A few years ago, my friend told me that I could get a Michigan drivers license if I change my Korean license to an international license. This was a few years ago, and I wasn’t sure if this was still the case.
There are two ways to exchange your Korean (You have to change it to an international one before you leave Korea) drivers license to a Michigan license. One is to go to Oiss, and the other is to get your own documents and going to the Secretary of State.
Going to the Oiss complicated things a lot, so I chose to get my own documents. I needed my drivers license, a copy of I20, a copy of my Visa and biographies page on my passport, two documents that stated that I am a resident of Michigan (it could be your bills that has your address on it or any other letter with your address), and a letter of ineligibility which I had to get at the Social Security administration office in Lansing.
After getting all the documents, I needed to make an appointment on the Secretary of State website, and I was done within thirty minutes when I got there. I somehow recalled my friend exchanging his license at the police station (MSU police), but was told that, when I went to them, that I had to go to the office of International scholars to exchange my license. (OISS) The process was initially confusing as there was no clear guideline. (there is a guideline for international students but the situation/process/requirement is quite different from Korean students with Korean international license) At the OISS, they told me that I needed a translator (has to be a professional translator or at least a graduate student) to translate all my documents, that I needed a driving test (it is not required for Korean drivers license), and that it will take a few weeks to be processed. (as I needed to find a translator and OISS will then have to submit my case to the Secretary of State)
Secretary of State is located near Brody neighborhood, but the Social security administration office is quite far, and you would need to take an Uber/Lyft. It is about $25 for Uber to get there, so it could be better if you go with a friend who is also trying to get a Michigan License.
No translator is needed, and you do not need a driving test to get your Michigan license. If you have a social security number, you do not need a letter of ineligibility to get your license. I hope you do not have to go through the whole campus, like I did, in the confusion of getting your license.
