 370 Hrivna(75 dollars).  Most of the speeding violations were only 15 to 50 Hrivna.  

Jim