"Waiting Room"

[Griffin]

Application: 12/21/15
Fingerprints: 12/23/15
Class: 1/16/16
CHL 100 Received: 1/20/16
Contacted State Rep: 3/23/16
DPS Called to inform license was mailed: 3/30/16
Website Change: 3/31/16
Plastic in Hand: Still no plastic as of 4/7/16

Unless you live so rural that get your mail via carrier pigeon, this would concern me. I'd call to make sure it was actually sent and then follow up with the postal service. That seems like a really long time between status change and plastic. Most of the time it's 1-3 days, occasionally for, but 7-8 is in the "troublesome" range for me.

I called to check the status and I was told it could take up to 14 days...

[Mavs00]

Application: 12/21/15
Fingerprints: 12/23/15
Class: 1/16/16
CHL 100 Received: 1/20/16
Contacted State Rep: 3/23/16
DPS Called to inform license was mailed: 3/30/16
Website Change: 3/31/16
Plastic in Hand: Still no plastic as of 4/7/16

Unless you live so rural that get your mail via carrier pigeon, this would concern me. I'd call to make sure it was actually sent and then follow up with the postal service. That seems like a really long time between status change and plastic. Most of the time it's 1-3 days, occasionally for, but 7-8 is in the "troublesome" range for me.

I called to check the status and I was told it could take up to 14 days...

I suppose, but I've not seen it take so long. Well, good luck Griffen. Hopefully it comes quickly.

[Alpha_Raven15]

First Post, been lurking in the background.........must say this is a very informative forum.

Feb. 12 Submitted online application
Feb. 23 Finger printed
Feb. 24 LTC class and uploaded LTC-100 certificate (as per instructor recommendation also mailed it in)
Feb. 25 Conformation email
April 5 website status changed
April 6 Plastic in hand
April 7 Wally walk

[meyerch5]

First Post, been lurking in the background.........must say this is a very informative forum.

Feb. 12 Submitted online application
Feb. 23 Finger printed
Feb. 24 LTC class and uploaded LTC-100 certificate (as per instructor recommendation also mailed it in)
Feb. 25 Conformation email
April 5 website status changed
April 6 Plastic in hand
April 7 Wally walk

Sonnofa....

I mean, Congratulations!

Stay safe.

[meyerch5]

OK - I'm out. I can't see another February person get to the finish line ahead of me. I have connected with my State Rep again - waiting for a response, but I can't come back in here. Too frustrating. I'll come back when i am holding the plastic. See you all in September.

[ifpo238]

See you all in September.

I hope not. I got my plastic, but I'm lurking until my brother gets his. Same all in date, but he has no status change, nothing...

[AnnieVan]

I've been lurking and waiting... and waiting. I'm starting to see a few that completed their items after me and have their LTC already. I live in Denton County, so perhaps that has something to do with it.

Feb. 14 LTC Class
Feb. 14 Online registration completed
Feb. 16 Confirmation email that supporting documents received
Feb. 23 Finger printing done and confirmed
Apr. 7 Website still unchanged

[TexBman]

First Post, been lurking in the background.........must say this is a very informative forum.

Feb. 12 Submitted online application
Feb. 23 Finger printed
Feb. 24 LTC class and uploaded LTC-100 certificate (as per instructor recommendation also mailed it in)
Feb. 25 Conformation email
April 5 website status changed
April 6 Plastic in hand
April 7 Wally walk

Congratulations.
Another Feb applicant with plastic before me.

[mikezee1970]

Okay, wasn't going to post because I feel like such an idiot! Took my class 11/28/15, submitted paperwork 11/30/15, fingerprints 12/12/15. Thought I had submitted everything! On March 15, 2016, I finally got through after being on hold for 45 minutes to talk to someone after 2 emails were never answered. Seems that they didn't receive all my supporting documents! So, sent a pdf and then finally got confirmation email 3/15. So, here I sit waiting again I guess for an additional 60 plus days, but have no one to blame but myself. The lady did say that everything else was done. I never received an email or snail mail saying hey, we are missing something. So, I am checking daily, but so far no status change!

Same boat as you. There are a few others as well. I didn't wait as long as you did because I read a lot of posts that referenced a confirmation e-mail and I never received one the first time.

[politicalkidd]

Here is my LTC application timeline:

12/05/2015: Submitted LTC application to the TX DPS, through their website.

12/08/2015: Took required LTC class and passed. Received CHL-100 Certificate of Training Form in return.

01/08/2016. Had fingerprints taken electronically through a local IdentiGO center. After the fingerprints were taken, the employee said that they would send them off to the DPS. He also said that I would need to scan the receipt and send it in to the DPS to confirm with them that I did indeed have my fingerprints taken.

