Doing your drivers permit test in America!

[Azsara 110]

So I thought i would upload my story of how I went about doing my drivers permit test in Michigan (Americanism for the British Theory Test).

I studied my ####### off for it all day every day (have nothing else to do while waiting for my EAD!). I called the local office that the test takes place in, knowing that when I did my UK theory test theres a pretty long waiting list, and you have to make an appointment etc. the lady said "Nah just come in, make sure you have all your documents". Okay....

So I looked up online and found that I needed two letters with my name and Michigan address on, my marriage certificate, passport and Social Security number. I took my whole visa folder in the end. Once you have been in America for a couple of months, and try registering for doctors, dentists, SSN etc. you realize that nothing is ever straight forward as a non US citizen so just take everything.

Got there, and it was one massive noisy, typical government office looking room with a load of chairs and counters. We stood in the long queue and noticed one area of the waiting room called "Testing area'. My husband said, "gees, I guess that's where you take your test, hope its not too noisy". Im standing there a little dumb struck thinking I expected a private cubicle extra sanitary area like in the UK to take my test. We had been waiting in the queue for 10 mins or so and I had brought my notes for last minute revision. So I read through those a little.

When it was our turn the lady said "hmm are u adjusting your status?". My husband and I looked at eachother like here we go....gonna be another problem and another Can I talk to your supervisor kinda day. My husband said yes we are but we are still allowed to apply for a permit while AoS.

She said "okay ill let u take the test but we want to do some further background checks on your immigration status so youll need to come back in a couple of days to go ahead and collect your permit if you pass". Whatever.

So she handed me a very worn looking faded piece of paper and a pencil..... (I don't do it on a computer?) and told me just to go sit back next to my husband in the waiting room with my test sheet once its done. So I went to the "testing area" with all my stuff, Steve stopped me and said "maybe I should take your notes", I was like "Oh yeah..." the lady behind the counter didn't seem to care what was going on. I finished the test and went back to Steve and sat there kinda uncomfortably feeling like I was somehow breaking the rules or cheating. Steve could have easily adjusted my test sheet while we were sitting there.

I got called back up, she got a piece of paper out with the answers on and marked it in front of me! I stood there awkwardly watching until she says "Ok you passed, come back in a few days when we have your immigration information. NEXT!".........

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Heh Nice Job Michigan! I expected something similar here when my wife went in for her license (being that we are considered a backwater state). I was presently surprised. No lines, you push a button, a number is assigned and you wait in a very nice waiting area with a few televisions and cushy chairs.. The wait was about 15 minutes until the pleasant voice said "Now serving 421 at window 7" - and then window seven had a big blinking "421" over it.

The test was on a computer, you just select the language, take the test, and know before you get up out of the chair if you passed. There was an issue with some of the translations.. For example when doing measurements in feet it actually translated to the feet at the bottom of your leg and not a unit measurement...

One step backwards is that they no longer give the licenses immediately. It used to be you smiled, the camera took the picture, and a minute or two later your license popped out of a machine. They have outsourced the license creation - probably some politicians nephew with a card machine in his living room, good gig! So now it takes two weeks to get the physical license.

I thought we would be the last state to modernize. Whats up Michigan?

[van1234essa 11]

Oh wow really? I got my permit even tho I am just in the process of AOS. I needed my passport, I-94, ssn and I don't know what else. Oh yea marriage certificate and birth certificate as well.

I took the test in an excluded testing area with supervision and then had to get back in line to get my temporary permit right there on the spot that'll be valid until I get the photo permit in the mail. Got it in the mail a little over a week later without any problems. And that in New York!

I'm sorry you're having a hard time with yours

[nobbie 105]

You might want to wait to do the test itself until you get EAD as I did mine yesterday with EAD so licence is valid until it's expiry (one year). The when I get GC I go back and re new it. if you do it with I94 the licence will be valid until the I94 expiry. Thats in Maryland anyway. the theory test is a doddle, I did the online test and passed before I revised, so when I did it proper it was very simple. the actual road test I did yesterday, it's a joke, here. It took about 10 mins in total, 5 mins on the course doing parrallel park and reverse. then about 5 mins on the road.

[rjm_cmyk 75]

Yes - our local DMV sounds just the same. I'm going to do it next week when I can summon up the enthusiasm for the joining the queue.

What about the Social Security office though ? My local one was like a blast from my UK past. 1980's Thatcher's Britain with a few updated twists.

1) Being asked to leave all guns and knives in the car

2) Armed guard directing punters

3) The DOSS or whatever it's called has it's own Pinterest board - go figure

4) The usual nutter who wants to talk to everyone while everyone prays he's not going to sit next to them

5) The usual mixture of unfortunates and n'er do wells discussing their latest benefit scams.

[srvman 38]

I love Montana for so many reasons. But government offices is just one of them. I walked in, didnt have to stand in line, waited 5 minutes, had a chat with the woman, did the theory, passed that, asked if I could do the drivers test, she said sure im sure I could squeeze you in. Ended up driving round the block, before she said, looks like you have driven a few times, and I said yea, driving in a busy european city makes it easy in Montana. She seemed amazed by the fact that I was from a different country (I have a non accent), she said just drive back to the DMV, I asked how much the thing was and she said 48 dollars, and I said oh really I thought it was nine (I was looking at the wrong thing). She said no it is 48, but ill let you off this time and only charged me nine.

My fiancee was booked in later that day for her test (changing state licence) and was charged the full amount. I think it is definately an attitude test with Americans sometimes.

[Azsara 110]

Huh, I wonder why they gave me so many issues

UPDATE: I went back a week later, they said the check on my immigration status is STILL pending so they cannot issue me my permit WHAT THE HECK

This time the lady gives me a website to track the enquiry on and its www.uscis.gov/SAVE

USCIS???????

So as soon as me and Steve saw it was USCIS they were waiting for a response from we kind of gulped and wondered just how long we would be waiting for. As soon as I got home I checked my status, it said they have made a decision on whether I can have a permit and have notified the driving office. So I call the driving office, they say nope, still pending. I asked to speak to a manager who eventually agreed she would issue me a temporary one year limited license. *sigh*