DMZ to DMV = Not Cool

Tahra and I spent an hour and a half waiting in the Virginia DMV the other day (and that doesn't include travel time there and back). You see, in order to register a vehicle and get plates and all that in VA, you need to have a VA driver's license. So, we applied for a couple of those.

When you arrive, you check in with a person who makes sure you have everything you need and helps to direct traffic and gives you your number for waiting in line depending on what exactly you're there to do. She gave us the all clear, our application forms, and our numbers for waiting our turn(s).

In order to get a driver's license in VA, you need four (yes, 4!) documents to prove that you're eligible for such a "prestigious" ID.
The first thing you need is proof of legal presence in the U.S. -- check. We have our passports with us.
The next thing you need is proof of passing the driving tests -- check. We have our valid driver's licenses from MN.
The next thing you need is proof of Social Security (why, I don't know) -- check. Or so we thought. The documents we brought that had our SSNs were not acceptable -- mine were too old, and Tahra's government-issued ID wasn't good enough. Apparently only military IDs are.
The last thing you need proof is of address -- check. Or so we thought again. The lease agreement for our temporary place (which had name, address, etc.) was deemed unacceptable because it was for 39 days (why, I don't know). So the woman asked us for a utility bill -- but we don't get utility bills since everything is included in the package. Finally, she suggested that we go to the post office and fill out a change of address form. What?!? How is that more official? Anybody can go to the post office and make shit up when they fill out a form!

Needless to say, we left with no new driver's licenses, and no car registration.

So this puts us in a tough situation: we can't use the car until we register it, but we can't register the car until we have a permanent address, yet we need to use the car to move to wherever our permanent address will be.

So, I said "Fuck Virginia, let's live in Maryland." And we just might. We're going this weekend to look at a place in MD that has potential. Wish us luck.