For those of you interested in obtaining a DL without having to submit a SS number, I ran across this;
Taken from;
http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/OIS/NewStud/ssndl/dlc.html
"You may apply for a California Driver's License at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You must first obtain a Social Security number. If you are unable to obtain a social security number, you will need to
obtain a "denial notice" (refusal letter, 676-SSAL) from the Social Security Administration, then return to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) so that you may continue with your original request for a driver's license. After you have passed the written test, you will have to show your social security number (or denial notice) and then, after passing the driving test, you will be given an interim driver's license valid for 90 days."
And then they have this to say;
"International Driving Permits (IDP)
Despite common misconceptions, the State of California does not recognize an International Driving Permit (IDP) as a valid driver license. Therefore, getting an IDP is a waste of time and money. California does recognize a valid driver license that is issued by a foreign jurisdiction (country, state, territory) of which the license holder is a resident.
The IDP is only a translation of information contained on a person's foreign driver license and is not required to operate a motor vehicle in California. Citations issued to a person in California who has an IDP, but does not have a California driver license will be placed on the Department of Motor Vehicle database.
Most international students receive temporary paper driver's licenses until the DMV receives a copy of your I-20 from the Department of Homeland Security. Unfortunately, some students experience extremely long delays in receiving their permanent driver's license. Some students graduate before ever getting their permanent driver's license."