[tomharkness]

Texas DPS has revised again how the CHL is done. The Instructor can no longer order packets for the students in advanced. The student must now order it on their own. This can be done in two ways: 1. send a post card asking for the packet, then pay. 2. Pay online and they will send you a packet.

However: Students need to know that they do not need to have the packet before going to class. The Instructor can now download a Range/Classroom Certificate from the website and complete it during class. Then the student has up to a year (or more in some cases) to order and complete the packet.

In the packet, the student will find three affidavits that they can have notarized at their personal Bank or Credit Union for free.

You will also find the License Application that you will have a year to complete and return with the Range/Classroom Certificate that the instructor gave you.

DPS asks that you get two Passport Photos (the instructor may do this for you) and put them in a separate 'letter' type envelope inside the large Application envelope. This is so the pictures do not get lost. Put your name and TXDL number on the outside of the letter envelope and place it in the large envelope.

Your fingerprints can be taken by the Instructor, Tx DPS, the Sheriff’s Office, or you can go to the TxDPS website and it will direct you to a place called F.A.S.T. to get digital fingerprints.

DPS will send a letter to every County and State that you have lived in within the last 5 years. This is to find out if you are delinquent on taxes or behind on any payments. DPS will not issue you a license until they get a clean record from every one of these Sheriffs.
This means that you could be in a class with someone that gets their license back in two months and you would not get yours back for 6 months.

Bottom line: Just take the class and worry about the packet later. Make sure you get the Range/Classroom Certificate and make copies of it. You can do the Packet later. Check with your instructor about completing the Fingerprints and notary when your packet comes in.

By the way, you no longer have to be a Texan to get your license (or even a U.S. Citizen)... but you do have to come to Texas to take the class... and you have to be here legally.

[Troy Michalik]

Very interesting Tom, Thanks for the update on Texas CHL.

[layton]

Just wish they would get out of the up to 6 month waiting to send the license once all paperwork is sent in, They wast no time on the up front fee, then take their time getting the CHL card to you, crazy.

Layton

[hydrashok]

Originally Posted by tomharkness

Texas DPS has revised again how the CHL is done. The Instructor can no longer order packets for the students in advanced.

Well that sucks! Does that mean we can't use the rest of the packets we've got???

How recent is this information??

[JCrowder]

I took my instructors renewal course this week and we as instructors still have the ability to pre-order packets for our students. since we are not ordering the TR100s online any more, you use the mail in form to request packets. Yes the student can pre-order and pre-pay for their packet as well.

Because we know that DPS is picky about the completion of the application, we always assist our students and make sure they don't leave anything out, that will cause them a delay. Anytime something gets kicked back the 60 day processing time starts over. And yes getting info back from other counties determines how fast DPS can do their part.

DPS is processing 10,000 apps a month, God Bless for the job they do.

[JCrowder]

oh, and yes you can use the packets and TR100s you have. Use them as you did before, when you run out then go to the new forms

[tomharkness]

Originally Posted by hydrashok

Well that sucks! Does that mean we can't use the rest of the packets we've got???

How recent is this information??

Well, there was an update to the update. I was told a month ago that students would have to order packets and the instructor could not. But now I hear that instructors can still order the packets because they had a bunch of them in stock.

It is a continual update there... but it should not be a problem as you can take the class without the packet... you don't even need the packet to complete the training. When you complete the training just order the packet and fill it in when you get it. You can get it notarized for free at your local bank/credit union and you can get your pictures and fingerprints from the link on the DPS website (or at DPS/Sheriffs Officer). You have a year or two to complete it.....

Just ask the instructor to discount you the cost of the fingerprints ($10) and the cost of the pictures (Read the packet and do it yourself on a good printer) Otherwise, get good passport photos from the local drug store and use them.


P.S. you can still use the old T100 and old packets until you are out of them.... but NO REFUNDS! I only have 5 of them and will use them this weekend.