Helen Cook

 CULTURAL CARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDS THAT AN AU PAIR GET HIS/HER AMERICAN DRIVER’S LICENSE.  (This is not a mandatory rule but rather “highly recommended”.)  AN AU PAIR HAS THIRTY (30) DAYS.  SOME PENN DOT CENTERS WILL ONLY ALLOW 60 DAYS FROM ARRIVAL IN USA - AND THE RULES VARY FROM LOCATION FROM LOCATION.   THEREFORE, AN AU PAIR SHOULD MAKE THIS “GETTING A PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER’S LICENSE (and Social Security Number in order to process the PA Driver’s License) A MAJOR PRIORITY!!  AN AU PAIR SHOULD DO IT AS SOON AS YOU HAS RECEIVED YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER WITHIN YOUR FIRST MONTH.  (PLEASE SEE “DRIVING IN PENNSYLVANIA” PAGE FOR FURTHER DETAILS.)

Basic Reasons For Obtaining a Pennsylvania Driver’s License:

1)  Host Family car insurance “might be less”

2)  Everyone feels just a little more comfortable that the Au Pair has “passed the Pennsylvania Driver’s Exam”

3)  Should the Au Pair extend for 6, 9, or 12 months — there is no problem getting the Pennsylvania Driver’s License that is required in the second year — he or she already has it!  (Less Stress!)

4)  Should the Au Pair need to transition out of Pennsylvania — especially to a state where the state requires a state license upon arrival to the state — meaning first arrival — the transitioning au pair hopefully can transfer the PA Driver’s License to the appropriate state license.

Au Pairs:

You may or may not be required to drive with your family during your Au Pair year.  Below are four sections describing “Driving in Pennsylvania”:

1.      “Who Is Required To Have A Pennsylvania Driver’s License

2.      Obtaining a Pennsylvania Driver’s License

3.      Choosing Not To Obtain a Pennsylvania Driver’s License

4.      Driver Training Instructors (No Personal Recommendation - Just A List of Available Driver Training Instructors)

BASIC RULES FOR DRIVING AS AN AU PAIR:

If you are required to drive:

• You need to obtain a Pennsylvania state license within two months (depending on PennDot Location - one month) of coming to the U.S. (Pennsylvania). Instructions follow.
• Driving is a privilege and can be taken away if abused, please follow the family’s instructions - and we will discuss this during the two-week orientation.
• Drinking alcohol and driving is against the law and can lead to serious consequences.
• Off duty you will be responsible for damages up to $500 per accident, but on duty the family is responsible
• Any moving violation tickets you receive on or off duty are your responsibility: parking tickets, speeding tickets, running a red light, reckless driving, accident tickets, etc.
• Tickets received because of missing paperwork or for maintenance of the car is the family’s responsibility
• Any rules the family sets for the car such as curfew, mileage, gas payment, etc. is to be followed.
• HAPPY SAFE DRIVING!!!

1.    IS AN AU PAIR “REQUIRED” BY PENNSYLVANIA TO HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE?

According to the Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, Pennsylvania Law does permit Au Pair to drive with a valid Home Country License and a valid International License for up to one year.   HOWEVER, several Au Pairs have received tickets for not having a Pennsylvania license.  Fortunately, all the tickets have been dismissed (so far) but only after spending a good deal of time at a hearing, etc. 

NOTE that German and French Au Pairs have reciprocity with the Pa. Driver’s License Agency and German and French Au Pairs can “turn over” their German or French driver’s license and receive the Pennsylvania Driver’s License without taking the written or driving test.  (An eye exam may be requested.)   Please note the various Au Pairs have said that it could be “expensive” to get a replacement license back in German or France - so please be sure that this is what you wish.

Please review “Obtaining a Pennsylvania Driver’s License” and “Choosing Not To Have A Pennsylvania Driver’s License Below for details.

