How long until the first status change online ?

[45Carrier]

I got delivery confirmation and return receipt that my packet was received on the 3rd in Austin, still no change.

Website still says 'Packet Mailed to Applicant'

Should I give em a call to see if it actually arrived, or does it usually take a while for them to get around to updating things ?

[striker55]

Takes between 2 weeks and 3 weeks to change.

[Big Dom]

Took them just over 2 weeks to cash my check. From what I've picked up its about another 2 weeks from that time until you get your pin. That is if your one of the lucky ones. Could take more or less time I just think thats about the average.

[45Carrier]

Got my pin when I received my packet.

They charged my cc within 30 seconds of signup, so they aren't waiting for a check to clear.

I'm just simply beginning to wonder if it's still sitting in the mail room, the mail room workers are on strike, they're just teasin me or they take a while to update the website.

In this day and age of gimmie right now, waiting two months for something just seems like forever.

I waited 14 months on my last gun and it didn't bother me a whole lot.

This is like waiting in line for a date with Reba McEntyre and being told you're up, but the door's locked and your waiting on the locksmith to arrive.

[sbb]

65 days from receipt to issuance. A gentle nudge at day 62 helped Austin along. I certainly hope that you have a shorter wait. But you have plenty of time to buy a whole drawer full of holsters and a bunker quantity of ammo. This helps the time go by. Best Wishes

[Turfspanker]

Had an email and phone call exchange with them today.
The mail room signed my certified mail receipt Sept. 28. and my online status hasn't changed from "Packet mailed to applicant".

A very helpful lady explained that there is one mail room where applications are sorted and delivered to 40 staff members. From there, fingerprint cards are sorted and mailed to the FBI and photo cards are sorted for scanning. It takes 3 to 4 weeks from the time the application is received in the mail room until the data is entered into the system. Then the 60 day clock starts to accomodate the background check. Even though my status hadn't changed, she saw that my fingerprint and photo cards were sorted. She said "I can see what you were wearing". as proof they hadn't lost my application.

It looks like those getting turn around in 60 days from mailing the package to DPS are hitting a lull in CHL demand. The buffer appears to be 90 days.

I got very good service from the person that answered my emails and returned my call.

[Big Dom]

My fault I thought you were waiting on your pin. They pretty much told me the same thing. 7 to 10 days to even recieve it from the mail room then 3 to 4 weeks to get it entered into the system which is the point that the 60 days starts. Either way probly better to just forget about it and be surprised a few months down the road. I know, I know easier said than done.

[boomerang]

A very helpful lady explained that there is one mail room where applications are sorted and delivered to 40 staff members. From there, fingerprint cards are sorted and mailed to the FBI and photo cards are sorted for scanning. It takes 3 to 4 weeks from the time the application is received in the mail room until the data is entered into the system. Then the 60 day clock starts to accomodate the background check.

That's not true. The law says "not later than the 60th day after the date the department receives the application materials." The key word is receives. I can't find anything in the law allowing extra time for delays in getting the applications from the mail room into the system.

That said, the DPS technicians are polite, helpful and overworked. I'm not going to get mad at them for problems caused by management.

[txinvestigator]

DPS is down three applicant processors right now.

[Turfspanker]

The key word is receives. I can't find anything in the law allowing extra time for delays in getting the applications from the mail room into the system.

If you stumble across the definition please let us know. I have a signed/date stamped certified mail receipt.
When the time comes I doubt I would hold them to it, but a gentle reminder never hurts.

[txinvestigator]

A very helpful lady explained that there is one mail room where applications are sorted and delivered to 40 staff members. From there, fingerprint cards are sorted and mailed to the FBI and photo cards are sorted for scanning. It takes 3 to 4 weeks from the time the application is received in the mail room until the data is entered into the system. Then the 60 day clock starts to accomodate the background check.

That's not true. The law says "not later than the 60th day after the date the department receives the application materials." The key word is receives. I can't find anything in the law allowing extra time for delays in getting the applications from the mail room into the system.

