Is this wait time normal for a C&R License

[Robidouxs]

My friend applied for a C&R license in mid March. He is still waiting on his license. ATF sent him a letter indicating they were still gathering information on him and not to worry, the license would be issued to him soon. It is now nearly 16 weeks since he has applied for the license and he still has not received the license. Is there anything he should do or should I just tell him to wait for ATF to issue the license to him?

Background:

My friend was born in California and traveled to Mexico with his father when he was 6 and came back to the United States when he was 20. He has been in the US for 10+ years now. Is it possible that his tie to Mexico is delaying the application considerably?

[Cokebottle]

Sounds like they may have concerns over his citizenship.

I applied early March and got my 03 and COE around the first of April.

[speedgoat]

Sounds like they may have concerns over his citizenship.

That could be the case. I had an 03 license a few years ago and I don't recall it taking that long after applying for it.

[mauser98k]

i had a buddy who had to wait 6 months to get his license. i got mine in 3 weeks. that's our government for you.

[bplvr]

My beautiful wife applied for her C&R on July 6th and it arrived yesterday.

[Fot]

Mailed mine of 5/12 and got it @ June 10th

[Mssr. Eleganté]

ATF is required to issue or deny a license within 60 days of receiving the application.

923(d)(2) The Secretary must approve or deny an application for a license within the 60-day period beginning on the date it is received. If the Secretary fails to act within such period, the applicant may file an action under section 1361 of title 28 to compel the Secretary to act. If the Secretary approves an applicant's application, such applicant shall be issued a license upon the payment of the prescribed fee.

If it goes much beyond 60 days then you might need to get the ATF Ombudsman's office involved. They are kind of a citizens' rights office attached to ATF that is supposed to intervene when ATF is screwing around with people. The only contact info I have for the ATF Ombudsman is about 4 years old, so I don't know if it will still work...

Marianne C. Ketels, Ombudsman
U.S. Department of Justice
Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Tech World, Suite 844
Washington, DC 20226

Telephone: (202) 927-3538
E-mail: marianne.ketels@atf.gov

[geeknow]

There was a thread on the topic a while back. I think, from that, it was generally determined that the 'turn around' time on a C&R is 6-7 weeks.

So, they are running just shy of the 60 day rule as a matter of course.

My FFL renewal was just processed. That took about 3 weeks.

best,

g

[8bitnintendo]

Mailed my app May 6, the ATF charged me May 11, and I just received my C&R license today! So the wait is a little over 10 weeks right now. I need to get moving on my COE, since I figured it'd take longer than this.

[bplvr]

Mailed my app May 6, the ATF charged me May 11, and I just received my C&R license today! So the wait is a little over 10 weeks right now. I need to get moving on my COE, since I figured it'd take longer than this.

The COE is a lot faster ,say 8-10 days. I applied on 2/2 and had it on 2/8.