Hi it's a bit of a long story. On the 15th dec we took our son to get his learner s permit he is 16. At that point he had a L2 visa and i94, they let him take the test (he passed). Then told us they would have to send his paperwork to Harrisburg to be confirmed, they gave us a receipt. 3 weeks on as the letter sates to wait that long we heard nothing.
I called and was told couldn't do any thing for 30 days, called after 30 days Oh sorry 30 business days, called then was told the discrepancy dept would call me back in 3 business days, 10 days later still no call, called back oh another 3 days. Finally they called back and it turns out that they never sent the paperwork off!!! After digging further they were supposed to be sending it off because although the I94 said 2015 someone at homeland security had entered it as 2013!!, which had we have known this could have been changed very quickly.
However since applying our green cards have arrived so he now can't have it on his I95 it has to be on his green card, so went back with his green card to test centre, Oh cant do it he now needs a social security number.
Went to social security office can't have a number yet as its not in the system and could take up to mid feb to be in there.
We are so fed up of been messed about for a mistake they originally made. The top and bottom is they made the mistake they should issue the poor kid his permit.
Permit applied for 15th December 2012 still waiting
Green card applied for 12th December 2012, granted 19th January 2013

Can you believe it was quicker to get a permanent resident card to live here that getting a 16 year old kid na learner s permit, WHAT a JOKE
Thinking of seeing a lawyer so fed up and don't know where else to turn.

Sorry for rambling, don't think a lot of my us friends get it!!!

My son got caught in the middle of something similar. It's a real nightmare if you're in the middle of the green card process. They were also changing the physical appearance of the CA licences at that time, and there were 'problems with the machine'. I just remember spending hours on the phone to a 'resolution line'.

It seems you have to just wait it out.

Thanks, that's just how I am,
poor kid will miss out on a summer job he was promised because he won't be able to drive by then as have to wait 6 months after receiving permit before he takes his test!!! So they have done him out of income too. Aghhhhhh

That doesn't sound right - he's already passed?

Awful, simply awful but....

...have to disagree with that. They should "get it" because the ineptitude of bureaucracy is an equal opportunity destroyer.
Surely at one point or enother it's ensnared them as well
(small comfort for you or your son).
So again....one word: AWFUL!

Don't do that YET:
Follow up to prior post....
Your story is so awful it led me to wonder what I'd do in your shoes....

It looks like you're in PA.
Therefore why not contact him:
Barry J. Schoch, P.E., Secretary, Department of Transportation
Find him by googling:
Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation
Then get phone number/demand to speak to his office - highest person you can get on phone.
What you wrote here is perfect: it's factual, clear, brief and explicit
Get the email for Mr. Schoch
Send a copy of what you've posted here to Schochs office
Arrange a time with whomever you speak to - for you to phone back (a telephone date) in order to follow up
Get names of your State Senator and your State Assemblyman
Call them - identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak to the appropriate person who would handle DOT (Dept. of Transportation) matters
etc. etc.
Do the same email procedure described above
Show cc to Senaor and Assemblyman on all the emails
and even, if in the end, you do engage a lawyer - you'll have done some of the initial work and perhaps saved a few $$$$s

Hope this helps - or at least makes you feel less a helpless victim

State DMVs are infamous for their ability to make the federal government agencies look like a paragon of efficiency and friendliness.

That aside, I hope that something with the same end result will happen when my kid is 16. I see far too many crosses with flowers and garlands alongside roads where young new drivers have killed themselves. I'm hoping to keep my kid out from behind the wheel until he's 17 - I'll take every little bit of additional maturity that a year can provide.

Regards, JEff

Thanks for the advice MMcD I only had to take the first step and guess what we have the permit. It's amazing how quickly they move when you start throwing your weight about.
Will have a very happy son when he returns from school.
Thanks everyone the support on here is fab,

Hi lumsmum,

I read your email with a certain sense of empathy.

I am living in Allentown and am driving my company vehicle on a UK licence. I want to get my US license for ID purposes but was turned away from the test centre as I did not have a licenced driver with me. It felt quite ridiculous to walk away get in the car and drive off. My frustration is compounded that there is now a minimum 6 week wait for my next opportunity to battle with bureaucracy! I want the ID to lease a car for my fiance, who is on a B2, as she desperately needs some mobility. Then comes the process of getting her a license. She has no SSN, my local bank won't even put her on my own checking account, I am having a bit of a moan and I am sure there is a way through all this but its so frustrating trying to do things right, it like running through treacle. I wonder if we had been better off landing in Mexico and swimming across!!

Could you send me the process you followed to get some 'assistance' from Penn Dot officils? It might be useful as everything rests on licenses for both of us.

Thanks and hope everything else is going well for you!

Hi I understand your frustration.
The first thing you need to do is go to the social security office and if she cannot get a ss number they can issue her a letter with her name and address on stating she is not eligible.
When we first arrived we leased a car and were told that we could have the car with our uk license, but needed a state ID so had to go and get that. Check this out with car lease people and if that's ok you can go any day to get ID no waiting time.
For that its roughly the same if no social security number then the letter from them stating this, a copy of any visa you have to be here, not just your passport but any supporting paperwork that you have to go with it your passport.
A letter confirming your employment or studies here, make sure it's on letter headed paper they can be real sticklers, take your cheque book as they don't accept card payments. Birth certificate and any form that needs filing for state ID.
Once you have the ID getting a license is the same all the same paperwork. As for not having a licensed driver both my husband and I went together to take our test together, neither of us had a u.s license and we were never asked for anyone to be with us, the uk license entitles you to drive here no matter what so you shouldn't need a us license holder, there will also be a supervisor in the centre you go to ask to speak to them to clarify things and tell them to ring Harrisburg for double clarification.
Think the people who work there take pleasure in making people's lives a misery.
If you need more advice call pendot helpline don't explain to them just say you have a complaint and want to speak to a supervisor. Let me know how it all goes
Good luck I really feel for you ughhhh

I tried the 'help line' but no luck, the supervisor told me I must have a license holder with me or an international learners permit, oh, and they have no free appointments at present. So I have to wait for over six weeks for my next chance.

My fiance has her SSN letter but its interesting (frustrating) that you only needed photo id to lease a car. The Chevy garage told me that I must have a US drivers license. So much inconsistency and red tape aagghh!!

I will get a photo ID tomorrow and see if I can try other lease options. Did you get your lease direct with a dealer or with a lease company?

The drivers license is just going to take time I guess. Too much time.

How did you find insurance before your US license and after?

Thanks for your help.

Hi we got our lease car through a dealer, they were very helpful, we also have our insurance through 21st century, they were also really helpful and didn't rip us off even though we only had english licenses. Hope you get sorted, wish was a little nearer to be of help re driving test.
Paper work ughhhh

Did you have State ID? If they leased you a car without seeing State ID or a US license then I believe they are breaking PA law, as title registration requires one form of ID or the other.