South Carolina Driver's License question

The South Carolina DMV's website has been offline now for months, and I'm not having much luck Googling for current information.

I - the American - will be at "home" in South Carolina next month for a holiday with my UK fiance. He doesn't have his visa yet, but wants to get his driver's license while we're there. (We will eventually be moving there permanently.)

The SC DMV has been under an intense amount of scrutiny for several years now over its incompetence. My local DMV barely knows what to do with the *American's* who are there. Since we hardly *ever* see a foreigner, I'm sure they won't have a clue what to do.

Does anyone on this forum know what the current requirements are for a foreign, non-resident to obtain a SC driver's license?

Cheers.

Someone- please help me if this is not correct but I do not think you can get ANY states drivers license unless you are a US citizen (or similar- you have a visa, etc.) If he has a drivers license in the UK, he is allowed to drive in the US- no problems.

Someone correct me please if Im wrong. This is just what I have heard from friends/family.

Ditto what ny_2_uk said.

I hate to tell you but he won't be able to get a one.  He must be in possession of an actual settlement type visa.  He can drive for up to 6 months on his UK license.  Once you ahve the right paperwork in place for him to immigrate then he can go and take the written and practical test. 

Are you planning on getting a finace (K-1) visa or a marriage visa? 

Ditto what ny_2_uk said.

I hate to tell you but he won't be able to get a one.  He must be in possession of an actual settlement type visa.  He can drive for up to 6 months on his UK license.  Once you ahve the right paperwork in place for him to immigrate then he can go and take the written and practical test. 

Are you planning on getting a finace (K-1) visa or a marriage visa? 

By the time we eventually move to the States, we'll be married and he'll have a spousal visa, so it won't be a problem then. It's just that we've been waiting sooooo long for my divorce to come through and I think his being able to get a driver's license would be "some" kind of forward movement in our journey.

He is, however, going to open up a bank account when we're home (have already checked all that out and he doesn't need a SSN for that; I've spoken with my banker), so maybe that will cheer him up.   

Cheers to both posters for the feedback

Yes..we did the bank account thing too before he came over.  We used it as intent to be a in relationship too when we filed our paperwork with INS.  So along with making him feel better it's not a bad thing to have for proof of realtionship!

Good luck and feel free to post any other questions!

Hiya,

I dont know your whole situation and this is not to alarm you but rather to ask you just to be cautious on your travels to the US. A word of warning - if either of you have any pending visa applications you should beware of travel to the US. That is - if youve sent papers off to INS in the UK or in the US, Immo at your airport of arrival have the power to deny your spouse/fiance entry to the US on the grounds that he may be trying to evade his current application.

Pending applications show intent to stay and settle in the US is there. Although its kind of a counter-logic, seeing as you've sent in the applications and shown that you want to do it the right way, immigration love to play god.

Just be carefull. Make sure if you DO have pending applications, that you take some proof of your return to the UK with you so that you can show Immo that you both have good reason to go back - like job, house, etc. If you can, travel before submitting applications.

I agree with the others about the driving thing - you've GOT to show youre a resident before you can take those tests. Sorry

Best of luck and happy trails,
Sarah