COE - before or after 03 FFL

[Country Woodpecker]

I am about to send in my paperwork for my 03 FFL and have read about getting the COE to accompany it for it's full benefit. Do I have to wait for the 03 FFL to be completed or can I do both simultaneously? I assume either way I would just check the box for collector on the COE form.
Thanks!

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[ke6guj]

yes, check the collector box on the COE form.

you can submit hte COE app at any time, before or after you get the 03FFL. Historically, we recommended waiting ti the 03FFL was approved and mailed to you before you submitted the COE. Reason being is that the 03 would take 2+ months to get processed and the COE would usually get approved in 1-2 weeks.

[TheExpertish]

Yes, both at the same time. COE will be quicker, but not always. My 03 was in my hands after only 18 days.

[superhondaz50]

My C&R 03 took 15 days, it was sent Nov. 8 and received Nov. 23, the COE was sent on the same day, I am still waiting for the COE to arrive... How long does it normally take? Should I have had it by now?

[Country Woodpecker]

Excellent info. I sent my 03 FFL in today and will be doing the COE soon. One question I had is regarding the livescanto for COE. I just did a livescan for my CCW license. Any chance they can use that number and save me some money or is it specific to one application?

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[curvejunkie]

I dont know about a COE for a 03, as I have my 01, but my COE is still pending two months now, and wait time is around 3-4 months from what they told me on the phone.

[superhondaz50]

Yikes! That's a long wait time, it might as well be an NFA item...

[Cokebottle]

Ya... COE is $22/year, so there's no reason to waste $4 waiting for the 03 to arrive since the COE by itself is worthless.

Also, the COE application is a good chunk of change... approaching $100 with the Livescan fees.
On the oddball chance that your 03 is rejected for cause, it would be a shame to waste the money on the COE application (which will also likely be rejected for the same reason since the COE runs the same background check plus an additional check).

Not saying that there's likely to be a rejection, but there's always the possibility that something you or someone with a similar name did 40 years ago might show on one of the Federal checks.