2.    HOW TO OBTAIN  A “PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER’S LICENSE”

Reasons to obtain a Pennsylvania Driver’s License would be:

a.     The Host Family “might” be able to have cheaper car insurance

b.    Should an Au Pair decide to extend for 6, 9 or 12 months - Pennsylvania DOES REQUIRE A PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER’S LICENSE IN THE EXTENSION YEAR - and so it might be easier for to complete the extension if the Au Pair already has a Pennsylvania Driver’s License.

c.     Should the Au Pair “transition” to another family outside Pennsylvania - that “new state” may be one of the states that do require a “state license” from the beginning and, if the Au Pair does not have a valid “state (Pennsylvania) license”, there could be problems with transitioning to that area.

d.     Overall, the Host Family (and Au Pair) will feel confident that the Au Pair has passed the Pennsylvania Driver’s License requirements just as any other resident would do.

e.     Pennsylvania allows SIXTY (60) DAYS from arrival into the USA to obtain a Driver’s License.   Be aware that some “Penn Dot” Driver’s Centers allow only THIRTY (30) DAYS to obtain the license (it varies from location to location), so, if you a obtaining a Pennsylvania Driver’s License, you should begin the process immediately - as soon as you receive your Social Security Number within the first month.   Also remember that it takes time to make the appropriate appointment for the driving test!

Based on these experiences, Cultural Care recommends that an Au Pair does obtain a Pennsylvania Driver’s License.   Again, this is totally up to the Host Family and Au Pair - but it is recommended.

Previously, we said that an Au Pair should only get a PA Driver’s License if:

a)     the Host Family’s insurance company required it

b)     the Au Pair planned to extend and drive in the second year.

However, as explained above, lately there have been several incidents in which police officers were not aware that an International Permit was legal for driving in the US.  Thus, to avoid such problems, we are now encouraging all au pairs to go through the process of getting a social security card and driver’s license.

You must start the process right away because Pennsylvania will not allow you to get a driver’s license unless you are going to be in the U.S. for at least ten (10) months.

Follow these steps to obtain your Driver’s License in the state of PA.  After reviewing these steps, click on the PA DMV link.  This will give you the most up-to-date information directly from the DMV.

a)  Apply for your Social Security Number.   You will need the Social Security number to get your Pennsylvania Driver’s License.   Either follow the directions on my website for Social Security or visit the Social Security website.    You should wait at least TEN (10) DAYS after your arrival into the U.S. to apply for a Social Security number as it will take SEVIS (Immigration) that amount of time to update your immigration information into their system.  

During that “wait time”,  you should be:

 a)     Practicing driving with your host parents (if you already have both your home country license and your international license).

b)     Studying the Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual Handbook (located on my website)

c)      Practice the written test at this site

d)     Read the cartoons and take the mini-quizzes at this site.

B)  Get a Medical Physical Completed.   Print out this DL-180 Form and see a doctor to confirm that you are in good health.    Visit the “Find An Aetna Doctor” link on my website for instructions on how to find a doctor (or ask your host parents). 

C)  Open a Bank Account.   (At most banks, you would not need a Social Security Number - just ask for a non-interest bearing account) .. It is easier if you have a Social Security Number.   Ask the Bank to send you an official piece of mail quickly to your home so that you can verify your residency when you go for the Driver’s License.

D)  Visit a Driver’s License Center (Penn Dot Location) (See Locator on Right Side of Website)with the following items and apply for a driving permit.

• Passport
• I-94 Card
• Visa
• Social Security Card (or letter from Social Security Administration that the Agency did not make a decision yet or a SSA rejection letter)
• Written verification showing of employment (even though you are not “employed” - this letter would be available printed from your Host Family’s personal extranet “family” account. This letter is from Cultural Care and verifies that you are part of the Cultural Care Au Pair Program.
• DS-2019 Form
• Two (2) Proofs of Residency. One proof is to bring the person with you with whom you reside (a host parent) along with their Driver’s License or Photo ID to the Driver’s License Center. The other needs to be “official mail” (bank statement, magazine, etc.) that has your name and address on it. The address must match that of the person with whom you reside.

