US Driver
Moving to New York: exchanging your driver license
Time limit: DMV says that if you become a New York State resident, you must get a New York driver license within 30 days. The rule is the same for licenses from other states and from other countries.
From another US state, territory, federal district (Washington, DC) or a Canadian province: you take a vision test and do not take the written or road test. DMV's exchange page says this applies if your license has a photo, is valid or expired less than 24 months ago, and was issued at least 6 months ago. Otherwise you apply as a new driver. The Driver's Manual (Chapter 1) gives a different expiry limit: it says the tests are needed if the license expired more than one year ago.
From another country (Canada excepted): DMV's web pages name only Canada as a place whose licenses can be exchanged. A license from any other country, including mainland China, is treated as a new application. You must pass the vision test, take the 5-hour pre-licensing course, pass the written test and pass the road test. DMV's page on drivers from other countries lists the written test, the 5-hour course and the road test, and does not mention the vision test. The foreign license is surrendered to the examiner after you pass.
DMV's page on drivers from other countries does not mention any credit for years of driving abroad; it does not say the written test, the 5-hour course or the road test can be skipped. If you hold a valid foreign license and a New York learner permit, that page says the foreign license lets you drive without a supervising driver (not in a DMV road test area); a learner permit holder without a valid foreign license must have a supervising driver aged 21 or over. If you are under 18 and hold a license from a country other than Canada, DMV says you are not eligible to transfer it.
Translation: if your license is not in English, bring an International Driving Permit or a certified translation to the road test. The translation must be certified by a consulate, the US Department of State or another official government agency, and must show your name, date of birth, expiry date and the vehicle types allowed. Documents in other languages that you use as proof of identity also need a certified English translation.
A 2023 state law allows DMV to make agreements with other countries so that their licenses can be exchanged, but no DMV page we read names a country with such an agreement.