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Justin CHL wrote:Is it too late for DPS to rethink this? Maybe they could offer an incentive, discounted app fee, for those who go to an L1. On the flip side, maybe they could charge an extra $10 or $15 for those who still want submit rolled prints.

I'm all for streamlining and making the process easier for all.

While DPS can always change their policy, I don't see that happening. We had very good discussions about the logistical problems for people living in sparsely populated areas and the DPS has a plan to deal with that situation. I don't have permission to disclose that now, but if their proposed fix is implemented it should help ease the burden.

Another factor concerning rolled prints is the FBI's workload due to the Real ID Act. They are utterly swamped with non-criminal background checks and it's rumored that at some point they will accept only digital fingerprints, at least for non-criminal checks. DPS has to take rolled prints and scan them so they can electronically transmit them to the FBI. This not only takes a lot of time, scanning rolled prints often results in a very poor image; somewhat like 2nd 3rd generation faxes. Since we are approaching 450,000 CHL's, the additional workload caused by using rolled prints is simply not sustainable, if we are to have reasonable processing times. DPS was able to stop requiring fingerprints on renewals both because the FBI approved resubmission of digitized prints and because DPS was getting good quality digital prints from L-1.

Everyone including the DPS acknowledges that requiring digital prints creates some problems for some people and those problems must be addressed. However, the benefits are undeniable and I believe the tremendous improvements DPS has made in the entire CHL system proves the people in that division are dedicated to make the system work better for everyone.

Chas.

randomoutburst wrote:That means that in the future I'll have to make a 2-hour drive down to Dallas and probably have to take off work to do so. Lovely.

I understand that they want to streamline things, but it's incredibly inconvenient for applicants who don't live close to one of the L-1 locations. They need to expand their network if they're doing away with rolled ink prints.

If you have to take off work and lose money on a paycheck just to go get your fingerprints scanned, you can bet many people will be putting it off. Guess that means I need to start my CHL renewal process a year in advance just to make sure I can get everything done and sent off before I have a gap in my CHL coverage.

Renewals no longer have to submit fingerprints or photos.

Chas.

KC5AV wrote:There has been mention of requiring all FAST L1 locations to do prints for CHL. Not all do at this point in time. If you live in the Pineywoods region of East Texas, your only option is to drive to Tyler. I live in Marshall, and work in Longview. There is a FAST location less than a mile from my work place, but they don't do prints for CHL. I certainly hope that all locations will have to offer this service. Otherwise, this is going to be a major hassle for a lot of people.

If anyone knows of an L-1 location that isn't doing CHL prints, please get the address and any other identifying information for the franchise. Every L-1 location is required to do CHL prints.

Thanks,
Chas.