Yes folks, finally. After over six months wait I have received my driver license photocard. Bloody hell.

This sorry tale began back in November 2009 when I passed my California driving test. Then the wait began, which saw me losing my patience and starting a letter campaign. My final throw of the dice was a letter to the DMV’s director.

I’m happy to report that the latter did the trick. Last week I was telephoned by Brenda, a very helpful senior manager at Sacramento HQ. She explained to me the reason for the delay had been because they did not have my immigration status in the system. I was therefore not ‘legit’ until that was proven. Luckily, in my letter I had enclosed a copy of my permanent resident’s card. That did the trick. Brenda explained that that very day, my application was being finalised and she would be in receipt of my license by the beginning of this week. It was, and she forwarded it to me. I now am the proud owner of my California license, even if I do look like a thug in my photograph.

Hang on though. That’s not the end of the story. No sir. Now the post-mortem. I want to know why I had to write to the director to get any action. In my previous unanswered letters I expressly asked what the problem was and if I could supply any further information to help the process. I got no response. It was Brenda who finally informed me it was because they didn’t have all my information. See where this is going? So, my next letter to the DMV (in which I will thank Brenda) will also ask: If my record didn’t show the right information, when exactly was someone going to ask me for it? This was despite four letters from me offering up information.

*sigh*