driving in UK with US license on spouse visa

shirleyb · #1 (**permalink**) 28th April 2009, 07:16 PM

I'm currently residing in the UK on a spouse visa. I'm American and my husband is English. I know that I can drive on my US license for 12 months but is it necessary to get a UK license? I arrived in August 2008 and I will be visiting the US in May 2009 for one month. When I return back to the UK, does this give me another 12 months to drive on my US license or does the 12 months start from the date that I got my spouse visa which would be August 2008? Eventually, we will be moving back to the US in December 2009 (at the end of this year) so I don't know if I really should bother getting a UK license for 4 months. We purchased a car in the UK and currently have international car insurance underwritten by a UK company because our stay is temporary.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

LITTLE LEO · #2 (**permalink**) 29th April 2009, 02:31 PM

Hi! I too am an american married to an englishman , and i have goent hrough this all in the last few months. The 12 month period regarding your american dl refers to the date that you first arrived in the uk, or the date that your spouse visa was stamped for the first time. If you are goign to be going back to the states in a fewmotnhs i don't knwo if it is really worth the hassell or the cash to get a british d.l. There is also the fact that when you go back home to the states, if your american d.l has been exchanged you will have to go through all that " wonderful" time spent a tthe dmv gettign a new american one! Just a thought. On another subject , can i ask you a question? Was it difficult to get your hubby over to the states? My husband can't wait to move to america but i am not sure about the immigration laws or if he has to get a green card? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
melissa

Fatbrit · #3 (**permalink**) 29th April 2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LITTLE LEO

On another subject , can i ask you a question? Was it difficult to get your hubby over to the states? My husband can't wait to move to america but i am not sure about the immigration laws or if he has to get a green card? Any advice would be appreciated.

How long have you been in the UK? I ask because it makes a difference to how long you will wait for your husband's visa to the US.

LITTLE LEO · #4 (**permalink**) 29th April 2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatbrit

how long have you been in the uk? I ask because it makes a difference to how long you will wait for your husband's visa to the us.

hiya! I have been here almost 2 years but he has obviously been here his whole life. We are not looking to move for another coulpe years but i thought it couldn't hurt to get more inof now. What do you think?

Fatbrit · #5 (**permalink**) 29th April 2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LITTLE LEO

hiya! I have been here almost 2 years but he has obviously been here his whole life. We are not looking to move for another coulpe years but i thought it couldn't hurt to get more inof now. What do you think?

So you can file the initial petition directly with the consulate and this shaves 3 months off of the process. The visa you'll want is the IR1 immigrant visa and the paper pushers take 6 months over getting their act together. Do NOT apply for a K3. The visa gives him permanent residency (green card) from entry with the right to live and work in the US.

As you'll have been in the UK for 3 years or more by the time this all happens, you should consider naturalizing before you leave. Then that's one of you who's finished with the visa malarkey and cost for good.

LITTLE LEO · #6 (**permalink**) 29th April 2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatbrit

so you can file the initial petition directly with the consulate and this shaves 3 months off of the process. The visa you'll want is the ir1 immigrant visa and the paper pushers take 6 months over getting their act together. Do not apply for a k3. The visa gives him permanent residency (green card) from entry with the right to live and work in the us.

As you'll have been in the uk for 3 years or more by the time this all happens, you should consider naturalizing before you leave. Then that's one of you who's finished with the visa malarkey and cost for good.

my spouse visa expires this september , 2 years to the day that i landed at heathrow, so we have plans to get my ilr ( indefinate leave to remain) then, but i refuse to give up my american passport. I think by the time we get around to thinkign about making a move we will definately leave enough time to allow for the never ending trail of paperwork. . . . Beurocrats!

will he have to have a job lined up laready and will he have to get a work sponsor?

Fatbrit · #7 (**permalink**) 29th April 2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LITTLE LEO

my spouse visa expires this september , 2 years to the day that i landed at heathrow, so we have plans to get my ilr ( indefinate leave to remain) then, but i refuse to give up my american passport. I think by the time we get around to thinkign about making a move we will definately leave enough time to allow for the never ending trail of paperwork. . . . Beurocrats!

will he have to have a job lined up laready and will he have to get a work sponsor?

You don't give up your American passport if you naturalize as a UK citizen. As far as the US is concerned, you're still a US citizen unless you formally renounce it in front of a US consular official. The same goes for your UK husband were he to naturalize as a US citizen down the road.

His sponsor is you -- and you'll either have to have income or capital. If you have no kids, the capital required is approximately $60k or a US income of $20k/year. It's more with kids. If you fail to meet the requirements, you can find a co-sponsor.

izzysmum04 · #8 (**permalink**) 29th April 2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirleyb

I'm currently residing in the UK on a spouse visa. I'm American and my husband is English. I know that I can drive on my US license for 12 months but is it necessary to get a UK license? I arrived in August 2008 and I will be visiting the US in May 2009 for one month. When I return back to the UK, does this give me another 12 months to drive on my US license or does the 12 months start from the date that I got my spouse visa which would be August 2008? Eventually, we will be moving back to the US in December 2009 (at the end of this year) so I don't know if I really should bother getting a UK license for 4 months. We purchased a car in the UK and currently have international car insurance underwritten by a UK company because our stay is temporary.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Hi, Shirley! You will still be able to drive on your American licence until August of this year. After that, it would be illegal for you to drive unless you have your full British drivers licence. If you are planning on moving back in December of this year, unless you absolutely positively need to drive, I wouldn't bother going to all that expense of lessons, and paying for the test, to only be able to drive for a few months. It is really difficult to pass the test without having driving lessons (which are costly by the way) over here. I have had my drivers licence and have been driving in the states for over 20 some years, but still needed the driving lessons over here. Most of my expat friends have taken lessons, those who didn't did not pass the first time around. They had to go through the expense of paying to take the test again, plus lessons the 2nd time around. Good luck in whatever you decide.

shirleyb · #9 (**permalink**) 30th April 2009, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by izzysmum04

Hi, Shirley! You will still be able to drive on your American licence until August of this year. After that, it would be illegal for you to drive unless you have your full British drivers licence. If you are planning on moving back in December of this year, unless you absolutely positively need to drive, I wouldn't bother going to all that expense of lessons, and paying for the test, to only be able to drive for a few months. It is really difficult to pass the test without having driving lessons (which are costly by the way) over here. I have had my drivers licence and have been driving in the states for over 20 some years, but still needed the driving lessons over here. Most of my expat friends have taken lessons, those who didn't did not pass the first time around. They had to go through the expense of paying to take the test again, plus lessons the 2nd time around. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Thanks for the advice. What would happen if I got caught driving on an "expired" license? Would they impound the car due to my license even though I have insurance coverage?

shirleyb · #10 (**permalink**) 30th April 2009, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LITTLE LEO

On another subject , can i ask you a question? Was it difficult to get your hubby over to the states? My husband can't wait to move to america but i am not sure about the immigration laws or if he has to get a green card? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
melissa

Thanks for the advice about driving in England. My husband already had his green card before we got married so I'm afraid I can't give you any advice on the immigration process from my personal experience. However, I used to work as a HR Manager in the US and dealt with lots of employees on work visas. If your husband gets sponsored by US company, then I can give you some advice on that. Thanks.