I sent in my renewal in mid-June.
Got the phone call in mid-August.
Drove to Chelsea recently.
May take another month to get the LTC in the mail. The new expiration date will be one year from the day it is mailed out.
I was advised by the folks at DPS that you should renew four months ahead of the LTC expiration.
DPS FRB APPOINTMENT PROCESS (after you get your appointment call):
1) Check in at the security desk at 200 Arlington Street. You will be asked for ID (driver's license).
2) You will be issued a nametag - which you will be asked to wear.
3) You will wait until somebody from FRB comes down to meet you.
4) You will be taken to the 2nd floor.
5) You will be asked to wash your hands to prep for the digital fingerprints.
6) You will be fingerprinted electronically. Pretty kewl gizmo. Note: while CHSB is on the electronic system, state mental health background check is still done versus ink, which may explain some of the processing time.
7) You will be digitally photographed.
8) Your app processor will verbally go over your application - every line item/question. FYI: Any carry permits you have from any state should be listed on the app as it will be entered into their system. It was not my impression that DPS was challenging any of the info (example: need for Class A for All Lawful Purposes) ... they were just verifying.
At the end of all this, hopefully you will get your wallet-sized LTC in a few weeks.
The gentleman who processed my app at DPS was super-nice, and professional. He also went out of his way to set reasonable expectations on the renewal turnaround.
No sense in getting mad at these guys, they're just following statutes for the most part.