That said, the DPS technicians are polite, helpful and overworked. I'm not going to get mad at them for problems caused by management.

That is not quite true either.

Texas Government Code
§ 411.177. ISSUANCE OR DENIAL OF LICENSE

(b) The department shall, not later than the 60th day after
the date of the receipt by the director's designee of the completed
application materials: (1) issue the license;
(2) notify the applicant in writing that the
application was denied:
(A) on the grounds that the applicant failed to
qualify under the criteria listed in Section 411.172;
(B) based on the affidavit of the director's
designee submitted to the department under Section 411.176(b); or
(C) based on the affidavit of the qualified
handgun instructor submitted to the department under Section
411.189(c); or
(3) notify the applicant in writing that the
department is unable to make a determination regarding the issuance
or denial of a license to the applicant within the 60-day period
prescribed by this subsection and include in that notification an
explanation of the reason for the inability and an estimation of the
amount of time the department will need to make the determination.
(c) Failure of the department to issue or deny a license for
a period of more than 30 days after the department is required to
act under Subsection (b) constitutes denial.
(d) A license issued under this subchapter is effective from
the date of issuance.

DPS has 30 days to get the application to its designee

Texas Government Code
§ 411.176. REVIEW OF APPLICATION MATERIALS. (a) On
receipt of the application materials by the department at its
Austin headquarters, the department shall conduct the appropriate
criminal history record check of the applicant through its
computerized criminal history system. Not later than the 30th day
after the date the department receives the application materials,
the department shall forward the materials to the director's
designee in the geographical area of the applicant's residence so
that the designee may conduct the investigation described by
Subsection (b).

DPS has 30 days to get the material to the designee in the geographical area of the applicants residence (for this post, I will call that person the DPS investigator). That DPS investigator has 60 days from the date the department received the materials to complete his investigation and submit his finding back to DPS.

The department has 60 days from when the INvestigator receives the application from the dept. to take one of the actions in 411.177(b). That could be as long as 90 days from when DPS receives the application. Lets take a case where DPS takes 30 days to get the app to the investigator, the investigator would then have an additional 30 days to do his investigation and get the app back to DPS. That could take up to a max of 60 total days. Then DPS has 60 days after the investigator received the packet (in this case, 30 days after DPS received it) to comply with 411.177(b) for a total possible of 90 days.

[rockhill]

I sent mine in Sepetmber 25th, recieved by them on 27th. I just figure it will make a nice Christmas gift to myself. Any sooner than that would be great but not counting on it. Instead of worrying I think I will just get in some range time.

[Turfspanker]

Lets take a case where DPS takes 30 days to get the app to the investigator, the investigator would then have an additional 30 days to do his investigation and get the app back to DPS. That could take up to a max of 60 total days. Then DPS has 60 days after the investigator received the packet (in this case, 30 days after DPS received it) to comply with 411.177(b) for a total possible of 90 days.

txinvestigator,

Many thanks for the research.
You picked a good screen name.

[boomerang]

GC §411.176. REVIEW OF APPLICATION MATERIALS. (a) On receipt of the application materials by the department at its Austin headquarters, the department shall conduct the appropriate criminal history record check of the applicant through its computerized criminal history system. Not later than the 30th day after the date the department receives the application materials, the department shall forward the materials to the director's designee in the geographical area of the applicant's residence so that the designee may conduct the investigation described by Subsection (b).
(b) The director's designee as needed shall conduct an additional criminal history record check of the applicant and an investigation of the applicant's local official records to verify the accuracy of the application materials. The scope of the record check and the investigation are at the sole discretion of the department, except that the director's designee shall complete the record check and investigation not later than the 60th day after the date the department receives the application materials.

It still seems the key word is receives. I can't find anything in the law allowing extra time for bottlenecks in the mailroom, or data entry, or other delays.



Not that the time limit makes much of a difference unless you plan to appeal a GC §411.177(c) pocket denial.