DVLA about to hold my passport hostage!

I was quite confused when I was filling out my provisional application since being from America I'm not EC or EEA.  I called through to dvla and they told me since I haven't been here 2 years I need to go into DVLA and prove my identity, where they will sign the back of my photo and then they take my stuff(beloved Passport)  and send it on to Swansea.  He said since i'm not uk or ec or eea it will take between 3-6 weeks for my passport to be returned.  I told him that was ridiculous.  So my question is, how long did it take people who have applied, and was this the same for everyone.  Is there anyway to not give up your passport?  I hate sending my passport away, especially If I needed to go home in an emergency...  maybe this is a grievance... :\\\'(

What the guy told you is correct.  You need to have someone (a qualified professional -- doctor, shop owner, vicar, teacher, etc.) who has known you for two years sign the back of your photo.  Since you haven't been here two years, you can take your photo to the DVLA to have them verify it.  UK passport holders can have their passports verfied at a Post Office offering the service, but we have to send our passports to Swansea.

Not sure about the timing, though.  You might have it back much sooner than 6 weeks....they probably just say that to cover all bases.

yah, I called the DVLA about the provisional license and she told me that Have somebody at the post office sign and verify my picture. Also my renewed california drivers license will be taken away permantly, in exchange for my provisional license. So, since I just got here a month ago, Im not going to worry about it until end of the year to get one. Then go for my full UK license.

Also my renewed california drivers license will be taken away permantly, in exchange for my provisional license.

Whoa...can they even do that?  Your CA license doesn't belong to them and they have no jurisdiction over it..I would think that even if you got a UK provisional license a few months after arrival you'd still be able to drive on your American one until your year was up.  What have been other people's experience with this?

yah, I called the DVLA about the provisional license and she told me that Have somebody at the post office sign and verify my picture. Also my renewed california drivers license will be taken away permantly, in exchange for my provisional license. So, since I just got here a month ago, Im not going to worry about it until end of the year to get one. Then go for my full UK license.

Errr, have you read some of the threads about passing the driver's test? You may want to re-think your timing so that you are not without driving privileges. From what I've read, it's best to start working on getting your full license about six months before your year is up 'cause no one passes on the first try.

yeah, thats true. I was thinking of that as well. It very difficult here to pass them. Thanks..

Hmm... I wouldn't give them your CA license. I don't know why they want it. They didn't ask me for mine and if they did, I would have said I lost it!

Anyway, I just applied last month for my provisional. I gave my application to the DVLA on a Friday. I had my passport back that Tuesday and my provisional license the very next Friday. I was impressed! Only took a week!

There's no reason for them to take your US license. Don't give it to them.

My experience was similar to among_the_stars's. I got my passport back very quickly.

Im glad to hear that. I saw it on the D-1 form so i called them to ask and she told me that I have to give it up to them for the provisional. I was like no way cause I just renewed it and its good until march of 2011. I told her that i might need it when i go there to visit and so on. Thanks everybody. . So I will just give them my US passport and the pics. Do they give you those L plates?

They don't give you L plates but they're very cheap. I didn't buy any but I've seen them at Poundland so I doubt they cost much elsewhere.

Got my provisional two weeks ago. I mailed it off. Mailed it on a Friday and got it back the following Wed. had my provisional license on Thursday. It was super quick.

My DH travels a lot for work so finding a period of time that he can give up his passport is almost impossible. They told us that the DVLA office in Glasgow could certify a US passport (i.e. they wouldn't have to send it away). I'm sure there is a similar office somewhere in England.

I did not have to give up my Texas license - they didn't even ask to see it.

everyone's correct here- don't surrender your US licence.  i have my NJ one still and I use it as ID when drinking, or flying in the USA.

When I sent my passport it took less than 2 weeks to come back.  I enclosed a nice little letter saying I needed my passport for work, etc... could i please have it back very quickly...

as for L plates.  if you're still valid under your USA CA licence, you don't need to attach L plates to your car.  However, when you go to take the practical test, you need to have the L plates put on.

Good Luck

I was quite confused when I was filling out my provisional application since being from America I'm not EC or EEA.  I called through to dvla and they told me since I haven't been here 2 years I need to go into DVLA and prove my identity, where they will sign the back of my photo and then they take my stuff(beloved Passport)  and send it on to Swansea. 

This is correct - I have posted earlier about this.  My husband sent his passport in along with a signature on his photo and they sent it back saying you have not been here 2 years so you need to come in and have one of our DVLA people verify your identity.  This despite the fact that my uncle who has known us for more than 2 years and who has lived in London nearly all his life signed the photo.  So yes, you need to do this...or you can take your chances and send it in, but be prepared for them to send it back saying the above.

Now that being said, I am here on a work permit and on the advice of Carson (another poster), I had my photo signed by my HR person, sent in my employment contract, and it worked - I didn't have to have my identity verified.

He said since i'm not uk or ec or eea it will take between 3-6 weeks for my passport to be returned.  I told him that was ridiculous.  So my question is, how long did it take people who have applied, and was this the same for everyone.  Is there anyway to not give up your passport?  I hate sending my passport away, especially If I needed to go home in an emergency...  maybe this is a grievance...

It definitely does not take 6 weeks, but very well could take 3 weeks.  I think it was 2 for both me and my husband's application.  Don't worry - just send it in under the Royal Mail guaranteed thing and it will be fine, you can trace it and all.  I was very nervous about it but then just bit the bullet and sent it off!

You may want to re-think your timing so that you are not without driving privileges. From what I've read, it's best to start working on getting your full license about six months before your year is up 'cause no one passes on the first try.

You actually won't be without driving privileges entirely. I'm well past the one year thing and all it means is that I've lost the right to drive like a fully licensed driver - so technically now I'm supposed to use L plates, not drive on the motorway without a licensed driver, etc. If you get your license within a year of being here though you can skip all that. At least that's how I understand it....

I just sent off my passport, etc. via registered post about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I traced it and know they received it but no word back yet. All I can say is that I hope they study my visa stamps carefully. My FLR is only about 1 1/2 years old but there's a student visa in there as well. If they send back my photo I'll be well irritated!!!! Especially since a car lot in Watford is holding a car for me until the license shows up! 

Also my renewed california drivers license will be taken away permantly, in exchange for my provisional license.

It sounds as though someone at DVLA is trying to impose rules that don't exist -- Yet again!   I detest the DVLA bureaucracy and the way they think they can impose their own idea of how things should be. 

As for passports, I'm not sure I'd trust DVLA to (a) return my passport within a reasonable period of time or (b) not to lose it entirely!

If you are near one of the local offices around the country, you could try taking it in yourself to get it verified on the spot:

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/local/lo_map.htm