+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ C h i n a N e w s D i g e s t +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ (US Regional) Saturday, June 4, 1994 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. No More Driver's Licence for Foreign Students in Georgia ............. 58 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _From: Wei Zhou , 05/31/94 Dear CND-US editors: Several Chinese visiting scientists were refused to be given a driver's licence test here at Atlanta. I contacted state agencies after they told me the incident. The State Officials cited a state bill effective this month. I was quite shocked because so many foreign students and scholars (F-1 and J-1 visa holders) will be illegal to drive in Georgia from now on. I called State senate this morning. The clerk at senate confirmed that there is such a bill. She promised me to send me a copy soon. Surprisingly, the bill was passed without much opposition, apparently most univerisities and foreign students' advisors were not aware of this development. I contacted International students' office at Emory University this morning. The lady over there is quite shocked and said there is nothing she can do at this time. She advised that students should contact university lawyers. Thank you for your attention. Wei Zhou, ___ ___ ___ _From: Wei Zhou , 06/02/94 Dear CND-US editors: Thank you for your attention to my previous message concerning foreign students' eligibility for drivers' licenses in Georgia. I have just received a copy of the Georgia bill which was interpreted officially by Georgia Department of Public Safety as excluding foreign students and visiting scholars. I checked the bill carefully and found that it indicates that "aliens presumed to be residing in the United States under the color of law" would be eligible for drivers' license. According to my lawyer, J-1 and F-1 holders may be considered as legal residents. She thinks the department of Public Safety is incorrectly interpreating the law. Now, it is up to Chinese students here to challenge the Public Safety department's mis-interpretation of the law. I hope it would not be necessary to file a law suit against Georgia's Department of Public Safety because it could be very expensive. Thank you for your attention. Wei Zhou,