Beginning to get really PO'd

[Swoops1]

All paperwork sent 5/18 confirmation received same day. Called for status update a month later, said they didn't have my CHL-100 turns out they did. Called a week and 1/2 ago guy says everything together in process looks good said to call back in a week or so. Called back this morning lady says they have everything but haven't started the process. What is the deal? Said she would send an email to her boss. Guess we'll see.

[Jim Beaux]

All paperwork sent 5/18 confirmation received same day. Called for status update a month later, said they didn't have my CHL-100 turns out they did. Called a week and 1/2 ago guy says everything together in process looks good said to call back in a week or so. Called back this morning lady says they have everything but haven't started the process. What is the deal? Said she would send an email to her boss. Guess we'll see.

Unlax doc.....

Looks like you will be good to go soon.

DPS will make every effort to issue your license within 60 days of receiving the completed application packet. If the application is incomplete or requires additional information to complete the background check, you will be notified in writing.

http://dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/faqs/

[Sigma_85]

I would follow up within the next couple of days.

[Swoops1]

All paperwork sent 5/18 confirmation received same day. Called for status update a month later, said they didn't have my CHL-100 turns out they did. Called a week and 1/2 ago guy says everything together in process looks good said to call back in a week or so. Called back this morning lady says they have everything but haven't started the process. What is the deal? Said she would send an email to her boss. Guess we'll see.

Unlax doc.....

Looks like you will be good to go soon.

DPS will make every effort to issue your license within 60 days of receiving the completed application packet. If the application is incomplete or requires additional information to complete the background check, you will be notified in writing.

http://dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/faqs/

Trying to Unlax, it just when you get conflicting reports. We don't have CHL-100, well yes we do. The application is being processed and looks good, well no it's not.

[Charles L. Cotton]

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.

[Swoops1]

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.

Thanks Charles. I just have distrust when conducting business with a governmental agency. A few years ago I had an unpleasant to say the least experience with the DPS. Since that time a I keep meticulous records when conducting business with anyone. I write down Names, dates, times and purpose of the correspondence.

[Tylerscott20]

When i called the first time the lady told me that she couldn't see my chl100 because it had not been pulled from the rsd email at that time. Two weeks later the guy i talked to told me that they had everything and two days after that i was accepted. So when they start your application they download your chl100 you sent them into their server i believe.

[Swoops1]

Sorry Charles couldn't take your advice. Something just didn't feel right. I called today. After being told they had everything, and it looked good a couple of weeks ago then to be told it was pending yesterday, but couldn't tell me why it was pending. Turns out my CHL-100 which they have had since May was in an archived file somewhere in there system and they had been waiting for it. So sounds like it will be a couple of more weeks.

[Swoops1]

FINALLY some progress
5/8/2015 Submitted CHL Application on-line received confirmation
5/13/2015 Fingerprints
5/15/2015 CHL class, submitted on-line, received confirmation
7/14/2015 Status changed
40 Work days
61 Calendar days
Just so folks won't get too discouraged my CHL-100 sat in limbo somewhere in cyberspace for 6 weeks from the time it was submitted. Had I known I would have ask to speak to a processor the 1st time they said they didn't have my CHL-100.

[dale blanker]

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...

[jmra]

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...

Status updates were available for years but people started complaining because the updates were not "live" and demanded that the updates needed to be more current or removed completely. Be careful what you ask for.

[Charles L. Cotton]

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.

A DPS representative was at the Firearm Instructors Conference this past Monday and she noted that the average turnaround time was 19 days. Yes, there are exceptions, but that is the average. Since it is unlikely that any applications can be approved in less than 14 days, that means the 19 day average is not the product of a wide range of processing times.

FBI does not respond to noncriminal fingerprint checks in just a few days. They have been slammed with noncriminal background checks since the real id act went into effect in May 2013 (not sure of the year).

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.

The FBI can and does reject noncriminal fingerprints twice before doing a "name-only" background check if/when the third set is also unclassifiable.

Application status should always be available online.

Write your Representative and Senator and get them to add funding, a lot more funding, to the CHL program. That way they can hire 2 or 3 dedicated website personnel to provide real time updating of approximately 18,000 applications per month. Without the additional funding and more personnel, I suspect most applicants would prefer that available personnel process applications so they can get their licenses as quickly as possible.

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...

Really? Not only would this not help, I would hope you see a problem with private entities having access to this information that is statutorily confidential and cannot be released to anyone or any entity other than criminal justice agencies. What you suggest would violate Texas law.

Does DPS care? Yeah, they care a lot about this program and are constantly working to improve it without anywhere near the necessary funding. And yes, they also read the Forum and post occasionally.

Chas.

[mojo84]

It's interesting to me so many folks that complain about government agencies being slow, offering poor service and not being able to offer the latest whizbang technology are usually the same ones that complain about the CHL fee and their taxes being too high.

There is a balance to what we should expect and if we want Saks service, we need to be prepared to pay Saks prices. I for one, am willing to miss the updates and/or wait an extra couple weeks to get my license rather than pay more in fees or taxes.

Now, if we were to eliminate some of the other unnecessary and superfluous programs and shift some of that money to the CHL program, I am all for it.

[dale blanker]

FBI does not respond to noncriminal fingerprint checks in just a few days. They have been slammed with noncriminal background checks since the real id act went into effect in May 2013 (not sure of the year).

The FBI can and does reject noncriminal fingerprints twice before doing a "name-only" background check if/when the third set is also unclassifiable.

Write your Representative and Senator and get them to add funding, a lot more funding, to the CHL program. That way they can hire 2 or 3 dedicated website personnel to provide real time updating of approximately 18,000 applications per month.

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...

Really? Not only would this not help, I would hope you see a problem with private entities having access to this information that is statutorily confidential and cannot be released to anyone or any entity other than criminal justice agencies. What you suggest would violate Texas law. Chas.

When I received the 1st fingerprint rejection I proceeded to obtain the 2nd set, advising the fingerprint service that there had been a rejection and another sample should be done with greater care. The fingerprint technician did not have any idea what might have been the problem and promised to ensure the next set would be better. The second set was rejected anyway - still with no suggestions from the FBI or DPS as to how to correct. I was notified that a 3rd set was required but then waived when I complained - the 3rd set was never done. This is just plain inconsistent and inefficient.

My suggestion about UPS or others helping with status tracking was mainly facetious. The point I was trying to make is that this kind of tracking system is needed, not that UPS should actually maintain it. Higher efficiency can save taxpayers money in the long run. Maybe a change in DPS management will help and sufficient resources along with better procedures can be obtained...

[Keith B]

Maybe a change in DPS management will help and sufficient resources along with better procedures can be obtained...

DPS management is not the problem. The problem lies in funding and the manpower and resources available to process them quicker. Talk to your state rep and request they help send more funding to the program, that is what would help.