TexasCHLforum.com

recaffeination wrote:Did I miss the memo that said new applicants could submit scans instead of original documents? I know some people do it, but didn't know it was officially supported.

Yeah, you missed the memo.

Chas.

jaybeau wrote:I'm not sure who is getting their CHL in 30 days. But here are my facts and I personally know of several others who have the exact same timeline as me.
I did the online registration on 1/17/2013. Fingerprints on 2/1/2013. Class on 2/16. Mailed in complete packet to DPS on 2/19 and received by DPS on 2/21. It is now 33 days for us and we are still getting the same message on the DPS website
'Waiting on materials'.
The other people I know are still 'Waiting on materials' when DPS has had them for 33 days.

The vast majority of new students in my classes are reporting that they receive their CHL's in 30 days or so. The best turnaround time reported to me in recent months was 22 days and the worst in the last year or so was 56 days.

Undoubtedly the huge increase in applications will eventually slow the response times and that may have already happened to some extent. (I usually teach only one class per month.) I don't believe that updating the website is a high priority task because it will take people away from processing applications. Plus, at the current volume, I don't know how many man hours would be required to keep each person's record up to date.

I understand the frustration that comes with a delay or glitch in the system that causes applicants extra effort. When that happens to you, you don't care about statistics or how fast others are getting their CHL's. It's your ox getting gored and your upset. However, please don't let this frustration prompt a condemnation of the entire DPS CHL division. Only a very few years ago, it was taking 6 to 11 months to get a license and it was virtually impossible to renew your CHL before it expired. It was so bad I was preparing a multi-plaintiff case against DPS. Things changed quickly. The DPS Director resigned, a new Director was appointed and he changed the management of the CHL division. Numerous changes were made by the new head of the CHL divisions and the improvement was both prompt and sweeping. DPS is doing a tremendous job overall, the few problem applications notwithstanding.

Chas.

CosmosMpower wrote:I'm not impressed with the whole DPS process to apply for this CHL to the point that I'm getting ready to just cancel my application. I was very thorough going through their checklist of items to send in. I scanned them all in and made sure they were .jpg and reasonable file sizes. I did the application online and then sent in an inquiry using the contact us page and attached all my documents. Fast forward 3 weeks later I get an email saying no attachments were received.

I then did the checklist again and double checked it twice and mailed in all my docs. 3 weeks later I check the status online and it shows all docs received, proceeding to BG check...great. Another 4 weeks go by with no updates. Today I check and it says I'm missing my proof of citizenship. I know for sure I included a copy of my valid U.S. Passport for proof of citizenship. I call and wait on hold for 20 minutes until I speak to some dummy that tells me they definitely did not receive it but they received everything else. He then told me that they don't even begin the BG check until they receive all docs.

He tells me to upload it using the contact us page again and it should take another month give or take to finish up the rest of the process making it about 3 months total. Why in the heck would the website show that they received everything for a solid month and then all of a sudden tell me they did not receive my citizenship documentation. Who is running this backwards ridiculous agency?

DPS is doing a tremendous job and is issuing new CHL's in about 30 days instead of 60 days as required by law. Obviously, with 15,000 and 17,000 applications a month, there can be occasional problems.

If you can't state facts without sweeping derogatory comments, then don't post.

Chas.