Texas non-resident permit process in one day?

[maintenanceguy]

I asked this question on another forum and was told that this was the best place to get Texas CHL info.

I'm a NJ resident. NJ is a no-issue state so I can't get a NJ carry permit. I live in the rural southwest corner of NJ - right on the borders of both DE and PA. I spend a lot of my time in both of these states instead of in NJ. Many of us in NJ have non-resident permits from other states and we carry when we're not behind the iron curtain in NJ.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General has renegotiated many of the reciprocity agreements with states that offer non-resident permits to NJ and NY residents. PA no longer recognizes any non-resident permit...except for those issued by Texas. I want a Texas carry permit so I can continue to carry in Pennsylvania.

As luck would have it, I will likely be in Fort Worth for a few days this coming June for business. I can sneak away for a few hours to take a course while I'm there and could even extend for a day if I needed too.

I've read over the application information. As I understand the process, I first need to complete the class. Next, I need to fill out the application, finally I need to be fingerprinted. I don't see how it would be possible to take the class and be fingerprinted on the same day but I'm hoping there is a way. I realize that everyone here has a resident permit and probably doesn't have experience with non-resident permits but I'm hoping somebody knows a secret that will let me get this done.

Thanks in advance.

-Ryan

[EEllis]

What I think you would need to do is either find a fingerprint location that just happens to have the day you need open, they do online scheduling so theoretically it's possible, or check and see if there may be a fingerprint location near your home that would work.

[EEllis]

Just checked and identico, the company who does the TCHL printing, does operate in NJ. I would call the State licensing office for the exact procedure but it looks doable. http://www.identogo.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keith B]

Welcome to the forum.

I think the fingerprinting has to be done by a location in Texas, not 100% sure though. Some CHL instructors also do fingerprinting as part of the class (see below).

The process would be to find a course that you can attend while here, then go online to Texas DPS and apply for your license. The process will send you to the site for setting up an appointment for fingerprinting, and you can find the location close to or at the company you do your class with. It could be done on the same day after class (or possibly in class if they do the printing as well), or maybe on one of the other days while in Texas at a location that is close to where you are working.

Depending on your availability, there is a CHL company in Roanoke (north of Fort Worth) that also does finger printing, www-crossfire-training.com. If you are close to there and they have a class that matches your schedule, then it can pretty well be one-stop shopping for the training and fingerprints.

[Jumping Frog]

Yes, it can be done. You would complete the online application first, which then gives you the online account to "link" your fingerprint and training to. Gotta apply first, then fingerprint.

But I gotta ask, why don't you simply get a PA non-resident license instead? Visit a PA county sheriff, $20, and you are done. No training required.

A Texas license is going to cost over $250 when you factor in fingerprints, training, and license.

[maintenanceguy]

Welcome to the forum.

Depending on your availability, there is a CHL company in Roanoke (north of Fort Worth) that also does finger printing, www-crossfire-training.com. If you are close to there and they have a class that matches your schedule, then it can pretty well be one-stop shopping for the training and fingerprints.

That's excellent info. I didn't realize that fingerprinting could be done by anyone other than Identico. I will definately look into crossfire.

Yes, it can be done. You would complete the online application first, which then gives you the online account to "link" your fingerprint and training to. Gotta apply first, then fingerprint.

I thought the class certificate was required before you could do the online application. If it's possible to do the application first, my problem may be solved because I'll just need to schedule printing and the class for the same day. Or find a place that does both like Keith Suggested above.

But I gotta ask, why don't you simply get a PA non-resident license instead? Visit a PA county sheriff, $20, and you are done. No training required.

A Texas license is going to cost over $250 when you factor in fingerprints, training, and license.

Pa only issues non-resident permits if you already have one from your home state. Since NJ is a no-issue state, I'm no go for a PA permit too.

[Pawpaw]

Check out Crossfire Training.

Crossfire is one of the mods on this board. She and her husband run a one-stop-shop for CHL training. They can do your training and prints in one day, so all that is left is the online portion.

A close friend of mine just went through their training a couple of weeks ago. He was very impressed with their program and told me he had a great time.

Oh, they're locate in Ft. Worth too.

[Jumping Frog]

Pa only issues non-resident permits if you already have one from your home state.

Oh, I forgot about that. When I got my PA non-resident license I was already licensed in my home state.

[Keith B]

I didn't realize that fingerprinting could be done by anyone other than Identico. I will definately look into crossfire.

It has to be an IdentoGO location, but a few of the places that do Texas CHL training have also gotten certified and set up as an authorized IdentoGO fingerprint location.

As mentioned, Crossfire is one of the other mods on the forum. She is a fantastic instructor, and is who I originally took my class from. I was so impressed by her class I ended up becoming a mod on this forum and one of her backup instructors and range officers.

[Crossfire]

Thank you, Keith and PawPaw for the recommendations!

Yes, we are a MorphoTrust, IdentoGo, L1, FAST certified fingerprint location.

You must complete your online CHL application before you can be fingerprinted, and you must be fingerprinted in Texas. IdentoGo locations outside of Texas cannot print for the Texas CHL. No, it does not make sense. This is the government. Logic does not apply.

It does not matter whether you take the class before, or after, the application and fingerprints.

Because you do not have a Texas driver's license, you will also need a passport sized photo. We do that too.

We do not have our June classes scheduled yet. Let me know when you plan to be here, and we will try to accommodate you. It does take almost a full day for the class and shooting proficiency. Oh, and we also have rental guns, if you don't have one to bring.

Let us know if we can help you.

[maintenanceguy]

Crossfire:

The dates would be June 2 and 3rd which are a Tues and Wed. I could probably either arrive a day early or leave a day late for a Monday or Thursday class and if I needed too could probably schedule a morning or afternoon class on Tues or Wed but would need to be back to work for the other half day. The visit to Texas will be confirmed by the end of March. Assuming I'm making the trip, I'll be in touch to see if you have dates that could work for me.

Thanks much to everyone who helped get me the right answers.

-Ryan

[nightmare]

I have a friend who came to Texas for a Friday interview and stayed over the weekend to do the class and fingerprints on Saturday. The Texas CHL arrived before she relocated, so it cost $25 for the CHL address change after getting her Texas drivers license.