nervous about application procedure..

[Whisky]

.
my Wife and I started our process on-line, including the paying of the fees. we then contacted the "Morpho Trust " people and got our appointments for fingerprinting and photo taking/that's been done for the both of us. we're now scheduled for our classroom/shooting qualification the 10th of Feb (where, after which I presume we'll get certificates/paperwork showing completion of that phase..also "presume" we'll get further instructions about the "next step"

I've been reading about us, as individuals, putting together a packed of all this information and paperwork and sending it in ourselves - my question is..with the Morpho Trust people keeping the prints and photos how are "we" to check all is complete ?

do different cities/counties/chl instructors have different procedures ? after reading the "checklist" threads on this site I'm really confused

[The Annoyed Man]

They all follow the state's mandated procedures. A few of them, Crossfire Training in northeast Tarrant county for instance, are set up to take electronic fingerprints and passport photos at their location during the class, so that you are saved the added expense/inconvenience of having to provide those things for yourself. Some instructors that do this do may charge a little bit more for their classes (there is a HUGE investment in buy-in cost for the technology to be a fingerprint taker), but their fees will still be very reasonable since they have to be competitive with those instructors that don't offer those "value added" propositions.

Don't worry about being confused. Everybody gets confused a bit at first. It will all make sense after you've completed the process.

[Crossfire]

Whisky - all you have to do is log back in to the DPS website and check your status. It will show you what has been received, and what they are still waiting on.

However, DPS is not real timely in the updates. So, don't get all nervous if it takes a couple of weeks to show they have received paperwork, etc.

After your class, just mail in your completion form (CHL-100) with your barcode receipt from your application and you should be good to go!

[Whisky]

.
have been doing that periodically and the site says "awaiting documents" or something like that - perhaps I'm too anxious so will just keep checking

[infoman]

There's no point in checking your status, you haven't taken the class yet. After the class you need to mail in your class training form, CHL-6 form & your photos.

[TexasGal]

Crossfire, I thought DPS was allowing uploading of all documents now and using the DL photos? Just checking to see if you have had students do that successfully.

[Whisky]

There's no point in checking your status, you haven't taken the class yet. After the class you need to mail in your class training form, CHL-6 form & your photos.

another confusing "thing".. when we had our prints taken (Morpho Trust) the attendant also took pictures - but - the flyer from the place that we'll be doing our classroom/qual training say "they do photos"

another reason why this whole process sucks - nobody seems to have the definitive answers

[Longhorn-breeder]

The photo that Morphotrust takes is only sent to DPS to provide a secondary I'd for the prints it is not in place of the photos your class takes. You can submit everything on the site contact page. Don't worry about not seeing updates, I called and they are working on my background check but had not finished downloading the stuff that had been sent email. When you upload info via the dps site indicate you want them to use your drivers liscence photo and you don't have to send in the photos from class. They told me they have been behind on email and the site progress updates.

Patience it's the state!

[Crossfire]

Crossfire, I thought DPS was allowing uploading of all documents now and using the DL photos? Just checking to see if you have had students do that successfully.

Those that wish to use their existing DL photo have been successful in doing so.

I don't have any info on uploading the documents. Since DPS does not provide a direct link to do so (just the "contact us" email link), I am a bit wary of recommending it.

If DPS were to send out an update to instructors telling us what the approved, or recommended, processes are, that would be great!

[longtooth]

Me too. I have been asked about this tell my students. I understand it can be done. I dont know how. I have heard of poor document reception at DPS. If you are a computer whiz & want to then go for it. I dont personally know any Instructor that recomends it.

MANY of my students have opted for the DL photo. I have never had a call back from a student w/ a problem.

[jmra]

My wife and brother took their renewal class at the same time. Brother used snail mail, I scanned and emailed the wife's docs.
Wife's total process was 17 days shorter than my brothers.

When we did our original class all 3 of us sent our stuff in together and got our plastic within a day of each other. So nothing in my brothers background that would have caused any delay. It is just that much faster when you email the docs.

[Z0Tex]

I did the online route too. I did my online application, then did my finger prints the next weekend. I then took my class the weekend after that and sent all of my paperwork the following Monday. I gave it a couple of weeks to make sure everything got there. I was a bit nervous in hoping that the State had received everything. I was relieved when the online status showed that everything had been received. I was then addicted to checking my status on the DPS website every day for the next 6 weeks until my plastic arrived.