Arizona CWP Renewal & New Application Processing

[HiCalibar]

06/05/22 Registered and completed AZCCW online course.
06/06/22 Booked appointment for in person meet to show ID.
06/07/22 Flew from NV to AZ. Picked up certificate. Dropped off packet with all required paper work at Arizona Department of Public Safety. Which included court papers of CA expungement felony reduced to misdemeanor per 17(b). Plus 2 other misdemeanor expungements.
06/09/22 USPS Money order cashed.
06/10/22 Called on hold for 2 hours. Spoke with a young lady and informed me that AZ only recognizes Felony reduction per CA PC 17(b) and that I should email them copy’s of my court documents to ccw@azdps.gov. Emailed them the same day. Which I found odd since I had provided them with all those documents when I dropped off my application, but whatever I did it anyways.
06/24/22 Called to follow up. On hold for 48 minutes. Informed the agent that I had emailed all requested documents 2 weeks prior. Was asked what email address I sent it from. Put me hold, came back on the phone line and said she found them and attached them to my file.
07/01/22 Received my AZ CCW. Now I need to apply for one in my home state. Just read on the Nevada website that since I’m a resident of this state I would need to have a CCW issued from Nevada if I want to conceal carry.

[12iceman]

Calling does seem to make a difference, especially if you give it some time first. I applied about a month ago and when I called they issued it that day and said it would ship the next day and then it took about a week to arrive in the mail.

[JDHCA]

I called last week. I emailed a couple of days before that. I finally got an email response today that said it will be mailed tomorrow.

[NightingaleM44]

Just got off the phone with the CWPU after being 27th in line. (About a 90 min wait). Said my app is still undergoing the background check and to expect to wait another 2-4 months. I mailed the app late March and used my CA CCW as proof of training. Anyone have a similar wait time?

[AWE]

They got mine the first week of April and Cashed it in May received it in June

[Sean D]

Got mine last week whole process went thru within about 3 week turnaround.

[slixx1320]

So it seems to be all over the place with AZ. Some have reported less than 3-4 weeks turnaround (both new and renewal) and some are 5-6 months out! Doesn't seem as if AZ is all caught up.

[wbk]

sent in -6/21
picked up 6-23
called 7-14
was told it would go out today...
will let you know when it gets to me

[joe4702]

I sent my renewal in early March, USPS MO has been cashed.
Permit expired early June, so going on 4+ months.
Pretty sad when my Initial CA CCW app was processed faster than AZ renewal. What is up in AZ?

[wbk]

Originally Posted by wbk

sent in -6/21
picked up 6-23
called 7-14
was told it would go out today...
will let you know when it gets to me

Received on 7/21 one month total....

[Danodog]

Originally Posted by Danodog

After and hour and 40 minute hold and being the 34th caller on hold, I was told that my application was held because of something that popped up on my background check. I nervously waited for a minute or two and was told that I was good to go and that I will get my CCW mailed within a week. I asked what popped up on my background check, and the clerk said it was something on their end and I did not have to worry.

Anyone else experience the same situation? I used my California CCW as evidence that I had the necessary training and their were no issues on my background check then.

Dano

I guess I will have to call. It has been over 30 days with no CCW as promised.

[Danodog]

Originally Posted by Danodog

I guess I will have to call. It has been over 30 days with no CCW as promised.

Called this morning. 23rd caller in que and 1 hour and 12 minute hold. Clerk saw the note in the system and apologized saying that the CCW was never printed, but she took care of it while on the phone and it will be mailed tomorrow.

[WarBoyNux]

So the address should be:

AZ DPS CWPU
Attn: Renewal
P.O. Box 6488
Phoenix, AZ 85005

[IFellOfASofaAgain]

So, my dates are approximate because I didn't keep tabs on what exact date I sent out my application.

Sent out application and all required paperwork around July 6th or so. A week later I received a packet in the mail with all my paperwork. Issue is I was the big dummy that didn't read the application correctly and sent a personal check.

On July 11th (certain of this date), went to the bank and got a cashiers check and mailed the packet back that same date.

After reading a few posts on this thread regarding calling to expedite the process, I decided to call this morning (8/2) at around 8:15AM. I was on hold for about 30 minutes before someone answered. I was told that I was on background check and the lady I spoke with cleared me right then and there. My permit will be mailed out tomorrow (8/3) and I should have it within a week.

