COE Renewal

[mickri]

I started to renew my COE over a month ago and several weeks before it expired. On the expiration date I get an email asking for my FFL 03 info. I send it off that day. The next day I get a request for a copy of my CA drivers license. I upload a copy of my DL. This is just before Xmas. I go back onto CFARS a couple of days after Xmas and it says no documents uploaded. So I upload my DL again. Checked again today and CFARS again says no documents uploaded. I plan to call them tomorrow.

Has anybody else ran into this problem of uploading documents only to find several days later that no documents have been uploaded?

[Mezcalfud]

Goofy interactions this go around!! My bad 1st, I let it expire counting on the renewal invoice instead of being proactive. No renewal invoice ever received! Then applying for the new COE- jumped through all the hoops and they kicked back my application and emailed wanting my FFL 03- no place to input so I put it in the notes and resubmitted. I called (no answer ever) and emailed the requestor who replied a week later that it isn't their department and to email someone else. That person responded asking why I was giving them my FFL 03 and that I am in process- over 30 day now.

[morrcarr67]

I had a problem too. I knew I had to upload my CDL so I did that when I started the application. I got an email a few days later saying that I needed to upload my C&R FFL.

There is no place to upload the "FFL", so I just picked the California ID option and uploaded it there.

When you first log into CFARS there is a section on the left that says Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

When you click on that you should see this next screen:



There you should see the COE Transactions on the left, click on it and it should bring up the screen below.



In the middle of the page it says COE Transactions.

You should see your transactions. You oldest one should say completed and your newest one should say in progress. Is this what yours says?

If so, click on the number under where it says COE number for your newest transaction (colored out in red on mine)

That will take you to the application page you created when you submitted your application. Pan down til you see the section that says file upload section.

Does yours look like mine? If so you're good you just have to wait.

[Dvrjon]

I renewed at the end of August with no need for additional documentation.

Perhaps DOJ would benefit from being reminded that their regulations don't require FFL-03 submission.

Applicants shall electronically provide the following information to complete the renewal application:
(1) Applicant's full name; driver license type and identification number; email address; date of birth; residence street address; phone number; gender; United States citizenship; if not a United States citizen, the country of citizenship and the federal Alien Registration Number or federal I-94 number; and business type(s).
(2) Applicant shall agree to the Department's Privacy Notice as specified in subdivision (b)(2) of section 4035 of these regulations.
(c) Any changes to the required information shall be submitted to the Department via CFARS as specified in section 4036 of these regulations and can be modified at the time of renewal.
(d) Payment of renewal fees as specified in section 4038 of these regulations shall be submitted electronically via CFARS for the renewal application to be processed. Payment shall be made using a major credit card or debit card with a major credit card logo.
(e) A renewal occurring 90 days after the expiration of a COE will require the applicant to resubmit fingerprints for a COE to the Department for a firearms eligibility background check and the required fees, as described in section 4032.5 of these regulations, and submit a new COE application, as described in section 4035 of these regulations.

It also wasn't required for the initial issuance:

Initial COE applicants shall electronically provide the following information to complete the application:
(1) Applicant's full name; driver license type and number or California identification number; date of birth; residence street address; phone number; gender; ATI number; business type(s); United States citizenship; if not a United States citizen, the country of citizenship and the federal Alien Registration Number or federal I-94 number. The application shall also require additional information requesting responses to questions asking the applicant if he or she: 1) is a current COE holder; and 2) has submitted COE fingerprint impressions through a live scan provider, as required by section 4032.5 of these regulations.
(A) If applicant is applying for a COE as an employee of a California Firearms Dealer (CFD), applicant shall provide the name of the dealer, the dealer address, the dealer store number if applicable, the dealer's CFD number, and the COE number provided by the employer.
(B) If applicant is applying for a COE as an employee of a California Ammunition Vendor (CAV), applicant shall provide the name of the ammunition vendor, the ammunition vendor address, the ammunition vendor store number if applicable, the vendor's CAV number, and the COE number provided by the employer.
(C) If applicant is applying for a COE as an employee of both a CFD and a CAV, the applicant shall list only the CFD information as specified in subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section.

If they have a problem with this, tell them you need the COE under the provisions of to purchase ammo in state because the system may fail to recognize you through DL, alone.

[vino68]

Remember, there is no renewal notice sent out. It is your job to remember, add a freaking calendar reminder.

You can renew your COE 45 days from expiration. I did that in 2020 and it took 10-15 days for the renewal to process, there was no back and forth. Prior years, it took maybe two business days.

[707electrician]

I renewed at the end of August with no need for additional documentation.

Perhaps DOJ would benefit from being reminded that their regulations don't require FFL-03 submission.
It also wasn't required for the initial issuance:
If they have a problem with this, tell them you need the COE under the provisions of to purchase ammo in state because the system may fail to recognize you through DL, alone.

I have just applied for a new 03 and COE after having let mine lapse a while back and I received an email the next day saying my COE app is incomplete and they need my 03 FFL, which I don't yet have because I applied for that at the same time. I don't recall having this issue the last time I applied and of course I can't get a hold of anyone on the phone to ask why this is required.

[Ora Serrata]

I had almost the exact thing happen to me. Thankfully I expected an issue like that so I started early. It took 3 weeks to sort everything all out.

[Dvrjon]

I have just applied for a new 03 and COE after having let mine lapse a while back and I received an email the next day saying my COE app is incomplete and they need my 03 FFL, which I don't yet have because I applied for that at the same time. I don't recall having this issue the last time I applied and of course I can't get a hold of anyone on the phone to ask why this is required.

Again, the regulations don’t require submission of an FFL-03 to get a COE. The ammunition law gives one sufficient reason to apply for one. Can you not answer the email?

[707electrician]

I did send them an email, but have not received a response.

[morrcarr67]

I renewed at the end of August with no need for additional documentation.

Perhaps DOJ would benefit from being reminded that their regulations don't require FFL-03 submission.
It also wasn't required for the initial issuance:
If they have a problem with this, tell them you need the COE under the provisions of to purchase ammo in state because the system may fail to recognize you through DL, alone.

That's interesting. I had not read that.

[Pocket Rocket]

That's the problem with their system, or in their eyes, a "feature."

They require you to upload documentation of your FFL03, but no where in the renewal does it say that you are required to.

If you try to call their office it redirects you to their website, or drops the call. If you attempt to email and state, "that it's not a requirement," they simply don't respond.

While this is all going on your application is being held, and the expiration date is ever approaching.

What do you do?

[Dvrjon]

. There is NO authority for them to require this. I would recommend uploading the regulation and stating your COE application conforms to the regulation.

[Dvrjon]

That's interesting. I had not read that.

[nyla]

[SamGoldstein]

Hi,

I just wanna add another data point. I had to shutdown the email address I originally used to create the CFARS account. Well, my password expired and guess where they want to send the new password? That's right, to the email address that doesn't exist. The idiots that wrote the user interface do not allow you to update your old email address. The state software is crude too in that it doesn't do two tier authentication. So, the way around this appears to be creating a new account with the new email address. This it allows. Apparently all state CFARS records are immutable in the database and all data is part of the key, except the password. Anyway, I entered my existing COE ID number. Now waiting for the COE ID record to be associated with my new account. I hope it works. Otherwise, I'll have to reapply to get a new COE ID, which is f**ked up.