Driver License

In California, to get an international student driver license is somewhat easy. First of all, you have to make an appointment with your DMV office. The DMV is the Department of Motor Vehicles in California. There are three ways of getting an appointment: by phone, scheduling on the DMV website, or simply by going to the nearest DMV office. Each year, millions of people apply to get a new driver license or to renew their driver license. This means chances are; if you go to a local DMV office, you’ll at least wait 4-5 hours to start your process because there are always long lines in front of DMV offices.

If you apply on the Internet, you’ll get your appointment in 2-3 weeks’ time. Don’t forget that the DMV works very slowly in California. You have to be prepared for your appointment. 

Tip: Check less populated areas nearby and try your chance by visiting the office early in the morning.

1. A valid passport
2. I-94 document (this shows your arrival to the US on it, check this website to get it);
3. Your Form I-20;
4. Social Security Card only for J-1 Scholars (regular F-1 students are not required to have an SSN or work permit to get driver license in CA);
5. At least two residency verification forms (this may be any two utility bills like electric, gas, Internet or cable tv)

With these documents, you’ll fill an application form at the DMV office. If you have your international driver license, bring it with you too. The DMV officer will examine your eye-sight first. After this, they will take your photo. Don’t forget that this photo will be the same photo on your driver license. If you are someone who cares about their appearance, you’d better get prepared before taking a photo.

Then there is the written test. Written tests are available in most languages online but not all of them. You can choose to take the written test in your native tongue. If you are lucky, you’ll take a computer test; if not you’ll get a paper-based test. Never trust your driving abilities. Because some rules may be different from your home country. So you need to study before taking the written test.

After the written test, you need to make another appointment for the actual driving test, aka, behind the wheel test. 

Whether you are a fantastic driver or a formula-1 racer in your home country, you have prepar for the driving test if you want to pass the test in your first attempt. Most people do not pass the test in the first attempt. DMV officers in California take it very seriously and if they sense that you are new in the country, chances are you’ll fail the first attempt. So practicing the test route might be a good starting point.

After you pass the test, they’ll give you a “temporary driver license”. This is basically a printed document with no photo on it. You have to wait a couple of months to get your actual driver license. Because you are an F-1 or J-1 student who wants to get an “international student driver license”, your information goes to the DMV Center in Sacramento and to Homeland Security, of course.

If you have a very common name or a name that may resemble some people who are involved in suspicious federal activity, the duration of getting your driver license will be much longer than you expect. In fact, it may take several months, even up to 9 months.

Meanwhile, your temporary license only has a 3-month valid period. This means if you didn’t get your real driver license, your temporary license will expire and you have to go to the DMV to renew your temporary license. You can call the DMV to track your application status.You have to be very patient because the wait time for most calls is around 30-40 minutes.

In some instances, even if you are lucky enough to talk to a DMV officer, they may forward you to another phone number which deals with international student issues. So be patient again. Because the wait time is still not less than 30 minutes.

When you get your driver license, you may be disappointed because the expiration date of an international student driver license is very limited. If you take a certificate program, your license will not be valid for more than 1 year. If you are on OPT after your program, you may want to renew your driver license before applying for OPT.