TexasCHLforum.com

dale blanker wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:A common question I get from students is if and when they should check the status of their application. I tell them to check online to see that it's in processing about 3 or 4 weeks after uploading all of their information. Then don't check again until the 61st day. Most people get their license long before the 61st day and some have received them before checking the first time.

The only reason to check at all is to be sure the application is in the system and being processed, i.e. no glitch. There's no reason to call DPS before the 61st day and every reason not to do so. They have to process far more applications than they are staffed for and every call takes someone away from processing applications. I understand it's human nature to be curious and to want to know when the license is coming, but multiply your personal call by thousands and you can see the impact on the entire system.

Chas.

It seems like processing should take no more than a couple of weeks. All that's needed is to confirm that the fingerprints and the background check are acceptable. I worked at a county volunteer coordinating agency that would background check certain volunteer applicants. We received replies from online background queries in a day or two.

There might be a little more handling to getting confirmation from the FBI that the fingerprint records are ok. In my own case there was some delay with the fingerprints and sampling had to be redone. The second set was also rejected and another re-do was requested. I checked with DPS for a reason the fingerprints were rejected again - why keep making the same mistakes over and over? They said they didn't know why the rejections and "never mind, two samples are enough and another is not really needed." Duh.

After I was told by DPS that everything was in order and the CHL was coming, it still took 5 weeks. Not good. Application status should always be available online. If necessary, DPS should get some help from UPS or FedEx or Amazon to automate status tracking and delivery projection. More efficiency and less handling will save time and money and frustration levels. I wonder if anyone from DPS cares enough to follow this forum...