TexasCHLforum.com

I got my CHL in the mail today. Funny thing about my license. I got pictures made for it. Sent them in with all the stuff. It showed up at the TX DPS site that they received them. But the picture on my license is the exact same picture that is on my drivers license. I thought it was strange that they used that pic instead of my pics I sent in.

Apparently something new has come up and they use the DL picture (or at least what I have read.) There is no longer any need to send in passport photos. Then again, check on that--I'm not entirely sure. An instructor will be along shortly to straighten this up

DPS is moving toward using your exisitng Texas DL photo. You can currently request that they use it by writing 'Use current Texas DL photo' on the CHL-6 form when you send it in. I don't know why they would by default use the DL instead of the passport photos that were sent, unless the passport photos were not good enough quality or had another issue with them.

So how does it work out when it comes time for the DL renewal? The picture on my DL is several years old as I have always been able to renew online without a office visit. My CHL is new with a more recent picture. I'm just wondering if they will use my CHL pic for my DL next year when it comes up for renewal since it is the most recent.

tomtexan wrote:So how does it work out when it comes time for the DL renewal? The picture on my DL is several years old as I have always been able to renew online without a office visit. My CHL is new with a more recent picture. I'm just wondering if they will use my CHL pic for my DL next year when it comes up for renewal since it is the most recent.

You have to go to the DL office every other renewal.

Keith B wrote:DPS is moving toward using your exisitng Texas DL photo. You can currently request that they use it by writing 'Use current Texas DL photo' on the CHL-6 form when you send it in. I don't know why they would by default use the DL instead of the passport photos that were sent, unless the passport photos were not good enough quality or had another issue with them.

I am sure Keith B is correct but I called TDPS this morning and Rebecca knew nothing about the DL photo request written on the CHL-6 form.

I noticed my license has a blue background and wondered if that may be a reason since the CHL photos have to have a white background. Has anyone requested the DL photo to be used and it was on a renewal or new license?

I thought I may have caused a delay in the processing time because my drivers license picture was with a beard and the photo submitted with my CHL I was clean shaven.

They put the clean shaven on the CHL.

My application length of time was within average range.

I thought I might've caused a problem b/c I had a full beard in my chl photos, but by the time I did the fingerprint verification photo was clean shaven... didn't seem to affect anything.

I got my plastic a week ago, and it has my passport photos I sent in.. I'm glad they didn't use the DL photo since its the same photo since I was 18. I'm 34 now.

My beard on the DL makes me look old.

Now YOU make me feel old.

Sherrie Zgabay from Regulatory Services did mention in my 4/12 instructor class that new applicants do not HAVE to include new passport photos. They can if they wish, but if no photo is included or you specifically write on the CHL-6 to use DL photo, they will by default use your DL photo. It saves folks from paying $10 to Walgreens for photos if their instructor doesn't have a camera/printer on site.

Here comes the monkey wrench.

My DL and CHL photos have never been the same. I just did my second CHL renewal a few months ago. And it's not the same photo as on the first one. They used the photo I sent in with the first renewal and it is still on there after the second renewal. I don't know how long it has been since my DL photo was updated. From the looks of it I'd say about two cycles, but this one is good for 6 years, so I'm not sure. I was thinking about 8 years until I noticed this one was good for 6 years.

Sometimes, for one reason or another, the photo that is sent in doesn't work--doesn't scan or digitize--something.

In the past, they would have sent you one of the notorious letters telling you to send them new pics. They "discovered" that "hey-we already have a picture". It is actually quicker & easier for them to accerss the DL picture already in the system