Got a letter from DPS on Saturday..

[dws1117]

I was scared. It seems like it was way to quick for it to be the CHL. I was scared to open the envelope. I know of no reason why I would be rejected, but the dread was still there.

Good news. It wasn't a rejection but a letter saying that the application was incomplete. I have had a rejection letter from DPS in the past when I had applied for a job as a dispatcher.

It turns out that one the section of the application for previous addresses was incomplete. I had put the addresses of two of my previous residences but not the dates that I lived there.

The second thing was that I had not signed the photos. It was not explained that this was needed.

Well the correction will go out in the mail tomorrow. The wait continues.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I'm glad it wasn't a real problem. Send it by Certified Mail or FedEx, so you'll have proof when they get it.

Regards,
Chas.

[Greybeard]

Re: photos. Note instructions in packet say that both the applicant and person doing fingerprinting must sign the back of one of the photos (the one not in cardboard holder). Yea, it's sometimes a pain if ya have to chase down the specific individual who fingerprinted for their signature ... It's another safeguard - to get confirmation that those fingerprints belong with that face.

[dws1117]

It was only me who didn't sign. The LEO who did the fingerprinting signed and dated the pictures.

I am not complaining. If I had read the instructions thoroughly then there wouldn't have been any issue.

Oh well. The wait will be just a little longer now. Life goes on.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Oh well. The wait will be just a little longer now. Life goes on.

I'll tell a little story on myself. When my first CHL came in the mail (early 1996), I was working late at the office after having been in court all day for several days. When I got home, I opened the envelope, stared at the CHL for several seconds, changed into my jeans, and put my gun on. I put a coat over it (it wasn't cold at all), then headed out the front door.

My wife asked where I was going and I told her I was going to stand in the middle of the street. She looked at me like I was crazy and asked why. I said, "because I can, for the first time in over 120 years!" At that time, it had been a 16 year fight for me and I felt I had earned those 60 seconds in the street. Sometimes a little self-indulgence is understandable.

Regards,
Chas.

[dws1117]

Great story. I can see myself doing the same thing.

[Double Naught Spy]

I have had a rejection letter from DPS in the past when I had applied for a job as a dispatcher.

Just curious, the rejection in the past was for CHL or for being one of their dispatchers? If the latter, I don't understand the concern and connection. Just because you had received a rejection in the past for a job doesn't seem relevant. After all, since you applied to DPS for your CHL, you should be expecting correspondance from them. The letter could be any of three versions, request for corrections/information, rejection, or issued CHL. Of the three, two are bad.

[Walter]

The first two times I did all the paperwork for my CCL
(first time "original", and second time "renewal'), I did all
the leg-work myself. I took the required class at my gun
club for a small fee (30 bucks), and I took care of the photos,
the fingerprints, the notary, and all the rest of the paperwork
on my own.

The last time I renewed, I went to a class offered by a local
LEO. It was "All-Inclusive", and as far as I am concerned, that
is the only way to go. The instructor and his team, all LEOs,
provided everything. Photos, fingertprints, notary, and they
filled out all the paperwork as we went along. They made
sure every "T" was crossed and every "i" dotted. I don't see
how it could have been made any easier. My only responsibility,
really, was passing the written exam and the shooting test.
Piece of cake. Cost for the class? $75.00. Well worth it.

Walter

[dws1117]

DNS

I guess the connection, at lease for me, was that I knew that it was too early for the letter to be the issuance of the CHL, and the last time that I received such a rapid response from DPS it was a rejection notice. Although for different things, I associated a rapid response from DPS as a rejection.

[dolanp]

Cost for the class? $75.00. Well worth it.

Just curious, Walter, where did you take the class?

Thanks.

[Walter]

dolanp, I took it in Ft. Worth. I might add that the $75 fee
was for "renewing" licensees only. I think the cost for newbies
was $100.

Walter

[NcongruNt]

I'll tell a little story on myself. When my first CHL came in the mail (early 1996), I was working late at the office after having been in court all day for several days. When I got home, I opened the envelope, stared at the CHL for several seconds, changed into my jeans, and put my gun on. I put a coat over it (it wasn't cold at all), then headed out the front door.

My wife asked where I was going and I told her I was going to stand in the middle of the street. She looked at me like I was crazy and asked why. I said, "because I can, for the first time in over 120 years!" At that time, it had been a 16 year fight for me and I felt I had earned those 60 seconds in the street. Sometimes a little self-indulgence is understandable.

Regards,
Chas.

This is a great story. I think that when I get mine, I'll do the same thing to honor you and everyone else who made it possible for me to exercise my rights. :)

[kw5kw]

I was scared. It seems like it was way to quick for it to be the CHL. I was scared to open the envelope. I know of no reason why I would be rejected, but the dread was still there.

Good news. It wasn't a rejection but a letter saying that the application was incomplete. I have had a rejection letter from DPS in the past when I had applied for a job as a dispatcher.
<snip>

The wait continues.

I know your pain... all the way around!!!

I sent you a PM about this.

Russ - kw5kw

[NcongruNt]

I was scared. It seems like it was way to quick for it to be the CHL. I was scared to open the envelope. I know of no reason why I would be rejected, but the dread was still there.

Good news. It wasn't a rejection but a letter saying that the application was incomplete. I have had a rejection letter from DPS in the past when I had applied for a job as a dispatcher.
<snip>

The wait continues.

I know your pain... all the way around!!!

I sent you a PM about this.

Russ - kw5kw

You do know that this post is over 2 years old, yeah? I just replied to it because I thought what Charles said was interesting.

[KD5NRH]

It's another safeguard - to get confirmation that those fingerprints belong with that face.

Then why not safeguard it better? They could use your existing TX DL/ID photo. At my last in-person renewal, they took at least a right thumbprint, and since I've held other licenses that required full prints, they had plenty of other sets to match with as well to verify that I'm that DL holder.