So, I've been wanting to update this more. Really, I have. But there has been one thing that has been plaguing me, consuming me, filling me with anxiety - the UK driving test. "Now wait," you say, "but you HAVE been driving around in the UK all this time. What ever do you speak of?" Welllll, this country being no friend to logic, gets to say, "Hey, we know you've been driving all this time, commuting to work, other excursions, totaling about 200 miles per week, on average. Sure, come here, fresh off the plane, and hop in the car, no problem! Have a go at it! Fumble about in the wrong-side streets, have several near-misses as you're getting used to how all these roundabouts work and what is proper lane discipline in them, drive down these awkward, tiny, so-called two way streets where there's so little space left on the road after all these parked cars are lined up that you'll just have to take turns with oncoming traffic for who gets to pass. But wait, what? You've been living here and driving here for a year now? Oh, no no, we can't have this. You are no longer roadworthy, no longer fit to drive on these remarkably safe British roadways. You are no longer allowed to drive on your US license once the calendar on your immigration date makes it's first complete cycle."
Ok, fine, UK - EU, you've all got this happy buddy-buddy thing going on, so coming from the EU you can simply exchange your license for a UK one. I get that. Open door policy on working, living, and driving. Fair enough. But then I learned that Canadians can also simply exchange their Canadian driving license for a UK one. What!? How is that fair? How is driving in Canada any different than in the US?
Fine, UK, you win, I'll play your game. What choice do I have? Well actually I did seriously consider "Well, how will they really know when I immigrated? How will they line up all the facts? There are barely even cops on the road pulling people over, they just do everything passive-aggressively with cameras and nice little notes/tickets being sent to your home after the fact. It would be unlikely I'd be actually caught..." It's not that I don't generally play by the rules, but when the rules are so backwards and illogical and hypocritical then "meh", little regard. But then the fear that I would be in an accident and the other party would claim whiplash (which is another national pastime here) and my insurance would be invalidated by my invalid license was too great. So, I waited until after 6 months from when I immigrated here, as I had heard you had to do before applying for a provisional license (UK's version of a learner's permit). Started the process early in June, giving me plenty of time before October 31, when my US license became null and void in the UK. And yes, no mercy here, I had to start all the way at the beginning - provisional license, then take the the written (theory) test, then take the road (practical) test. No credit or steps skipped for, you know, already being able to drive here. I fill in the form online, state that I have lived here for 180 days, pay my money (and yes, I will get to the total cost of the racket that is driving here) and wait patiently for further instruction. Weeks later I got a letter in the mail stating that I needed to provide more information, fill out the paper I was sent confirming my details (Hello Your Name at Your Address where we mailed this form to. Do you live at Your Address? Um... yes...), send in two regulation size photographs (no there is no convenient center to go and do all of this, it is all by mail and you have to supply your own photos), and oh, send us your passport so we can verify you are you, and plan to not have it for a month. What!? I have to surrender my passport? I desperately sought any other way to do this in person, but unfortunately there was none. The Brits have it easier, as they have some sort of digital passport, so they can simply enter their digital UK passport number and all the info is right there. But non citizens have to mail in their passport. Well... I had plans in Germany towards the end of June, so this simply will not do. I had to call the DVLA (the UK's registry of motor vehicles and licensing) and ask that my application be extended. And then there wasn't much else I could do until I returned from Germany. So, by early July, as soon as I returned, I mailed off the application, mailed off my photos, and reluctantly mailed off my passport. Got my passport back a couple weeks later, and my provisional license shortly after. Ok, first part sorted. Mid-June now.
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