Anyone know where I can get a cheap embosser? While lining up next week's trip to the DOT for soon-to-be 15yo ds's permit, I asked what we needed to bring with us. 1) Application obtained from Driver's Education signed by instructor. Check. 2) Official high school transcript or official birth certificate. Hmmmm. I don't really want to pay for an official birth certificate at the courthouse, so I ask what qualifies "official" for the transcript. She thinks a minute...."well, a seal." I ask, "A sticker? Like a sealed envelope?" She responds, "No." I ask, "An embossed seal?" "Yes." I told her we homeschool and that my transcripts would not include an embossed seal. She says they must and then asks why couldn't I get one from the high school since he took Driver's Ed there. Well, welcome to IL, Land of We-Don't-Have-To-By-Law-So-We-Won't-Issue-You-Credit-For-Classes-You-Paid-For. I explained that ds's instructor had to give me an index card with ds's percentage and grade for the class as he is not allowed to give him an "official" grade, either. So, anyone know of a good place to get a cheap embosser while I choke down extra bucks for a birth certificate?
So you need either a Birth Certificate or transcript? Wouldn't it be easier to get the BC? Cheaper, too, I'd guess. Since an embosser is costly. Another option might be a Notary. If something is Notarized it is stamped with an embossed seal. I'd call and ask if that would work. Notaries aren't very expensive.
I had to get my dd's bc a few months ago for this reason. We were able to get around the school paperwork with the BC.
This time I got a manager at the DOT...what was not explained was that the delima lies in using me to vouch for more than one bit of information. They will be using my driver's license as the parent to vouch for address and such. A notary is not accepted, either. Only transcripts issued by someone other than the parent. Either way, I'm thinking that an embosser will be a good idea so nobody questions the validity of our transcripts in the future. :roll:
It's crazy how things vary from state to state. All I needed was a bill to verify that my DL had the correct address and then I had to sign a form as her parent I think? She would have had her permit months ago if I had just had a real copy of her bc. I have copies done by a copy machine but lost her original somewhere along the line.
I'm trying to understand why you don't have or don't want to get his birth certificate. He WILL need that in the future as well, it just seems like a no brainer to me.
I was thinking the same thing. I'm surprised you haven't needed it until now. I had to get one for each of my boys before I could apply for a SSN for them. Which I've needed for a dozen other reasons (not the least of which is for their health insurance).
I put a call in to HSLDA. Sommer, it's the principle of the thing. They are refusing to take transcripts because they are issued by the parent. I don't mind having birth certificates on hand, but I've run out and they are $10. I'm already spending $20 for the permit and I don't have it in my budget to do much more than that. I will get a copy for ds's sake, but it is a bigger issue that needs to be addressed.
To clear up any confusion....we have birth certificates for our kids. I need an official copy from the courthouse in the county of his birth to present to the DOT. We've already run out of the several copies I used to possess.
At the beginning of this school year, we were doing traditional hsing. The association owner gave us the option of getting an extra letter designed for the dmv and also one the student could carry on them if they were ever stopped during school hours they could present that as proof of why they were out during school hours. I think she charged us $2 for this option. Why are places keeping copies of their birth certificates? I know here they just make a copy of the original.
An Embosser is going to cost you at least $30. And that's for a basic one with only your initials. I assume you'll have to create a seal for your school. In which case it will cost you closer to $60 (at least). The BC is still the cheapest option. I guess I'll be the odd one out here and say that I don't find this unreasonable at all. A drivers license is a legal document and they can't be handed out on a parent's word about age. If I want my child to drive at 14, because it's convenient for me for him to run errands, I could say he was any age I'd like on his transcripts. Then he could buy liquor early, buy tobacco early, etc, etc. Our state doesn't even have a transcript option for proving anything. You MUST bring an original copy of the BC. I don't see this as discrimination against homeschoolers as much as a convenience for non-homeschoolers.
I was wondering, too. I still have my original BC and never had to hand it over for anyone to keep. But I certainly am not familiar with all possible places that could need a BC.
I would never in a million years hand over my BC for someone to keep, if they want to see the original with their own eyes, fine, if they want to copy it, if it's someone I trust with it, then fine, but never have I ever even been expected actually to give over my BC for someone to keep. I have never heard of such a thing. I don't think it's unreasonable for the DMV or the state to require some proof of a kids age other than mommy's word (I have known way too many parents who lie for their kids, my neice at 15 is all pierced up because her mom lies and says she is 16 and then signs the 16-18yo consent forms :roll.
(It should also be noted that a lot of states, Missouri included, are now requiring you to present your BC every. single. time. you have to renew your license.)
There are other official options in IL like his FOID card (firearms owner i.d.) which is issued by the State Police and has already been varified. The DMV won't take it. The real issue for me is how IL law reads. Home schools are legally private schools and therefore given the same regulations and considerations. There is law on the books that provides for this. Because of that, they should not question the validity of transcripts I have issued just like they should not question transcripts issued at a Christian school to the son of the principal signing them. When he was in school, we had to hand over official birth cerficates. I can't remember why else. I know I bought 2 or 3 at one time and they have been divied out. I'm getting too old to recall those kind of details now. :lol:
About three or four years ago the Federal government, in a late response to 9/11, asked all states to tighten up their requirements for getting a DL. I do understand what you're saying, but my original thoughts stand: this is not unreasonable. It would be expected that the principal signing transcripts has at least some oversight (if only his/her own reputation or job on the line when people who know the child question why the are driving). And even private schools have to be accredited by the state to some degree. My son had to show his BC to get a fishing license but I would never in a million years consider that a valid form of ID for the purpose of a DL.
So what did HSLDA say? Yeah, get a birth certificate? Rachael needed a birth certificate to get her temps in Ohio, and her social security card.
I'm with Amie, and standing the "I don't think it's unreasonable grounds". The firearms card wouldn't be accepted from a public school student either, and really if it's a matter of age, I'm not sure I feel a transcript should be acceptable anyway. Think about it, if the child was advanced in elementry school, so a 8 year old who "should" be in 2nd grade was advanced to 3rd, come 9th grade that child is now 14 in a class of 15 year olds.. his transcript says he is in 10th grade, it doesn't say he is 14 years old. I'm also having a small problem with you saying you don't have the $10 to get another BC, but you have the money for the big increase in your car insurance, because it will most definately go up ALOT once he has his permit.
Here in NV we had to show an offical BC ( not hospital issued, so we had to wait 10 days and pay $12 for that) and SS card in order for my dd to take the test.. No classes are required to get permit but you must take one to get a license ( $60 for online , it will be accepted in the next state we move to also) and 50 hours of drive time ( 10 of those in night time). FYI- you do not need to have a PERMIT driver on your insurance only a LICENSED driver so you have a little time before you need to shell out extra money on insurance. we get a discount for having her take a defensive driving course ( show proof from licensed school) and for grades.
