Obtaining License

R

rulvis

Registered Users (C)
Hi there. Has anyone had as much grief as I have getting a license (and registering your car), while on TN status?!!! :mad:

I relocated to VA in March, on TN status. I have been to the DMV 3 times to get a valid license and to get plates. The short of it is that I think the person that I'm dealing with is incompetent (and her colleagues she's consulting with). I think I'm the first TN'er they've ever seen. Each time that I've been there she said that I will receive something in the mail. :rolleyes:

I'm pretty sure at this point I'm driving illegally, but I've had little time to spend at the DMV office. I realize it's at the critical point though, so I'm planning a little visit.

Any thoughts on what I should say to walk them through this - as far as what I need? e.g., Forms and documentation required for obtaining a license on TN status? Forms and documentation required to obtain a license plate, etc.? (Note: I completed the usual forms for applying for a license, I've given them copies of my passport/tn status, tn letter, etc.)

As far as registering my car, I may have a dilemma in that I didn't declare it at the border when I crossed into the U.S. (Didn't realize it would be an issue.) Getting to the Cdn/US border will not be an easy task. Any ideas around that?

Any guidance you can provide would be appreciated! :)
 
Since every state is different, general advice is always to print official info from the state DMV website. They very likely have detailed info on how to handle non-immigrants, new arrivals, etc. use these to hammer your points across. They may contain a majic code or two that the drones might recognize.

As to registering your car some states require proof of importation. Cdn ownership/registration papers don't always jive with the US notion of 'title' on a car, so you sometimes come up against a problem. To import the car now, you don't need to go back to the border, you can go to a Customs POE (proably near an airport). you'll need you compliance letter from the Cdn office of the carmaker.


Welcome to the US Civil service, which here are lower scale jobs (unlike canada -- and they are no great shakes there either) so don't expect miracles.

For example, bring them
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dmv141.pdf , circling what applies to you.
For titling:
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/vehicles/titling_imported.asp , which specifically talks about Customs forms I mentionned, and other forms..


But, hey, you have a TN, so I'm sure you had the smarts to look this up your self, right?, so I won't go on

All the best.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I moved to VA about 5.5 years ago from Canada and had no trouble getting my driver's license. If I remember correctly I had to show them proof of residency in VA (my apartment lease), SSN, and my passport. I was also required to hand over my Canadian driver's license. I bought a vehicle after I moved here so I didn't have to deal with any importation issues.
 
All states now have much tighter doc needs due to REAL ID act. maqny (including US citizens) who have had DLs for years are now having to scramble to get required docs. 5.5 years ago is medieval times in the DMV scheme of things.

He has all the info he needs to get this done.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks very much, guys. I will do as you suggest. Worth noting is that they already have all of the documentation that they need from me. I'll take it all again though, with the relevant bits circled, as you suggest.

Fingers crossed!
 
You might also try anothr office, perhaps close to a University (that's were more foreignrs are).
 
Near a university is a very good idea. Another possibility is an office near a large teaching hospital. The latter are always populated with lots of foreign interns and residents.
 
The license saga continues?

Alas! After 6 visits and 12 hours at the DMV I have my driver’s license! At one of my visits, I even managed to get my plates and title!

Now here’s the clincher (refer to previous message re: incompetence)…

When I got the plates and title, I was not asked for the customs or manufacturer’s information (I didn’t have it anyway). I completed the application, showed them my Ontario ownership, and stated that I didn’t have any liens. That was all there was to it. I, of course, kept my mouth shut. (After what it took to get the license, I was happy to not go down that road!)

I am, however, concerned about later implications of this.

Will I have problems crossing the border(s) with my car?

What will happen if/when I move back to Ontario and need proper documentation for ownership? I didn’t realize it at the time, but they kept my ownership papers. When I asked later, they said that I needed to surrender my ON ownership in order to get the title. Is that true? They said that when I go to Ontario, I’ll go through the same process as I did in VA, to get the Ontario ownership/title info.

I guess on a related note – I had planned to sell my car in Canada next year. Will I be able to do this?

The bottom line is that if I need to “fix” this, then I’ll have to do so soon – while I still have their direct line and know these people on a first name basis (sad, but true). I’d really prefer to not open this wound again, but if it will save me grief or jail time later, then I’d better take care of it. Now I understand what people mean about “going postal”!

Any guidance you can provide would be appreciated!
 
You are fine.

You won't have any problem crossing the border because you LIVE in US. Only those who live in Canada and try to drive a US registered car have troubles. All other combinations are fine.

As to proof of ownership, you have a 'title' document now, issued by VA, don't you? Or at least one will be mailed to you shorthly. That will suffice. Besides, Ontario will still have your car on record, and the current title will prove ownership.
 
That's the answer I wanted to hear! :D

Thanks nelsona! Your thoughts and wisdom are truly appreciated!
 
Me too I have good news...after 10 months I was able to have the CF-7501 fill by the CBP local office and my car and motorcycle have right now WA state plate. I will just need to do all the test for my driver license because they don't want to take my QC one. I don't think it will be too hard...it will just be bad to have to take personnal time at work for that.
 
nelson:
Did you mean to say that whenever "rulvis" have to sell his car in ontario, he can just visit the ministry of toronto office with his VA title of the car and he can get the Ontario ownership back?
 
Shyboy said:
nelson:
Did you mean to say that whenever "rulvis" have to sell his car in ontario, he can just visit the ministry of toronto office with his VA title of the car and he can get the Ontario ownership back?
Click to expand...

I don't see why not, although I wouldn't even think he would need to establish "ontario ownership". His VA title proves ownership, Period. Having been held previously in Ontario would merely mean that they don't need to open up a new dossier for that car: there is one already.

At the time of transfer they would take the VA title and simply register the car in the new owner's name.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top