Has any Dreamer been disallowed from taking the GMAT?

I was wondering if this holds true for any of you Dreamers:

Last May, I was applying for graduate school at University of Illinois. Most of good business schools require a GMAT score. So I schedule the test on June 9th, and I got all of my application material in and only thing missing was GMAT.

So I show up at the test center and show them my WA DL; they said since I indicated I was citizen of another country I have to have my passport or Green card. The last thing on my mind was having issue with my ID.

I read the bulletin it said: the following are the only acceptable forms of ID that you may use at the test center:
•Passport book*
•Government-issued driver’s license I was like "check"
•Government-issued national/state/province identity card (including European ID card)
•Military ID card

They flat out refused to let me test. I told them this was last chance before the deadline, June 15. I've been a resident of Illinois for more than half my life. My passport expired soon after my arrival. They just gave their customer service line, which was no help.

In the end I missed the deadline and my graduate application got rejected as incomplete. They would not refund the $250. I learned this GMAC company makes millions worldwide.

Here's the answer I got from their customer service:

"

Dear wrestleMgL,

I am sorry about the situation you have encountered. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to rectify this situation without the proper documentation. As you stated in your email, you choose that you are not a US citizen, therefore you were fully aware that you were testing outside of your country of citizenship.
As per our ID policy, if you do not present the proper documentation, as outlined in the GMAT Information Bulletin, you will forfeit your entire registration fee.

If you have some other type of documentation, such as refugee paperwork, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your situation.


Regards,

Shira S.
Customer Care Team
Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®)
1(866) 739-0238
+1(703) 668-9604
Email: [email protected]
Creating Access to Graduate Business Education SM"

I was like refugee paperwork? That's just condescending.

Now their bulletin states:
You are a permanent U.S. resident testing in the United States, in which case you may present a passport book OR permanent resident card (green card). For California Test-takers who are ineligible to obtain the GMAT required government-issued ID, must request approval for an identification exception. This request must be submitted at least three (3) business days prior to testing. For example, if you are scheduled to test on Monday, you will need to submit your request for approval no later than the Wednesday prior to the exam. To request approval, please contact GMAT by calling GMAT® Candidate Services at 1-800-717-GMAT (462 or by emailing [email protected] . Requests will not be accepted on the date of your exam, nor will the test center be able to make an exception without prior authorization.

I think they're taking notice, but why only Cali? We have Dreamers all over the country who will miss out on deadlines, specially opportunity to pursue graduate education. Calling in 3 days before to get authorization ? Who are they the ICE?

I wanted to share my experience to make everyone aware. I believe the opportunity to pursue one's educational goals should not be obstructed by some corporation that somehow has this required test; making ignorant rules, most of all being unfair to Dreamers who may not have a passport.

Ah man, thanks for letting us know. Wow, that's harsh and really horrible.

That sucks! how did you pay? If you paid with a credit card, with some credit cards you can dispute the charge or even report it as fraud...if you threaten with that they usually give you back the money....but this is one to know because I am in the process of getting ready to apply for grad school

First of all, Shira of the cutomer care team (buuuaaaahahahahaha . . . yeah right) can suck it!

This sucks. And, it is a load of crap. You should have been allowed to take the test because of your Washington driver's license.

Well, the best thing you can do now is look forward. See if you can get the documents that ETS asks for. If you are not allowed to take the GMAT again for some reason, consider programs that do not require the GMAT.

Man, that is just sad. I wonder if our I-766 can count under "other type of documentation"?

I agree with Smooth. Look for programs that do not require the GMAT. My university has a fast a track program, where we can start taking graduate courses in senior year, and finish our master in one year after graduating. Moreover, we are exempt from the GMAT if we do fast track. Boy, am I thankful.

Can you get a passport?

This was the same with GREs. You had to have your passport if you were testing outside your country of citizenship.

I ended up getting my passport renewed this year from our embassy in DC and took the GRE instead. It set me a year back in pursuing graduate studies. I hope that getting our SS numbers will enable us to take professional exams like CPA, CFA etc, also state professional licenses as well.

I disputed the CC charge and thankfully a Citi rep agreed and put them on the spot. Their customer rep was terrible so Citi credited the fee.