CHP Wait Time in Virginia

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Babarsac

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I'm currently waiting on my CHP application to go through and I was wondering if it's 45 business days 45 calender day that a locality is required to process the paperwork? Google searches only say 45 days and the Virginia State Police have not responded to my emails.
 
My experience in Fairfax County is that on the initial permit they will use every one of the 45 calendar days. If you pester them about the status of your application they may find something wrong with it, return it and ask you to correct and re-submit and start the clock over again. Having the package properly prepared and assembled with all documentation, extra copies, etc. will help, as will being patient. Think of delayed gratification. Renewals proceed smoothly if you follow the process properly and haven't done anything stupid since your original application.

The law says calendar days.

Initial permit must be picked up in person, and you need to show ID and sign for it.

Renewals may be mailed at local option.
 
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They waited until 43 total days to get me mine and even messed that up by sending me some other guys CHP instead of mine. Instead of letting them take another several weeks I looked the guy up in the white pages, called him, and exchanged the CHP's ourselves. He was only a few blocks from my house so it worked out well. I live in Hampton.
 
I thought you have to go pick up the permit from the courthouse (this is in Arlington by the way).
 
I thought you have to go pick up the permit from the courthouse
It depends, some counties mail them. Why are you emailing the VSP? They issue non-resident permits, if you are a resident you need to speak with the local clerk. If it takes them more than 45 days, a copy of your application becomes your temporary (90 day) permit.
 
In law if it isn't specifically stated as business days it is calendar days.

That said, I got mine in a little over 45 days. Certain counties, mine included, are notorious for waiting until the last second or a little longer.

The problem as I see it is that there is no penalty for the court if they go over the limit. The only thing that happens if your wait time exceeds the 45-day limit without issuance or denial is that the clerk is supposed to send you a certified copy of the application with a notation that the limit was exceeded. That copy will server as a de facto permit for 90 days until you get your actual permit. I've never heard of anybody getting one of those before, though.

A couple of years ago I sent a request to a gun-friendly delegate suggesting that he sponsor a bill that would refund the application fee if the 45-day limit was exceeded. Nothing was done then, maybe I'll try again just before the General Assembly session next year.
 
Seeing how it is government, I would imagine that they will stretch that string as far as they can, and make it 45 working days, snow days will stretch it further. You should apply through another county. I got mine in Montgomery county in four days.
 
I understood the law as 45 calander days, and I've only heard of people waiting up to that long (calander days, not work days).
 
It's still legally 45 calendar days. Of course, with no real penalty for missing the deadline they can really take as long as they want.

I wonder what would happen if the court waited 45 days, issued the certified de facto permit, and then waited 90 more days. The applicant wouldn't have a valid permit or any clear recourse under the statute.

As for applying in a different county, you can only apply in your county or city of residence. I guess the OP could move but I think just waiting would be easier.
 
Per the Virginia State Police website -
"If the court has not issued the permit or determined that the applicant is disqualified within 45 days of the date of receipt noted on the application, the clerk shall certify on the application that the 45-day period has expired, and send a copy of the certified application to the applicant. The certified application shall serve as a de facto permit, which shall expire 90 days after issuance, and shall be recognized as a valid concealed handgun permit when presented with a valid government-issued photo identification until the court issues a five-year permit or finds the applicant to be disqualified. If the applicant is found to be disqualified after the de facto permit is issued, the applicant shall surrender the de facto permit to the court and the disqualification shall be deemed a denial of the permit and a revocation of the de facto permit. If the applicant is later found by the court to be disqualified after a five-year permit has been issued, the permit shall be revoked."

I got mine in Suffolk, took a total of 20 days from the time I applied for it till I picked it up at the circuit court clerks office.
 
Fairfax County is noted for issuing a CHP on the 45th day. That being said, I might be an exception, because my CHP arrived in the mail exactly three weeks after application.
 
Good time to point out the chp wait time in Vermont and Alaska (and soon to be wyoming).
 
I received mine on the 45th day last October, Augusta County, though the mail. At that time, the deputy who took my prints said that we had beaten the 2008 application counts by August 2009. At least Obama helped the economy somewhere...........
 
Arlington 3 months. After 45 calender days they will mail you and tell you they will issue a substitute permit valid for 90 days, and when your background checks are completed, they will send you a confirmation saying you are all done, and its been sent to the judge for him/her to sign. A couple weeks later, just call the circuit court civil division and check on it. You have to go pick up in person once its approved.
 
the clerk is supposed to send you a certified copy of the application with a notation that the limit was exceeded.
but I doubt you'll find any case where they do this automatically - at least I've never heard of it happening. You'll likely need to visit them and demand it.
 
In Suffolk, the Clerks Office of the Circuit Court of the City of Suffolk sends you a letter notifying you to come pick up your permit. Per the letter "Your application for a permit to carry a concealed handgun has been approved by the court. It will be necessary for you to appear in this office, in person, with photo identification, to review your permit for accuracy before your card can be released to you". They will not mail it to you. Same thing with your fingerprint card. The Suffolk Police send you a letter saying the fingerprint card has been returned to them from the Virginia Central Criminal Records Exchange and if you want it you can pick it up at police headquarters. Fingerprint cards not picked up within 21 days from the date on the notice are destroyed.
 
Not so. Everyone I know my self included has had theirs sent in the mail.
Oh really? I live in Arlington. First hand expirience here. First of all it goes over 45days you have to call and ask about it, then they offer you the 90 day option. I asked what about self stamped envelope? Nope, you have to pick up. Its a small inconvenience so who really cares if they didn't follow the letter of the law. Its the proximity to DC rubbing off I think.
 
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