If there is anyone that is about ready to get the provisional drivers license, i just did mine today and i want to let anyone know what you have to do. Wait 185 days til you have gotten permanent residence. Get a application from the post office. THe application is free. The license Cost is 50 pounds. For us yanks, you do have to mail in your passport. DVLA will sign off on section 7 of the application . For the reason that many of us has not known anyone here in the UK for 2 years. Your spouse and your inlaws do no count in signing off on section 7.
For ladies if your passport and visa are still in your maiden name, mail off your original copy of your marriage license. They dont accept photocopies and if you dont include it, the name on your passport will be on your license. It costs 15 pounds if you need to change addresses or names after you have already spent the 50 pounds for the license. You do need a passport size photo. Go to the post office and there is a photo booth. Make sure that your passport photo fits in the size area of the application. Cost of the passport photo is 4 pounds and 20 pence. You must not smile in your picture. Dont wear glasses or hats. Only ones of the Sike faith can wear something on your head.
You do go in person to the DVLA office. Before you go, go to the Post Office and get an envelope . its for tracking purposes since you have to mail personal documents off. This envelope is silver colored and it cost 5 pounds and 5 pence. After that, DVLA will mail your application off and make sure that you write your check out to DVLA Swansea. DVLA will mail it for you from the office to Swansea. I was told to wait about 15 business days from the time it reaches Swansea. Your license should show up in the mail at your residence. You will be given a receipt that it is sent off and they have signed off on your application.
I hope that this will help anyone out that is ready to get a provisional license.