1- My cousin is visiting these days and he has a prescription from Pakistan for a nasal spray for his daughter that’s not available in Pakistan. I went to CVS yesterday and turned out that they don’t honor international prescriptions by law. It has to be a US based doctor prescription. My question is, how do people go about getting medicine in such a case if that medicine is not available in Pakistan? Would they go to a doctor here in US and get that on prescription? But then on the other hand a doctor in US probably won’t write a prescription unless he/she examines the patient first hand, which in this case is not possible since my cousin’s daughter is in Pakistan.
2- Pakistani authorities issue an “internation driving license”. Can that license be used on temporary basis here in US in case of someone who is just visiting US for few weeks like my cousin and need to drive? My guess is that probably not since US has its own specific laws etc and they make you pass couple of test (written and driving) before they give you a license to drive on the road. Has anyone gone through this or know someone who used such an international license issued by Pak here in US without any trouble (i.e. they got pulled over and upon seeing the Pak internation license the officer let them go).
If the spray isn't available in Pak, did the doc in Pakistan who wrote the prescription knew your cousin will be visiting US? Often, if the medicine isn't one of those pain killers that are addictive, the doctors let it slide without seeing the patient if they know the person asking for it well enough.
The driving license will work in a court of law, it might not work with a red neck police officer who doesn't know the law. Thats what the international adviser at the local Uni would tell you.
I dont know how much help this will be but there are many pharmacies now (CVS and wal-mart notably) that have a "Nurse Practitioner" available to do cursory exams and write prescriptions. Its inexpensive and quick. And it will be very useful if you have something in writing or even an empty container from the meds that you need.
As far as driving, I know that most ins comanies do not honor a pakistani driver's lisence. You can get an "international" lisence but I really dont know the details about this. When we were in that situation a number of years back, I called my insurance agent and he was so very helpful....so maybe give your insurance person a ring and see what needs to get done
1- My cousin is visiting these days and he has a prescription from Pakistan for a nasal spray for his daughter that's not available in Pakistan. I went to CVS yesterday and turned out that they don't honor international prescriptions by law. It has to be a US based doctor prescription. My question is, how do people go about getting medicine in such a case if that medicine is not available in Pakistan? Would they go to a doctor here in US and get that on prescription? But then on the other hand a doctor in US probably won't write a prescription unless he/she examines the patient first hand, which in this case is not possible since my cousin's daughter is in Pakistan.
2- Pakistani authorities issue an "internation driving license". Can that license be used on temporary basis here in US in case of someone who is just visiting US for few weeks like my cousin and need to drive? My guess is that probably not since US has its own specific laws etc and they make you pass couple of test (written and driving) before they give you a license to drive on the road. Has anyone gone through this or know someone who used such an international license issued by Pak here in US without any trouble (i.e. they got pulled over and upon seeing the Pak internation license the officer let them go).
Thanks.
You can use the driving licence till 1 year after entering US. I did the same. Just make sure that the licence has information printed in english else you have to go to a goverment recognized translater (librarian) etc to make it convert into english language.
I know people who just find a doctor they know in the US (usually another desi) who writes a new prescription.
I have heard the 1-year rule as well. I know that's what applied to my husband when he was driving on his UK license. But I don't know if it's only for specific countries.
your best bet, if you know some desi doc here, have this doc talk to your cousin's doc in Pakistan. Based on that the doc here should be able to write a prescription.
2- Pakistani authorities issue an "internation driving license". Can that license be used on temporary basis here in US in case of someone who is just visiting US for few weeks like my cousin and need to drive? My guess is that probably not since US has its own specific laws etc and they make you pass couple of test (written and driving) before they give you a license to drive on the road. Has anyone gone through this or know someone who used such an international license issued by Pak here in US without any trouble (i.e. they got pulled over and upon seeing the Pak internation license the officer let them go).
Thanks.
it depends on your state, most states permit intl. visitors to drive on intl. license for a year without any other tests, as long as they are visiting and are not employed in the state, in which case it is only 10 days or so. just make sure he has sufficient insurance coverage to drive whatever he is driving though. i've personally done this in california on an intl. drivers license.