I've got three things needing renewal next year: (1) my US passport, (2) my F4 visa (which I'd just renewed recently, but which can never be valid beyond my passport's validity period—something to remember next time—and my passport lapses next year), and (3) my Virginia driver's license. I believe I can start the passport-renewal process this week if I want to because I now have definite plans for my residence: whether I keep the current job or end up free-floating, I'll still be at the same address. No moving to Suwon, no changing apartments inside my own building, none of that. So my address will remain consistent, which means I can proceed with all the paperwork I need to do.
As for my driver's license, well... if I'm planning to visit four places next year (David in NM, Sean in IL, Mike in VA, and Dominique in France... but I might put France aside for a different year), what I might do is visit Mike for a week or two in the late winter or early spring (March-ish) and crash at his place while I resolve the driver's-license issue. Only after I get the passport resolved, of course. Then, much later in 2025, I'll go back to Seoul Immigration to renew my F4 visa one more time—this time for its full, three-year term. It'll be nice to be done with that and not worry about it for a few years. (I suppose I could also try applying for a permanent-resident visa, but I don't know what paperwork that would involve. Stay tuned.)
So the chronology is:
2. March-ish: visit the US and get driver's license renewed
3. September/October: get F4 re-renewed (for 3 years this time)
I hate this sort of paperwork, but as long as I live overseas, it's a reality.
Stay tuned for more about how I'll be spending my 2025. If I'm out of a job, I've got a whole list of activities I want/need to engage in.
Do you really need your Virginia driver's license, though? I had considered renewing my NY license back in 2017, but when I went to the DMV I found that the process had become a lot more tricky and annoying, so I just said, "Screw it." Then again, the NYDMV is notoriously painful to deal with.
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, it hasn't made any real difference to me, especially since I haven't lived in NY for almost thirty years. I just get an international license (which is good for one year) whenever I need to drive in the States.
Oh... wait... do you have a Korean driver's license? I suppose if you don't you probably would want to renew your US license.
Would you say it's easier to just get a one-year international permit? Is the international permit contingent upon your having a US driver's license? I assume not, but I need to make sure.
DeleteIt is super easy to get the international permit. You just go to the police station with an ID photo and your current license and you get the permit right on the spot. There is a tiny fee to be paid, but it is on the order of a couple thousand won, maybe. A US driver's license is not necessary; I use my Korean license. In fact, I'm not sure if the Korean police would even give you an international permit with a US license. They might... I've just never tried it.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't have a Korean license, you should be able to get one with your current US license, as long as it is not expired. That's how I got my first license here. (I say "first" because that one lapsed and I had to retake the written exam here to get another one. Ended up with a perfect score on that and the proctor just looked at me and said, "Did you study for this?" Of course I did. But apparently nobody else does. I Learned a lot about Korean traffic laws in the process.)
Anyway, I'd look into it and see if you can get a Korean license. You might have to take an eye exam, but that should be it. No practical or written exam if you have a valid US license. At least, that's the way it used to be.
OK. So you need some kind of driver's license, US or Korean, before you can get the int'l permit. Thanks. If I get a Korean license with minimal effort by showing them my US driver's license, how long is the Korean license good for?
DeleteKorean driver's licenses are good for ten years. And then it's just a matter of renewing it. I don't know exactly what steps are required these days to get the license, but it shouldn't be too much of a hassle (although it is more than just showing them your US driver's license). I just did a quick Google search and there seem to be some blogs out there that outline the process.
ReplyDeleteOkay, thanks.
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