Your valid foreign driver license allows you to drive without a supervising driver. You can drive on any street, road, highway, bridge, or tunnel, except in a DMV road test area.
Is your driver license printed in any language except English?
Yes, it is printed in German.
Then you must bring an International Driving Permit or a certified translation of your driver license to the road test. The translation must be certified by a consulate, the US Department of State, or another official agency.
This might be tricky, because my international drivers license is about to expire. What if I have a learner permit from NY and I don't have a valid foreign driver license?
The NY State law requires a supervising driver to ride with you. The supervising driver must be age 21 or over and must have a valid driver license to operate the vehicle that you drive.
And what should I do if my visitor status has been extended?
In that case  you must go to a DMV office with your updated paperwork from the United States Department of Homeland Security DHS. We will update our records to show that your Temporary Visitor status has been extended so you can renew your license. Your new license will have your new temporary visitor expiration date.
Will do. But let me clear one thing up: so, as long as my foreign drivers license isn't expired I can use it to drive in NY?
Correct. Your valid foreign driver license allows you to drive without a supervising driver.
And if my license is no longer valid and I only have a learner permit, I can't drive without restrictions anymore?
Exactly. NY State law requires a supervising driver to ride with you. The supervising driver must be age 21 or over and must have a valid driver license to operate the vehicle that you drive.
What a bummer, but no can do. So what if my visitor status is about to get extended?