TexasCHLforum.com

Seems like this is my year to receive questions that I have never been asked before.
I met a young man from England who is here on a F1 Student Visa. He wants to buy a gun and get a LTC. Not sure what the law is on either of those. I know that permanent resident legal aliens can do both, but not sure about student visa holders.
Thanks in advance.

A nonimmigrant alien may not possess a firearm unless they satisfty one of the 18 U.S.C. 922(y)(2) exceptions. Conveniently, having a hunting license is an exception.

They also have to satisfy the same background requirements as a resident alien or citizen, despite what the DNC says.

So if my friend gets a Texas hunting license, he can then buy and own a gun? I guess he would have to first take a hunter safety course to get a hunting license?
Would that also qualify him to be allowed to apply for a LTC?

RossA wrote:So if my friend gets a Texas hunting license, he can then buy and own a gun? I guess he would have to first take a hunter safety course to get a hunting license?
Would that also qualify him to be allowed to apply for a LTC?

Lots of good info on this topic here: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=74717

This is directly from DPS: "They must be eligible as an non-immigrant and submit all required documents(US Visa, I-94, and a valid hunting license)."

Chas.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:This is directly from DPS: "They must be eligible as an non-immigrant and submit all required documents(US Visa, I-94, and a valid hunting license)."

Chas.

Well, since I am not familiar with how DPS defines some of those terms,
1. Is a student visa holder a non-immigrant or an immigrant?
2. How do you know if someone is eligible as a non-immigrant?

Yes he is able to purchase a firearm and get his LTC once he meets the requirements which are I-94 form, passport pages and hunting license. I am speaking from experience because I am here in Texas as a student on F1 visa and I have my LTC and have purchase a firearm before. This is information directly from the horses mouth.

Thanks, guys.

Killadocg23 wrote:Yes he is able to purchase a firearm and get his LTC once he meets the requirements which are I-94 form, passport pages and hunting license. I am speaking from experience because I am here in Texas as a student on F1 visa and I have my LTC and have purchase a firearm before. This is information directly from the horses mouth.

Did you have to take a hunter safety course in order to get a Texas hunting license? Just want to make sure I let him know all of the steps involved. Thanks again.

RossA wrote:

Killadocg23 wrote:Yes he is able to purchase a firearm and get his LTC once he meets the requirements which are I-94 form, passport pages and hunting license. I am speaking from experience because I am here in Texas as a student on F1 visa and I have my LTC and have purchase a firearm before. This is information directly from the horses mouth.

Did you have to take a hunter safety course in order to get a Texas hunting license? Just want to make sure I let him know all of the steps involved. Thanks again.

Every hunter (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete a Hunter Education Training Course. Proof of certification or deferral is required to be on your person while hunting. Minimum age of certification is 9 years and cost is $15.

If you were born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, and you are:

under 9 years of age, you must be accompanied. (*See definition of accompanied.)
age 9 through 16, you must successfully complete a hunter education course or be accompanied.
age 17 and over, you must successfully complete a hunter education course; or purchase a "Hunter Education Deferra" and be accompanied.

https://www.huntercourse.com/usa/texas/regulations.aspx

I was thinking that he would need to take a course, but wanted to be sure. Being an old timer, I never had to take one.

RossA wrote:I was thinking that he would need to take a course, but wanted to be sure. Being an old timer, I never had to take one.

No, he does not have to take the course. When I asked DPS about this the lady on the phone told me they don’t care about the hunters ed. You just need a valid license ...

IIRC, he can purchase a "deferral of Hunter Safety which is good for 1-year. After that must do Hunter safety to get a Hunting License. had to do that with my son when he came back from Iraq. Think the deferral is $10 or $15. Just easier to find a hunter safety instructor and get it done. many Instructors will work one on one--just need to look around. DPS and TPWD are different organizations that do not necessarily talk.

I believe there are online-only options for hunter education.