Seems like calling maybe 2-3 weeks after mailing your application does the trick to have the permit issued.

[Danodog]

Originally Posted by Danodog

Called this morning. 23rd caller in que and 1 hour and 12 minute hold. Clerk saw the note in the system and apologized saying that the CCW was never printed, but she took care of it while on the phone and it will be mailed tomorrow.

CCW came in the mail 6 days later. Process is officially over. Started in mid-April and finished August 6th.

[Citation650]

Originally Posted by stag6.8

If you let Arizona expire you lose coverage in new Mexico...unless you have Florida, the Florida permit covers new Mexico...if you have the Florida permit no loss...but if you don't have Florida...keep Arizona active..

Thanks for the heads up. Since my daughter lives in NM, I decided to renew. Sent in my application
July 29th received certificate August 9th. I’m impressed.

[stag6.8]

Originally Posted by Citation650

Thanks for the heads up. Since my daughter lives in NM, I decided to renew. Sent in my application
July 29th received certificate August 9th. I’m impressed.

That why I have both Arizona and Florida...Double Coverage!!!

[stefano-s]

I mailed my permit renewal in on December 10, 2011 and promptly forgot about it until a month ago. I sent an email request with all the pertinent data to them in July, permit number and my money order has been cashed, blah, blah, blah and received no response at all. So, today, I phoned them and was tenth in the queue. After a 35 minute wait, I was told that it would be mailed out tomorrow. I know that they are behind but, eight months? The squeaky wheel gets the grease. No doubt about it.

[sfhondapilot]

Originally Posted by stefano-s

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. No doubt about it.

Unfortunately, that certainly seems to be the case. I sent my renewal back on 5/4, the mail was picked up from the PO box on 5/7 and the money order was cashed by 5/12.

On Monday, 8/8, I left an inquiry via their "Contact Us" link on their website and, as yet, no reply.

Guess I'll be calling next week.

[sfhondapilot]

Interestingly, received this email reply on Sunday afternoon:

Your application is currently in background. We are experiencing a backlog in applications. We cannot give you an accurate timeline for completion, but we want to assure you we are working diligently to process all applications in the order they come in.



Sincerely,

Concealed Weapons Permit Unit

602-256-6280

[Hoser!!]

This sucks. I saw the OP update that said basically they are caught up. I turned in my renewal a couple of days after it expired. I emailed and ask for status and got emailed back that they are backlogged and are processing December? Guess I won’t get my AZ CCW.

[Lady Ruger]

Originally Posted by Hoser!!

This sucks. I saw the OP update that said basically they are caught up. I turned in my renewal a couple of days after it expired. I emailed and ask for status and got emailed back that they are backlogged and are processing December? Guess I won’t get my AZ CCW.

Why did you wait till it expired?

[9Cal_OC]

Originally Posted by Lady Ruger

Why did you wait till it expired?

Cause he’s a Hoser!!

[Hoser!!]

Originally Posted by Lady Ruger

Why did you wait till it expired?

Didn’t realized it expired. Thought I still had one more year oh and yes, I’m a Hoser!!

[Wheelin4]

Sent my application in November(?) last year and just received my permit. I honestly forgot about it!

[Baja Daze]

Okay....Don't do this! LOL!

When I started this thread back in March, AZ DPS was processing applications received last November. My AZ CWP expires late August and did not want it to expire, however AZ DPS only accepts renewal applications up to 90 days max prior to CWP expiration. But with the massive backlog of applications, I figured there was no way to avoid having my CWP expire unless DPS got caught-up on processing, so I gambled to see what would happen, however I don't recommend this...

So, in late March I mailed my CWP renewal about five months prior to expiration and post-dated everything for early June which was within the 90-day renewal window. I figured worst case, DPS would return my application and best case, they would open it soon after the date I provided and process it promptly. Well, DPS got caught-up before my 90-day window and I assumed at that point my application was getting returned. I then started to check the USPS website every few days in the hope that my Money Order had been cashed, but it was also post-dated and doubted they would deposit it early. So I waited until a couple of days after the date on my Money Order to see if it had been cashed and it was!

