(Untitled)

[firecrest]

Im just wondering if its possibe for a british citizen to take an american driving test whislt in america under the visa waiver. I should be over there for 8 weeks shortly so I could maybe take it if its possible. I dont hold any driving liscense of any sort at the moment.

Comments

[frostedmessiah]

Nope, you need a green card (either conditional or non-conditional) or an employment authorisation document.

Once you have either of those, you can easily get a license regardless of your driving status in the UK.

[darth_spacey]

An EAD? An EAD carries no more weight than a visa (and indeed, there's less validation process involved). Why would a state allow an EAD and not a visa? Any idea which states these are?

Honestly curious here, as that blows my mind.

[blueinva]

He doesn't have a visa - just a three month visa *waver*, that's the issue. You need a EAD or a Green Card.
As soon as I got my EAD I took my Virginia test. Compared to what I faced in Britain it was truly a joke - sight test, road knowledge test, ability to change lanes, turn a corner and there you go. britain requires sight, knowledge, three point turn, emergency stop, hill start and reversing round a corner (like parallel parking only harder, honestly). The rules on proof of residency have tightened up since 9/11 too, so no chance he'll be able to take a test.

[darth_spacey]

That's really freakin' weird. The EAD says nothing about your resident status, or anything related to it. As you said, it lets you work. I don't think I understand the logic that would cause a state to require one.

You *must* have a valid qualifying immigration status to get an EAD, and that's the *only* qualification (aside from paying the fee and waiting). Why would a state put more credence in an EAD than a visa? That's freaky.

[firecrest]

yeah thats kind of why I was curious. Ive *ahem* failed my test in the UK six times now. Im not a hopeless driver, its nerves and I just botch it. I drove up a road in somebodies automatic in america, and the automatic gears plus the wide, largely empty wide roads was massively easier. I figured id have more chance of passing one in america.

[blueinva]

I passed mine after five attempts in the UK (for much the same reason - I choke worse than Greg Norman), so yes, I would gauge my state's test is easier. There is no reciprocity though - you'll still need to pass the British test if you want to drive for longer than a month in the UK.

[prettylethal]

Hmm... well I had to do 3 point turns and reverse around corners on my test in the US...

Although you have to remember, UK driving schools make alot fo money for people to take their driving test.... and they make ALOT MORE money if people keep failing.

So its kinda the idea of, hmmm, lets make our test LUDICROUSLY hard so that people keep failing and have to sell their kidneys to retake the test over and over and over.

My bf is takin his test again the UK, he failed 2 times before once was because someone walked in front of his car and he brakes hard, the second cuz he rolled back slightly on a hill. I told him to just run the damn pedestrians over this time...

[blueinva]

>Hmm... well I had to do 3 point turns and reverse around corners on my test in the US...

Yeah, I think it's a state thing. My wife took her test in Texas and hers was much more involved. In VA and MD it appears turning up is the hardest point of the test (and sitting in a DMV line for four hours)

[prettylethal]

haha, I think everyone should get an award for standing in line for hours at the DMV! You would think the least they could do is have people walk around with cookies or somethin.

I actually have to renew my liscense when I go back home for Christmas, so Im dreading that already....

[mmaestro]

With the number of idiots on the road who really ought not to be driving, I'd rather the test was as hard as possible, frankly. The number of people who seem to think that their SUV tank is licence to drive through whoever happens to be in their way is terrifying. Then again, that might not be lack of skill, just lack of consideration.

[frostedmessiah]

An EAD is normally issued under for non-citizens who are visiting the US with a work visa (obviously :) ), and to non-citizens on the path to permanent residency.

Getting an EAD was actually more difficult than getting a green card, but that might just have been for my CIS district.

Oh, and another thing! The DMV requires you to have an SSN, or temporary taxpayer number in conjunction with an EAD (at least in Florida) to obtain your drivers license.

[darth_spacey]

I'm glad I don't live in Florida. In NC, I filled out the federally-mandated "Yo! Gimme an EAD!" form, mailed it, went in to get photographed, and got my card.

[firecrest]

damn, floridas where im going...