A Georgian driver’s license in the US: can it be used to drive, and does it work as ID?

The New York DMV says a valid driver’s license from another country, such as a Georgian one, lets a person drive in New York until that person becomes a New York resident. According to the DMV, a person who moves to New York and becomes a resident must get a New York license within 30 days. That takes a written test, a 5-hour course and a road test. Whether a bank accepts a Georgian license as ID depends on the bank. The CFPB says some banks accept a foreign passport.

This guide covers what the New York DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) says and what a federal rule requires of banks. It is about New York State.

Driving with a Georgian license

A visitor to New York: The DMV page says a person can drive in New York with a valid driver’s license from another country. The DMV says a New York license is not needed unless the person becomes a New York State resident.
A person who starts living here: The DMV says a person who moves to New York State and becomes a resident must get a New York State driver’s license within 30 days.

Getting a New York license with a Georgian license

A Georgian license does not replace the tests. The DMV page lists three steps for a New York license:

A written test.
A 5-hour pre-licensing course.
A road test.

According to the DMV, a person who passes the road test gives the foreign license to the DMV road test examiner. The DMV page also says a person does not need to be a US citizen to get a New York driver’s license, permit or non-driver ID card.

The DMV says that when a license is printed in a language other than English, an International Driving Permit or a certified translation is needed at the road test. The DMV page says a consulate, the US Department of State or another official government agency must certify the translation. According to the DMV, the translation must include the person’s name, date of birth, license expiration date and the vehicle types the person is permitted to drive.

Does it work as ID?

At the DMV. The DMV counts proof of identity in points. An application for a New York license or ID needs at least 6 points. DMV form ID-44 gives these rules:

A foreign passport is worth 4 points.
A foreign driver’s license with a photo is worth 4 points if it is current or has been expired for no more than 2 years.
A document in a foreign language must come with a certified English translation.

At a bank. Each bank sets its own rules. A federal rule says that for a non-US person, such as a citizen of another country, a bank must get one or more of these: a taxpayer identification number; a passport number and the country that issued it; an alien identification card number; or the number of another government document that shows nationality or residence and has a photo. The rule does not name a foreign driver’s license.

The CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency) says many banks want a US or state government ID with a photo, but some banks and credit unions also accept foreign passports and consular IDs.

For example, Bank of America says on its page that a foreign passport, with or without a US visa, works as primary ID, and a foreign driver’s license with a photo works as secondary ID. Bank of America says it does not require a Social Security number (SSN) to open an account.

Elsewhere. We found no single official rule on whether a landlord, an employer or another office accepts a Georgian license as ID. So each place decides for itself.

What banks ask for to open an account

A passport. Bank of America lists a foreign driver’s license with a photo as secondary ID on its page.
A home address. Chase says in its article that a person needs a document with their name and address, for example a pay stub, a letter or a utility bill dated within the last 60 days.
Money for the first deposit. The CFPB says the opening deposit is usually between $25 and $100.
The CFPB checklist lists two questions to ask the bank: what fees the account has, and what minimum balance avoids a fee.
Banks have different rules about the SSN. The CFPB says the identification number can be an SSN, an ITIN, a passport number and the country that issued it, or another government-issued number.

Key terms

Plain meanings, not legal definitions. The Georgian word is in brackets.

driver’s license: the document that allows a person to drive (მართვის მოწმობა).
DMV: the Department of Motor Vehicles, the office that issues driver’s licenses (მართვის მოწმობებისა და ავტომობილების სამსახური).
resident: a person who lives in New York, not a visitor (რეზიდენტი).
written test: a test with questions (წერითი გამოცდა).
road test: a driving test with an examiner in the car (საგზაო გამოცდა).
International Driving Permit: a document that goes with a license issued in another country (საერთაშორისო მართვის მოწმობა).
ID: a document with a photo that shows who a person is (პირადობის დამადასტურებელი დოკუმენტი).
passport: a travel document with a photo (პასპორტი).
SSN: Social Security number (სოციალური დაცვის ნომერი).
ITIN: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number; some banks take it in place of an SSN (საგადასახადო საიდენტიფიკაციო ნომერი).
proof of address: a document that shows where a person lives (მისამართის დამადასტურებელი დოკუმენტი).
debit card: a bank card for spending money that is already in the account (ბანკის ბარათი).
checking account: an everyday account where pay comes in and card payments go out (ყოველდღიური ანგარიში).
bank statement: a list of the money that came into and went out of an account (საბანკო ამონაწერი).

All words on one page: glossary (in Georgian).

Official links

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This is general information and not legal advice. Rules change. The current rules are on the official pages.