At this point I figured DPS took pity on me when they opened my renewal application and saw the future date, so they simply waited until that date to process my application in lieu of returning it to me. I gave the process two weeks after cashing my Money Order and called late on a Friday. It was about an hour hold that continued past 5:00pm and I figured they would not answer after five even though I had been in the phone queue, but I was wrong, and a pleasant young lady soon answered the phone.

I provided her my CWP number and she quickly checked my renewal status. She returned to the line and stated my renewal was now done and my new CWP would be mailed on Monday. My new CWP arrived a week later, the DPS renewal letter was dated the Friday I called, it appears my CWP was processed the following Monday and was mailed the next day on Tuesday and received by me on Friday. The entire process was three weeks exactly from the date they cashed my Money Order, so no complaints from me and I am thankful they did NOT return my renewal application and held it for processing on the application date.

My only complaint is that the envelope used by AZ DPS to mail my permit had their large logo on the envelope and had printed in the return address section:

Arizona Department of Public Safety
Concealed Weapons Permit Unit

And you could feel the card in the envelope, so it was very obvious what this was and my mailman did give me a rather curious look when he handed me my two pieces of mail that day. With Kaliforniastan doxing all their LTC holders, I am even more cognizant about keeping my permits private and this AZ DPS envelope was NOT very subtle!

[ABR]

Originally Posted by Baja Daze

Okay....Don't do this! LOL!

When I started this thread back in March, AZ DPS was processing applications received last November. My AZ CWP expires late August and did not want it to expire, however AZ DPS only accepts renewal applications up to 90 days max prior to CWP expiration. But with the massive backlog of applications, I figured there was no way to avoid having my CWP expire unless DPS got caught-up on processing, so I gambled to see what would happen, however I don't recommend this...

So, in late March I mailed my CWP renewal about five months prior to expiration and post-dated everything for early June which was within the 90-day renewal window. I figured worst case, DPS would return my application and best case, they would open it soon after the date I provided and process it promptly. Well, DPS got caught-up before my 90-day window and I assumed at that point my application was getting returned. I then started to check the USPS website every few days in the hope that my Money Order had been cashed, but it was also post-dated and doubted they would deposit it early. So I waited until a couple of days after the date on my Money Order to see if it had been cashed and it was!

At this point I figured DPS took pity on me when they opened my renewal application and saw the future date, so they simply waited until that date to process my application in lieu of returning it to me. I gave the process two weeks after cashing my Money Order and called late on a Friday. It was about an hour hold that continued past 5:00pm and I figured they would not answer after five even though I had been in the phone queue, but I was wrong, and a pleasant young lady soon answered the phone.

I provided her my CWP number and she quickly checked my renewal status. She returned to the line and stated my renewal was now done and my new CWP would be mailed on Monday. My new CWP arrived a week later, the DPS renewal letter was dated the Friday I called, it appears my CWP was processed the following Monday and was mailed the next day on Tuesday and received by me on Friday. The entire process was three weeks exactly from the date they cashed my Money Order, so no complaints from me and I am thankful they did NOT return my renewal application and held it for processing on the application date.

My only complaint is that the envelope used by AZ DPS to mail my permit had their large logo on the envelope and had printed in the return address section:

Arizona Department of Public Safety
Concealed Weapons Permit Unit

And you could feel the card in the envelope, so it was very obvious what this was and my mailman did give me a rather curious look when he handed me my two pieces of mail that day. With Kaliforniastan doxing all their LTC holders, I am even more cognizant about keeping my permits private and this AZ DPS envelope was NOT very subtle!

Mine was to expire in June, so I sent in the renewal/money order in April.

I didn’t get it until after the expirory date, but I did send an email without a response. It just showed up 3 weeks later. Strange.

[Baja Daze]

One last item regarding my renewal CWP. The blue banner across the top of my old CWP went across about 75% of the permit and in the upper right corner was a Hologram with the State of Arizona in the middle. The Hologram was eliminated from my new CWP and the blue banner now extends across the entire top of the permit covering the area where the Hologram was previously located.

Other than this change, the format has remained the same, but the font size for "Concealed Weapon Permit", your name and permit details was reduced. Not sure why AZ DPS did this, it was not necessary as the permit format did not change and now, I need to put my reading glasses on to read my permit number! Yeah, I know, first world problems....

Not sure when the CWP was changed as my previous permit was issued five years ago.