01/08/2016: Submitted all remaining documents to the DPS, through their website.

01/21/2016: Received an email from the DPS saying that they had received all supporting documents and that it would take up to 6 weeks for processing.

03/22/2016: It was past the “6th week” mark and I haven’t heard or received anything from anyone. I am at 61 days on this date.

03/22/2016: I tried calling the DPS in regards to my application. When I pressed “1” to speak to a representative about my LTC license, I received the automated message that they’re busy.

03/31/2016: I e-mailed the offices of two local state representatives and one state senator, concerning my LTC application.

03/31/2016: I received a quick response from the state senator’s chief of staff, saying that they’ll look into the matter and to provide them with any information that would help the process.

04/01/2016: I received a response from State Rep. #1’s office. They informed me that they had reached out to DPS and that their response was that: “applications are behind and there is a long wait. He also told me that “the DPS office pulls an application out from the stack and works on it, whenever an elected official’s office calls about that certain person”.

04/04/2016: I received an update from the state senator’s office again. This time, they’ve informed me that my application was selected and would be printed this exact day, and that I should receive my LTC in the mail soon.

04/07/2016: I check my application status online to find that my status has indeed changed.

Now, it’s just waiting for that piece of plastic…

Oh, State Rep. #2 has yet to contact me back…

- politicalkidd

[Gnamaree02]

SO...Looks like I'm going to be here awhile.

Call this AM: it's in background. Oh and you have something in background (I know. I disclosed the non disqualifying misdemeanor from 10yr ago) And a certified letter has been sent to you requiring additional info i.e. Certified Disposition. (And just great for me because it's in old records in NY, where they don't disclose misdemeanors if you only had ONE in 10yr: Misdemeanor Redemption!)

So now as I WAIT for post lady, who just leaves orange signature receipt in box rather than attempt to deliver, I'm twisting in the wind. And the NEW WAIT TIME Begins AGAIN!

OH..... That sucks sister. Sorry about that. Best of luck getting the documentation you need.

Yup thanks! I called NY and they said if I sent my request overnight with priority mail return envelope, I could probably have the Certified Disposition in a couple weeks. So down to the post office, with a red hot envelope in hand!!

[Gnamaree02]

SO...Looks like I'm going to be here awhile.

Call this AM: it's in background. Oh and you have something in background (I know. I disclosed the non disqualifying misdemeanor from 10yr ago) And a certified letter has been sent to you requiring additional info i.e. Certified Disposition. (And just great for me because it's in old records in NY, where they don't disclose misdemeanors if you only had ONE in 10yr: Misdemeanor Redemption!)

So now as I WAIT for post lady, who just leaves orange signature receipt in box rather than attempt to deliver, I'm twisting in the wind. And the NEW WAIT TIME Begins AGAIN!

Oh man that really sucks.....it's the stuff like that which makes me want to really pursue a challenge to the laws of Texas. Seriously it should be our constitutional right to carry. It the USA Constitution it does not say, "right to bear arms:with a license". I wonder if suing the state government would work in my favor?

And an 11y old nondisqualifying misdemeanor, that I listed on my app, shouldn't have been an issue. Maybe the squeaky wheel got more scrutiny?

[Gnamaree02]

Here is my LTC application timeline:

12/05/2015: Submitted LTC application to the TX DPS, through their website.

12/08/2015: Took required LTC class and passed. Received CHL-100 Certificate of Training Form in return.

01/08/2016. Had fingerprints taken electronically through a local IdentiGO center. After the fingerprints were taken, the employee said that they would send them off to the DPS. He also said that I would need to scan the receipt and send it in to the DPS to confirm with them that I did indeed have my fingerprints taken.

01/08/2016: Submitted all remaining documents to the DPS, through their website.

01/21/2016: Received an email from the DPS saying that they had received all supporting documents and that it would take up to 6 weeks for processing.

03/22/2016: It was past the “6th week” mark and I haven’t heard or received anything from anyone. I am at 61 days on this date.

03/22/2016: I tried calling the DPS in regards to my application. When I pressed “1” to speak to a representative about my LTC license, I received the automated message that they’re busy.

03/31/2016: I e-mailed the offices of two local state representatives and one state senator, concerning my LTC application.

03/31/2016: I received a quick response from the state senator’s chief of staff, saying that they’ll look into the matter and to provide them with any information that would help the process.

04/01/2016: I received a response from State Rep. #1’s office. They informed me that they had reached out to DPS and that their response was that: “applications are behind and there is a long wait. He also told me that “the DPS office pulls an application out from the stack and works on it, whenever an elected official’s office calls about that certain person”.

