have a license to carry in my state of residence which in Florida and no criminal history
As has been mentioned before, you need to show up in person during business hours to pick up a permit once it has been approved. RI takes a short period of time (about two weeks) to process an application. The approval letter states you have something like 2 weeks to pick it up, but they will be flexible if you contact them after approval to explain your travel plans/issues. If you know what month you will be traveling to RI, I suggest you contact them and ask if you can apply well in advance or need to time your application so they don't have to sit on it for an extended period of time after approval.
Also, be aware that applications are often denied and issued upon appeal. You appeal to the person who denied the application, but these appeals tend to have a better track record than the judicial appeals in MA. I don't know if an applicant who is successful at appeal may pick up the permit on the same trip as the appeal, or if you have to go back (it probably depends on their willingness/ability to type up the cardstock for the permit while you wait - they laminate it after adding your thumbprint).
You need to take a range test form an NRA or police instructor - just be sure to find an NRA B-22 (Army L) target for this (30 rounds slow fire, 25 yards, 195/300 required). You must score 195 to qualify and the caliber you take the test with will be marked on your permit and is the biggest you can carry.
RI tends to be good about renewals - their form states that having an existing permit and demonstrating responsibility is a valid reason for issuance of a new one, so any answer to a "has anyone succeeded?" question is only valid if asked of someone under the same administrative regime. I have been advised that renewals are generally approved if the applicant's stated reason is basically the same as with the previous permit, and they continue to maintain a clean record.
Curiously enough, currently issued RI permits are personally signed by the AG (no rubber stamp as with previous AGs).
When you visit take a look at the far wall you see when standing at the service window - all those manila folders in the racks on the wall are the RI AG pistol permit files (resident and non-resident)