E)  Schedule Your Driver’s License Exam.    This test will be an actual driving test in a car.   Call 1-800-423-5542 to schedule.   Scheduling is usually done several (SEVERAL!!) weeks in advance so it is important to start the process early!!  Someone will have to bring you to the driver’s license testing location for the driving exam and you will use that car during the exam.

3.   IF YOU CHOOOSE NOT TO OBTAIN A PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER’S LICENSE.

       Who Needs A Pennsylvania Driver’s License?

 Foreign License Holders:   Pennsylvania honors a valid foreign driver’s license with an international driving permit for a period of up to one (1) year.   If the foreign license and/or international driving permit expires before one (1) year, the individual must apply for a Pennsylvania learner’s permit to continue to drive in this state.   All holders of foreign licenses must apply for a Pennsylvania learner’s permit if they wish to obtain a Pennsylvania driver’s license.   Reciprocity agreements exist with the countries of France and Germany allowing for the transfer of a valid non-commercial driver’s license without road or knowledge testing.   Vision Testing will be administered.  (Transfer of a driver’s license from France or Germany cannot be completed the same day)  (I would NOT recommend that a French or German Au Pair “give up” his/her home country license - it may not come back - but rather just get a Pennsylvania Driver’s License.)

According to the Geneva Convention, visitors are permitted to drive in the USA for up to 1 year with the following 4 documents: an international driver’s license, a home country license, a J-1 visa and a DS-2019 form.

Thus, you are ok to drive in Pennsylvania during your first Au Pair year - if you have a valid home country license and a valid international driving license!  (However, Cultural Care still “highly recommends” an Au Pair obtain a Pennsylvania Driver’s License.

All Au Pairs should be sure to have the following documents with them when they are driving:

• International Driver’s Permit. An International Driver’s Permit and a Driver’s License from your home country are required to drive in Pennsylvania. To drive in the United States, you must obtain an international driver’s permit (IDP) from your home country before coming to the U.S. The IDP verifies that you hold a valid license in your home country. The IDP serves as a translation of your driver’s license into ten (10) languages. It is your foreign driver’s license (translated by the IDP) that allows you to drive in the United States. Contact the automobile association or driving authorities in your home country to get an international driving permit. The United States does NOT issue international driver’s permits to foreign visitors.

• Home Country Driver’s License
•  Copy of J-1 Visa
•  Copy of DS-2019 Form
•  Copy of PA Driver’s Manual - Page 3

If you are stopped by a police officer and he asked to see your license, you should show him the first four documents.  The police officer may not be clear on the law - always be polite!  I suggest you make copies of all the documents and keep them in your glove compartment.

If the police officer tells you that you should have a Pennsylvania license, he is WRONG. You need to explain that you are NOT a resident. You are not a resident alien. You do not earn wages (you earn a stipend). You do not pay taxes. You do not pay rent (you are given room and board in exchange for childcare). You do not get any of the benefits that residents get. You are here on a J1 visitor visa for 1 year and that according to the Geneva Convention and Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle regulations; you do NOT need to have a Pennsylvania license.

 4.   DRIVER TRAINING INSTRUCTORS IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY. 

 Below is the list of the Driver Training Instructors I have located in the Lehigh Valley.   I know that several families have used these various instructors and I am NOT recommending any of them as each person has different expectations - this is simply a list of the Driver Trainers available.

• ABE Driving School, 1807 Chardonnay Drive, Easton  (610) 865-4100
• Advance Driving School, Lehigh Valley, PA (Website:  www.the ADSinfo.com   (610) 799-9909)
• Sears Driving School – 973-927-8336 — This Driving School has been used by several Host Families in our area.  Apparently, they do not have a direct servicer in our area, but — if you call — a very nice service representative assists you in setting up a “Driving Lesson” for the Au Pairs.
• Good News Driving School, 566 Hobby Lane, Bath, PA   (610) 759-3770
• Walter’s Driving School, Allentown, PA   (610) 366-0570

 I can say that I know Host Families that have used each of these Driver Training services - each family with a different opinion.   You should choose whichever feels most comfortable with the Host Family and Au Pair.