Are you an international student or scholar who wants to drive in the United States? If so, you might be wondering how to get a driver’s license in your state. In this blog post, I will share with you the steps and requirements for getting a driver’s license using Alabama as a case study based on my own experience as an international student which I believe should be like many other states in the country.
Let me start by informing you that there are two major alternatives. You may get a permit first then get a full license later or obtain the full license at once. Depending on your situation, the alternatives have been outlined below with the requirements and information.
Option 1a: Getting a Permit First
There are situations you might need to get a learner’s permit first, possibly you are like me that just learned in the state. So, what does a learner’s permit allow you to do? It allows you to drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and has a full license. You will identify this by the “Y” alphabet on the reverse side of your permit card.
What are the documents and details you need to get a learner’s permit, you need to:
– Pass a written test that covers the rules of the road, traffic signs, and signals. The test costs $5 and you can take it at any DMV office. You can find the nearest office here.
– Pay about a $35 fee for the permit. You can pay by cash, card, check, or money order.
– Go along with the following documents:
– Your international passport
– Your I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status)
– Your I-94 form (Arrival/Departure Record)
– Your Social Security Number (SSN) or a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that you are not eligible for an SSN (spouse of international student or scholar)
– A letter of good standing from your school or sponsor
– The driver’s license of someone who has a full license and will accompany you when you drive
To prepare for the written test, you can study the Alabama Driver Manual, which is available online here.
You may also practice with some online tests, such as these ones (not official websites):
Option 1b: Get a Full License Later
After you have your learner’s permit, you can apply for a full driver’s license. To do so, you need to:
– Pass a road test that evaluates your driving skills and ability to follow traffic laws. The road test has no costs as of the time this article is published. You need to bring your own car for the test and make sure it is in good condition and has valid registration and insurance.
– No additional payment different from those of Step 1 as of when this article is published.
– Bring the same documents as in Step 1 (you need a new letter of good standing if the last one is more than a month), plus:
– Your learner’s permit
– The document and insurance of the vehicle you will use for the test
You can find more information about the road test here (not official).
Option 2: Get a Full License Once
If you want to skip the learner’s permit and get a full driver’s license right away, you can do that too. However, you need to meet some additional requirements:
– You must be at least 18 years old
– You must pass both the written and road tests as in Steps 1 and 2
– You must pay both the test and license fees as in Step 1
– You must bring all the documents as in Steps 1 and 2
NB: Having a driver’s license from your country and International Driving Permit might be helpful in some states.
NB: It is possible to have some challenges with getting your driver’s permit if you just renew your passport. You need to visit your nearest DMV office to get the document that shows the case number. These are the steps provided by the DMV office in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to a friend who had a similar situation after visiting the office.
- Go to: https://save.uscis.gov/save/app/client/ui/case-check and simply follow the steps below
- Agree to the privacy agreement
- Select the verification case number as the document ID
- Enter your SAVE Verification number (will be at the top of the paper given to you
- Enter your Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)
- Click “Submit” to check the status of your case
There are many reasons why international students or scholars may need a driver’s license in the U.S. Some of them are:
– You do not want to carry an international passport around as means of identification. Driver’s license can do that for you.
– To drive legally and safely in the U.S., as not all states accept foreign driver’s licenses.
– To rent a car for short-term use, as most rental car agencies require an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a U.S. driver’s license.
– To buy a car for long-term use, as most car dealers and insurance companies require a U.S. driver’s license.
– To explore the U.S. and enjoy its culture, nature, and attractions, as public transportation may not be available or convenient everywhere.
As I drop my pen at this point, let me say getting a driver’s license in the United States as an international student or scholar is not too difficult if you follow the options and requirements outlined above. However, keep in mind that driving in the United States may be different from driving in your home country, so make sure you familiarize yourself with the local traffic laws and customs before you hit the road. And remember, always drive safely and responsibly!
I hope this blog post was helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Happy driving
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