TexasCHLforum.com

Sorry I did not spot this thread sooner.

I became a resident alien on Jul 12 2013, when I arrived at George Bush Airport with my permanent residence visa. Although I had bought a house in Texas on a previous visit, 4 months earlier. On Jul 16 2013 I took possession of my first firearm which was a gift from my father in law. My Green Card did not arrive until Sep 2013, so I had a gun before I had my Green Card.

As a permanent resident with a Texas home address I was able to purchase and keep any guns and ammunition like any other citizen who did not have a CHL/LTC, according to the laws in place at that time. The Key factor here was having a valid Texas ID (Driver's Licence). With that I could and did purchase any firearm, while undergoing the standard background check like anyone else.

I obtained my LTC in 2015. In order to do so I had to submit electronic copies of my Green Card to the DPS along with my applation and Test Certification. I attended the same one day training and test course as any other LTC candidate and did the same practical shooting test. The was no other requirement and certainly no hunting licence (I have never held or applied for a hunting licence) I have no idea where that strange idea comes from.

What was interesting though I that I actually received my LTC more quickly than I expected and quicker than what was normal at that time. I think being an alien actually helped there. I was 63 years old when I applied but had only been living in this country for 2 years. Therefore I did not have much of a background in the US for people to check. As part of the process for obtaining my residence visa I had to provide Police Certificates from every country I had resided in for more that 6 months. I my case that meant Certificates from both the UK and German Police authorities (the German one was needed to cover the 4 years I spent in Germany with the British Army. So in one respect it seems likely that as a resident alien you may be cleared for your LTC more quickly that someone born in the US.