|
|
 |
Ice on Immigration: Driver’s
licenses under tourist visas
By L. Patricia
Ice, Featured Columnist
Question: I am visiting the U.S. on a B-2 tourist visa for 6
months. I would like to get a Mississippi driver’s license. How can I
do that?
Answer: Unfortunately, you may not be able to obtain a Mississippi
driver’s license. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety Highway
Patrol Driver Services office has a policy of not issuing a driver
license to some immigrants who are only here temporarily. The office
will not issue a driver license to an individual who has a B-2 tourist
visa. The good news is that, in general, in Mississippi you can drive on
a valid license from your home country for 60 days, but it must be
legible to an officer or translated into English. Furthermore, if you
have a Triple A (AAA) international driver license issued in your home
country, you may be able drive on your home country license after 60
days as long as it is valid. Be cautious about obtaining a so called
international driver license while inside of the United States. It may
not be valid; however, when using any international driver license, it
is always best to also have your valid native country driver license in
your possession. Mississippi driver license rules and policies for non
U.S. citizens change frequently and law enforcement agents and others
may not always be sure of what the rules and policies are. Right now
the Mississippi driver license rules and policies are in a state of
transition. To find out more about Mississippi driver licenses for non
U.S. citizens click
HERE OpenDocument or call the Mississippi Driver Services office at
601-987-1200 or 601-987-1206. Also, please keep in mind that each U.S.
state has its own policies on the issuance of a driver’s license. The
rules and policies in Mississippi may not be the same as in another
state.
|
Featured