04/04/2016: I received an update from the state senator’s office again. This time, they’ve informed me that my application was selected and would be printed this exact day, and that I should receive my LTC in the mail soon.

04/07/2016: I check my application status online to find that my status has indeed changed.

Now, it’s just waiting for that piece of plastic…

Oh, State Rep. #2 has yet to contact me back…

- politicalkidd

If a call from a State Rep got my app moving, I would have know a month ago that more docs were needed to proceed

[TexBman]

Here is my LTC application timeline:

12/05/2015: Submitted LTC application to the TX DPS, through their website.

12/08/2015: Took required LTC class and passed. Received CHL-100 Certificate of Training Form in return.

01/08/2016. Had fingerprints taken electronically through a local IdentiGO center. After the fingerprints were taken, the employee said that they would send them off to the DPS. He also said that I would need to scan the receipt and send it in to the DPS to confirm with them that I did indeed have my fingerprints taken.

01/08/2016: Submitted all remaining documents to the DPS, through their website.

01/21/2016: Received an email from the DPS saying that they had received all supporting documents and that it would take up to 6 weeks for processing.

03/22/2016: It was past the “6th week” mark and I haven’t heard or received anything from anyone. I am at 61 days on this date.

03/22/2016: I tried calling the DPS in regards to my application. When I pressed “1” to speak to a representative about my LTC license, I received the automated message that they’re busy.

03/31/2016: I e-mailed the offices of two local state representatives and one state senator, concerning my LTC application.

03/31/2016: I received a quick response from the state senator’s chief of staff, saying that they’ll look into the matter and to provide them with any information that would help the process.

04/01/2016: I received a response from State Rep. #1’s office. They informed me that they had reached out to DPS and that their response was that: “applications are behind and there is a long wait. He also told me that “the DPS office pulls an application out from the stack and works on it, whenever an elected official’s office calls about that certain person”.

04/04/2016: I received an update from the state senator’s office again. This time, they’ve informed me that my application was selected and would be printed this exact day, and that I should receive my LTC in the mail soon.

04/07/2016: I check my application status online to find that my status has indeed changed.

Now, it’s just waiting for that piece of plastic…

Oh, State Rep. #2 has yet to contact me back…

- politicalkidd

I am really not sure if calling the rep actually speeds up anything. A lot of us 1/21 folks had our status change today. I never contacted anyone except DPS for status.

[teuscher]

I submitted the following to all of the local TV stations for an investigation. Something fishy is going on in Austin ...

Investigation team,

I am writing regarding my experience with trying to get a license to carry a handgun (LTC) from the state of Texas. I experienced significant delays that extended beyond the timelines required by state statutes. In addition the Department of Public Safety (DPS) refuses to take phone calls or answer emails. I believe many others in Texas are suffering the same fate, and there is apparently no recourse for citizens who want to acquire a license to protect themselves, their families, and other citizens. I believe a story exposing these violations by our state government could lead to changes in the DPS.

Here are the specifics of my experience:
I completed my online application for LTC in December 2015. That included filling out the online form and paying the registration fee. I completed the required fingerprints the first week of January 2016. The fingerprints were submitted electronically to DPS. I completed my training course on January 30, 2016 and submitted my course completion certificate electronically to DPS on the same day (Jan 30, 2016).
According to the statute, the state has 60 days to review the application after all documents are submitted, or provide written explanation of any additional items needed for review. As of March 30th (60 days after submission), I had received NO communications from DPS. On April 1, 2016 I tried to call DPS using the contact number on the website. There was a recording that said that they were busy reviewing LTC applications and are unable to answer calls or accept voicemails. They suggested that application status could be verified online through the Regulatory Services Division (RSD). I visited the website and submitted a request for an update on my application. I received an automated email acknowledging the request, but I never received any status updates.
On April 6th, I sent messages to Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, Senator Jane Nelson, and Representative Tan Parker. My message requested assistance with getting a response from DPS regarding the status of my application. On April 7th (today), Senator Jane Nelson's office contacted me and assured me that they would follow up with DPS and get a response. A few hours later I received a call from DPS that my application had been reviewed and that I should receive my license in 7-10 days.
I find it curious that my application just "happened" to be approved today. I am very concerned that the only reason my application was reviewed is because I reached out to my State representatives in frustration. I have a friend who had the same experience as I did. As soon as he complained to Senator Nelson, his application was magically reviewed and approved.
I believe that there are serious problems with the LTC division of DPS, and that these issues should be exposed. How many Texans are waiting for their LTC and their applications are not being reviewed because they don't call their State Senator? This appears to be a systemic abuse of citizens rights and failure of government to follow statute-mandated timelines.

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