I first that all, I thank all those who were kind enough to share their experiences and ideas. Here is the latest with my ordeal with the CDL saga:
After finishing our school hours and passing the CDL road test, my school told our class to go and get the CDL license. I live in Macon GA, and the school is in Forsyth, Ga. some 18 min from my home in Macon. By GFriend had my car so I had to share the car with one of my classmates to a city they said would have no long lines like Macon GA. That turned out to be "Eatonton, GA".
Races in Eatonton:
Black (59.3%)
White Non-Hispanic (36.6%)
Hispanic (2.4%)
Other race (1.3%)
Two or more races (1.3%)
American Indian (0.5%)
When it came to my turn at the DMV office at Eatonton, Ga., the DMV officer, a young man in his early thirties asked me to fill an application, checked everything like vision etc. After that he asked for my work permit. I said that I gave him an unrestricted Social Security card and my driver license. He refused to budge and showed me a copy of a letter that states that non-citizens should have a work permit. I politely told him that I am a word authorized legal immigrant. " I have a bad news for you Mr. amazed2006, I will keep your file open so go get me your work permit." I did not want to make a scene and I Knew no one here in Eatonton unlike Macon Ga. I quietly headed back to the school with the rest of the classmates.
Back in the school I related my ordeal to the administration and told them that I will go try my luck in Macon GA. My Gfriend came. We sailed to Macon DMV.
In the Macon office, I met with no problems with the DMV. They opened my file and upgraded my class C license to a class A (CDL). I walked out and started making calls to potential trucking companies to get a job.
Next day at about 9:30, a call!. On the other end of the line was the secretary of the CDL School. "Hi. Mr. Amazed2006, we got a letter from DMV and they are saying you have got the CDL with false documents. Please go and see them and make sure someone else drives for you. If caught while driving you might go to jail."
I was very mad. used all kinds of bad word, of course not on the phone but after she hanged up, and headed with my GFriend to the DMV office.
After telling them what I was told, They seemed to be puzzled but acted professionally and took no chances on me. I got transferred to the supervisor. She asked me to sit in a secluded section of the office and asked me to wait while she makes some calls. I waited. One hour passed, and some more when she came and asked me if I wanted to wait longer or come back another time. I said " Mam I need my license so I have to wait until everything is resolved". "OK" she murmured.
After what looked like forever, she called me to her office room. She was on the phone. I could hear the dim voice of male on line. She did what that voice told her:
DMV officer: What is the school you took you driving lesson? Give us the phone number.
DMV officer: Do you have a Work permit?
Ans: I am work-authorized mam. Do you know what an asylee is?
DMV officer: No. Give me the SSN Card,
DMV officer: Do you have any immigration card that has your photo?
Ans: Well. I can get an expired card maybe.
DMV officer: Go and get it.
Ans: Here mam this is an expired EAD with 01/08/2006. But asylees don't need it. We are work authorized.
She went back to voice on the phone and came up with a directive.
DMV officer: Here is a piece of paper which has a phone# and Case #. Call this number on the 3rd of next month NO LATER OR EARLIER THAN THAT TIME DO YOU UNDERSTAND? tell them you case number after that.
Ans: Thanks mam.
I came out of the DMV office defeated, humiliated, suspected, and angry for no apparent reason that I can come up with other than what I said on my first post here. I am just waiting for things to work out by themselves!
I need everyone to give me his or her ideas, but positive constructive ones. Thanks to all of you and to this forum.
Your friend Amazed2006
