Today was my first run in with American government offices as well as other institutions. The best place to start is probably with the visit to the Social Security Office. Everything in America is dependent on having a social security number (SSN), which is similar to a National Security number in England. A SSN is required to, be paid from work, get a driving license, open a bank account, get a loan, be credit checked, etc. Without one you simply don’t exist. So, I’m thinking this is going to be easy, i have a valid visa. Oh how wrong I could be. Not only is there a large form to fill out but after waiting for 30 minutes to see someone I was told,

“you’re not in the system yet, it could take 10 to 30 days for your status to be processed. Please come back when you’re in the system”.

How do I know when I will be in the system, is it likely to be 10 days or 30 days?

Just keep coming back every week, until you’re in the system

Is it only me, or does this sound a might inefficient? There’s no way for me to know if I’m going to waste an hour of my time every week (plus a few minutes of a government employee) or be successful. I guess since this is a requirement they just expect people to put up with it.

Now with that disappointment in the bag my I turn your attention to getting a drivers license. The California drivers handbook states,

When you make your home here or take a job and you want to drive in California, you must apply for a California driver license within 10 days.

Well, since I can’t get a SSN for over 10 days, then it is impossible to apply for a drivers license within 10 days. When I questioned this with both the DMV and Social Security Office their reply was simply, “that’s how the system works”.