Your country’s driver’s license in the U.S.
Is it possible to use my driver's license in the United States? How long is it allowed?
This question causes a lot of controversy, and not without reason. Everyone who has faced this situation himself or knows someone who had to do it can tell about different cases, often opposite to each other.
It should be noted that having had my own experience of using foreign rights and the attitude of police and judges to this, it cannot be said that this situation will be the same for all other people.
Let's first understand how it should be according to the law and then analyze how it works in practice.
Is it possible to exercise one's national rights in the US?
Yes, but under certain conditions.
The recognition of national driver's licenses is governed by two agreements: The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968. Depending on whether a country is a party to one of these conventions, you will need either an international driver's license or an international driver's license with an international driver's license to drive.
However, on the official U.S. government website we read:
If you are a foreign visitor, some states require that you have an international driver's license (IDL) and a valid license from your home country.
There are two key facts to note here: foreign visitor and some states.
First, laws can vary significantly from state to state. You can find out if your state requires an MVU by checking the official website of your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). However, most people who come with their national driver's license usually disregard this requirement because:
Let's move on to the second key fact - the foreign visitor. Most misconceptions about being able to use one's national driver's license before it expires stem from a misunderstanding that this requirement only applies to visitors and non-residents of the state.
Many cross the border to seek asylum and therefore hope to stay here permanently or already have plans to do so.
Consequently, we need to meet the legal requirements for state residents (not to be confused with U.S. residents).
The list of requirements to determine if you are a state resident is different in every state. Again, you should refer to your state's official DMV website for information. Let's look at California as an example. You can be considered a California resident if:
Obviously, for the DMV, every asylum applicant is a resident of the state.
Thus, in California, you are granted a driver's license within 10 days. However, in practice, it is virtually impossible to obtain a local driver's license within that timeframe due to the additional checks that must be passed.
Nevertheless, in the case of California, your driver's license remains valid and you can use it, but you are required to make an application for a local license within the specified time. In most cases, if you are pulled over by the police, you will not be asked about your residency status and you will not have a problem. However, if you become involved in an accident, you may be charged with driving without a license.
There are various situations where people have been using their driver's license for many years even though they are not actually eligible. However, this does not mean that it is legal and carries no risks.
Your job is to comply with the law as much as possible. Therefore, even if you don't manage to get your local driver's license within 10 days, you should start the process as early as possible.
What about other states?
Typically, the timeframe to get a local driver's license varies from 1 month to 3 months. In Illinois, you can't even get a local license unless you've lived in the state for a year.
So, to be sure, familiarize yourself with your state's DMV laws and regulations and remember that you are likely no longer a mere visitor, but have become a resident of the state.
Thus, to summarize:
This question causes a lot of controversy, and not without reason. Everyone who has faced this situation himself or knows someone who had to do it can tell about different cases, often opposite to each other.
It should be noted that having had my own experience of using foreign rights and the attitude of police and judges to this, it cannot be said that this situation will be the same for all other people.
Let's first understand how it should be according to the law and then analyze how it works in practice.
Is it possible to exercise one's national rights in the US?
Yes, but under certain conditions.
The recognition of national driver's licenses is governed by two agreements: The Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968. Depending on whether a country is a party to one of these conventions, you will need either an international driver's license or an international driver's license with an international driver's license to drive.
However, on the official U.S. government website we read:
If you are a foreign visitor, some states require that you have an international driver's license (IDL) and a valid license from your home country.
There are two key facts to note here: foreign visitor and some states.
First, laws can vary significantly from state to state. You can find out if your state requires an MVU by checking the official website of your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). However, most people who come with their national driver's license usually disregard this requirement because:
- Their national licenses are already international licenses because they contain duplicated information in English and do not require translation.
- Russian driver's licenses contain a list of countries in which they are valid, and the U.S. is not on that list.
- The requirement to present an ICE usually only applies to foreign visitors and tourists, which we are not.
Let's move on to the second key fact - the foreign visitor. Most misconceptions about being able to use one's national driver's license before it expires stem from a misunderstanding that this requirement only applies to visitors and non-residents of the state.
Many cross the border to seek asylum and therefore hope to stay here permanently or already have plans to do so.
Consequently, we need to meet the legal requirements for state residents (not to be confused with U.S. residents).
The list of requirements to determine if you are a state resident is different in every state. Again, you should refer to your state's official DMV website for information. Let's look at California as an example. You can be considered a California resident if:
- Your place of employment is in California.
- You have dependents who attend elementary or secondary school.
- You rent a home in California.
- You have claimed your residency in order to obtain a license, privilege, or other benefit not available to nonresidents.
- You have decided to become a resident because of certain actions, events that have occurred that indicate your presence in the state is long-term or permanent.
Obviously, for the DMV, every asylum applicant is a resident of the state.
Thus, in California, you are granted a driver's license within 10 days. However, in practice, it is virtually impossible to obtain a local driver's license within that timeframe due to the additional checks that must be passed.
Nevertheless, in the case of California, your driver's license remains valid and you can use it, but you are required to make an application for a local license within the specified time. In most cases, if you are pulled over by the police, you will not be asked about your residency status and you will not have a problem. However, if you become involved in an accident, you may be charged with driving without a license.
There are various situations where people have been using their driver's license for many years even though they are not actually eligible. However, this does not mean that it is legal and carries no risks.
Your job is to comply with the law as much as possible. Therefore, even if you don't manage to get your local driver's license within 10 days, you should start the process as early as possible.
What about other states?
Typically, the timeframe to get a local driver's license varies from 1 month to 3 months. In Illinois, you can't even get a local license unless you've lived in the state for a year.
So, to be sure, familiarize yourself with your state's DMV laws and regulations and remember that you are likely no longer a mere visitor, but have become a resident of the state.
Thus, to summarize:
- Russian and Ukrainian driver's licenses are both valid in the United States.
- The Russian MVU is not officially recognized in the US, as this list of countries does not exist.
- However, some states require you to have an MVU in addition to your regular driver's license.
- You should check whether you are a resident of the state under its laws.
- Usually, the license is valid for 10 days to 3 months, after which you are required to obtain a local driver's license.