Tuesday, January 30, 2007 ;
3:16 AM
Need to quickly share a joyous event!
Dh received his Tax ID no, called ITIN. So he went to the Dept of Motor Vehicles Licensing Div this morn to apply for the Driver's Privilege Card.
The good news first, he passed the theory test already and will be taking the practical (called driving skills test here) tmr. After this, he can settle insurance for our car and get it inspected then we can finally drive!
The bad news is, he realised he wasted 5 months of time applying for the ITIN and also wasting all that time and money taking bus to school everyday (3hours commuting time) and also the US$400 fine for not having insurance etc etc etc... And not to mention mental anguish, emotional trauma, troubling others to fetch us to buy groceries, to go airport fetch us and so on and so forth...
WHY?!? Cos for foreigners who are here legally with a visa, who have a valid home country licence, who do not have Social Security No or even ITIN, but residing in Utah (having valid proof of local address), CAN ACTUALLY apply for the Driver's Privilege Card.
He just found out... So apparently, the different depts from the Motor Vehicle Div and the Traffic Police gave him the wrong information! Apparently the above was a new provision in the Law that was passed in July 2005. So i guess it being pretty new, many were not aware of it.
At first we wanted to recall which guy insisted dh had to get ITIN first, call that dept or file a complaint to get compensation. Then we decided, forget it lah. Probably that guy did not know about it and transferred us to all the wrong people who were not informed or perhaps they thought dh belonged to the category who required an ITIN.
We're just happy he got it now. Also dh is saying we were also naive to just accept one person's words, should not be so trusting... In future, we must learn to be wiser and check out further sources of info even when someone tells us something. Cos Dh surfed a website to find out more info about the theory test last night and that website had the latest Driver's Handbook 2006/07 in pdf format, and within it, it was stated clearly, the part on the Driver's Privilege Card concerning foreigners here legally.
By the way, the theory test was super easy: 25 MCQs, no time limit and open book! Dh and I were studying the handbook last night diligently. Turned out there was no need to! He finished the Qs in 15min and checked answers using the book. He found one mistake, corrected it, and handed it in-- results were released at once -- 100%. He came home and told me I could take it the next day, no problem for sure.
I am relieved cos I was wondering how to finish studying with the kids bugging me all the time. Dh said people who went through the Singapore system would ace this. I recalled taking 2 theory tests 11 yrs ago, Basic and then Advanced right? Then there were so many MCQs and of all the questions we were only allowed 3 wrong answers or else we failed and had to take again, correct me if I am wrong. Dear students who are taking your driving now, pls tag and inform me of the procedures now. We passed on our first tries then also, but I remember studying very hard for it - won't waste time and money.
Good that dh is going for the skills test tmr, then he can tell me how it's like too. I am more nervous about that, cos they drive on different sides of the road, I am worried I will endanger my life and the tester's life by turning into the wrong lane -- head on with oncoming traffic!
Will update you all soon then. And those of you (I recall, was it Tianhan or maybe Shouyi 01S73?) who took the driving test while studying here? Tag or email me your experience, would be nice to hear. And Shouyi, how did you get your hands on the SSN?!?
rainbows every day, do not worry for the morrow
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