[The Tiger]

Originally Posted by joe4702

I sent my renewal in early March, USPS MO has been cashed.
Permit expired early June, so going on 4+ months.
Pretty sad when my Initial CA CCW app was processed faster than AZ renewal. What is up in AZ?

Ever get this resolved?

I had the same problem with renewal. Sent my paperwork in and heard nothing. After the expiration date I just called. The nice lady on the phone told me to wait on the line while she processed it. She said she did the background check while I waited and said "your card will be mailed out next business day." I called on a Friday.

[tbs2002]

What class did you all take for this?

[The Tiger]

Originally Posted by tbs2002

What class did you all take for this?

None required if you have a hunting license or have a DD214 or CCW from another state

Otherwise pretty much any professional firearms course per the statute: http://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03112.htm

N. An applicant shall demonstrate competence with a firearm through any of the following:

1. Completion of any firearms safety or training course or class that is available to the general public, that is offered by a law enforcement agency, a junior college, a college or a private or public institution, academy, organization or firearms training school and that is approved by the department of public safety or that uses instructors who are certified by the national rifle association.

2. Completion of any hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Arizona game and fish department or a similar agency of another state.

3. Completion of any national rifle association firearms safety or training course.

4. Completion of any law enforcement firearms safety or training course or class that is offered for security guards, investigators, special deputies or other divisions or subdivisions of law enforcement or security enforcement and that is approved by the department of public safety.

5. Evidence of current military service or proof of honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions from the United States armed forces.

6. A valid current or expired concealed weapon, firearm or handgun permit or license that is issued by another state or a political subdivision of another state and that has a training or testing requirement for initial issuance.

7. Completion of any governmental police agency firearms training course and qualification to carry a firearm in the course of normal police duties.

8. Completion of any other firearms safety or training course or class that is conducted by a department of public safety approved or national rifle association certified firearms instructor.

[WarBoyNux]

Originally Posted by tbs2002

What class did you all take for this?

I think I used the NRA basic pistol or basic rifle course.

[tbs2002]

Awesome. Thank you both for the responses ��

[TTS_Kevo]

Is there any reason an instructor in my area is charging $50 for help with this?
From what I can tell this application is pretty straightforward, the forms are available online, and the agency doing the fingerprints has the cards. Am I confused?

[9Cal_OC]

Originally Posted by TTS_Kevo

Is there any reason an instructor in my area is charging $50 for help with this?
From what I can tell this application is pretty straightforward, the forms are available online, and the agency doing the fingerprints has the cards. Am I confused?

Unless he’s providing the training, fingerprints, and application help, not a bad deal for $50.

If it’s an add-on to the CA CCW course, from what I’ve seen, it’s usually $20-50 extra for multi-state.

[TTS_Kevo]

They provide the application, fingerprint cards, and help with the form. All things I can get elsewhere for free. It looks like a stand alone purchase. I thought I was missing something, but it doesn’t sound like they do anything but take your money.

Thanks!

[Lady Ruger]

Originally Posted by TTS_Kevo

Is there any reason an instructor in my area is charging $50 for help with this?
From what I can tell this application is pretty straightforward, the forms are available online, and the agency doing the fingerprints has the cards. Am I confused?

Why? Because he found people that would pay $50.
Get the app yourself. Fill it out. Get prints (we did them at The UPS Store). Buy a Postal money order and mail it.

[TTS_Kevo]

Oh, I am. Just seemed weird to me

[microwaveguy]

Mailed April 2
Received Sept 9

Didn't call and bug them about it , it just showed up.

[MudCamper]

Originally Posted by slixx1320

So it seems to be all over the place with AZ. Some have reported less than 3-4 weeks turnaround (both new and renewal) and some are 5-6 months out! Doesn't seem as if AZ is all caught up.

This. I am on day 163, waiting for a renewal.

I tried their email again today, and got the following auto-response:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding your CCW application. Due to sustained personnel shortages and unprecedented volume we have made some adjustments to our unit. As of April 5th we have created a CCW backlog task force and have contributed significant resources to reduce the backlog and return to the high standards of service which are expected. Please know, in order to focus on processing all of these applications as quickly as possible we will temporarily reduce our response to emails and phone calls. Our unit is currently entering applications from December. If your application was submitted after this date please check back for updates on when to expect processing. If your application requires additional documentation or follow-up you will be receiving a notification via US Mail indicating your next steps.