| Author |
Message |
    
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 166
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 2:45 pm: |     |
Well, it is March so it is MVS time for me. You see, after September 11th the law was changed so non-resident aliens (like yours truly) receive a one year drivers license, and have to renew it in person with an INS-type interview. (I have a diplomatic visa and 3 years ago was promised this matter would be resolved for peeps like me. It hasn't been.)
I took the day off and went to the Wayne Regional "Service" Center at 10 am this morning. I can't even address the filthy inadequacy of that place, or the criminal activity in the parking lot, but customs search cubicles in Zambia are more pleasant experiences. We only have one car and I had to drop my 3yo first but I thought I'd be OK, timewise. I stood in line with my baby, outside, for 90 minutes at which point a very kind gentleman came out and said there was no way we would be seen today and to go to Eatontown. So I did. I arrived there (a much better place, generally) to learn that Wayne had no business sending us down there as they had exhausted all "numbers" for today by the time they opened. The reception clerk was very kind but told me I have to be there no later than 7.15 in the morning tomorrow to get a number in order to be seen sometime before they close at 7.30pm. So another day will be spent on this; my boss isn't thrilled; and my vacation is disappearing before my eyes. Fortunately, tomorrow my husband can walk the kids to daycare so I can leave so early.
I suppose I am selfishly venting but honestly, is there nothing that can be done about the MVS here? I have lived in other states and had nothing like this experience! And as a PSA - it is worth the drive to Eatontown, but get there EARLY. ;-! |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2424
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 4:07 pm: | |
Jeez, Eatontown is pretty far. Why do you have to go there?
My wife's driver's license and registration are still in NY. She decided to switch them over today. She went to the Irvington DMV and learned that they can't test her eyes there? Gee, why not? Last I knew, she was headed over to Newark. The folks in the Irvington office COULDN'T TELL HER how to get there.
I've heard other states make this quick and painless. That proves it can be done. I think the folks in NJ don't do it because they don't envision what it could be like.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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just me fromsouthorange
Citizen
Username: Jmfromsorange
Post Number: 201
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 4:20 pm: | |
can't this be done in springfield? i went there for a photo license. in and out in less then an hour (and that's total time from when i left my house until i got home) |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 499
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 4:22 pm: | |
I actually found the service at the Irvington DMV to be pretty good. Pleasant, too. (although the place was a wreck)
Springfield even closer, but they were closed that night.
And the hours on the web site -- ALL wrong (was in November).
Pete |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 167
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 4:51 pm: | |
If you are a nonresident alien, you have to attend one of the four regional Service Centers. Wayne is the closest one to us, but horrific. Eatontown is next. |
gj1
Citizen
Username: Gj1
Post Number: 20
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 5:20 pm: | |
I actually had good luck in Jersey City when I needed to convert from a NY to NJ license last year. In and out in about an hour.
I did my car registration in Springfield and that wasn't terrible, but took 2-3 hours. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2431
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 5:54 pm: | |
Two to three hours sounds terrible to me. In another thread not so long ago, some said that in other states, they can do more of this stuff in the mail. And when they have to go into the DMV, it takes minutes, not hours.
It took me nearly two hours to renew my license in Springfield a couple of months ago.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 272
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 6:44 pm: | |
Springfield DMV is great. If you get there at 7:30 am, they open up at 8:00 am. They got me in and out under an hour. |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 733
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 6:49 pm: | |
A few months ago I had the misfortune of having to go to Wayne to clear up some paperwork nightmare not of my making but of course my responsibility to fix... It was a disgusting place full of inefficient, unhappy functionaries. First visit - same as AKB I arrived with a 3 hour window - was told I couldn't expect to be seen within that time. Came back a week later at opening time and spent almost 3 hours moving from line to line to redeem myself from their bureaucratic snafu. Blecch! |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 168
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 4:14 pm: | |
Well, I got my license renewed today - the bad weather meant it wasn't as busy as yesterday. I was at Eatontown by 7.25 and was 12th in line - by the time they opened at 8, there was easily 100 people behind me, though. It still took several hours, but I am now good for another year (sob).
Thanks for your sympathy! |
Miss L Toe
Citizen
Username: Miss_l_toe
Post Number: 31
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 8:51 am: | |
I'm horrified at reading this thread...we're expats here and when we moved to the States in 2000 we were issued with the 4-year driving licenses.
Am I correct in understanding that all non-US citizens and green card holders have to go to a regional service centre and wait for many hours to get the next licence issued? I think I have heard that they will run in tandem with the visa dates as well?
I don't like the idea of going to Wayne at all. Where is Eatontown and how far away is it? Don't they have an appointment system?
It all sounds like a nightmare - it's bad enough having to get the visa re-issued let alone being treated like the scum of the earth just to get a driving licence re-issued.  
Made In England |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 138
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 9:12 am: | |
I'm having very bad flashbacks of the Wayne facility. I went there when I first moved to NJ from NY to get an NJ license. I swear I felt like I would end up leaving that place with lice or fleas or something.... It's a horrible, horrible place. It should be condemned. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2449
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 10:06 am: | |
Eatontown is 40 stinkin' miles away! See this map and set of directions: http://tinyurl.com/2nfn7
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 169
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 1:36 pm: | |
It takes close to an hour to get to Eatontown but it is worth the drive. Wayne is worse than visiting a prisoner.
Miss - if you already have a license, you can probably renew by mail without raising the visa issue. Nowadays, you would only be granted a one year license, which you would have to renew in person annually. Mine has my visa status on it in red letters. |
Miss L Toe
Citizen
Username: Miss_l_toe
Post Number: 32
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 1:52 pm: | |
Umm, akb - I will look into it when we get our reminders...husband arrived in the States a few weeks before I did so he should get a renewal letter any time around now. Actually our visas expire in April 2005 but of course you don't take your NJ driving test on the day you arrive in the USA...so it will be interesting to see if he only gets a licence which expires the same day his visa does. In my case, I would get an 8 month licence, then have to go through it all over again if/when our visas get renewed....yikes!
My friend was able to renew her NJ driving licence by mail, but of course you don't get a photo on it, and photo ID is invaluable in this country if you don't want to take your passport everywhere you go! However, she has a Green card so she just went to Springfield DMV to get another licence issued with her photo on. I pray that we are able to do that, but somehow I doubt it..
Made In England |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 5004
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 1:57 pm: | |
The rules may be different for citizens of different country. In other word our good friends and allies the British may get a pass on this while those cheese eating, toe sucking Frogs may not be so lucky.  |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 170
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 3:30 pm: | |
Um, no. I'm British. |
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