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How long did it take you to get your UPIN?

theaero

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
116
Location
Bellevue, WA
I have gotten delays with every purchase I make, and while its not awful, it gets a bit annoying. So I requested a VAF / UPIN packet from the FBI. Its been 3 weeks and I haven't recieved the packet yet. When I do recieve it, about how long will it take to be issued my UPIN? I have no criminal record, arrest record, or even so much as a traffic ticket. The only thing I can think that would cause my delays is my constant change of address, perhaps?

Anyone have a UPIN, and how long did it take?
 

dadada

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Messages
112
Location
Edge of the woods
still no guarantee that you won't get delayed...

I've got one, and haven't been delayed since. I've purchased over a dozen with it. :) I'd get delayed about 50% of the time without it.

I got the packet from a gun shop, so there was no wait. got my prints and filled in a pamphlet. No kidding, it was a tri-fold pamphlet with just a few fields to fill in. Mailed it and got a letter of acknowledgement within 10 days. Then it was about 150-180 days before the letter with the UPIN came back. There isn't card or anything like a CPL. It's literally a letter with a "this is your UPIN ####." I've written it on the back of my CPL so that I've got it on me for those spur of the moment purchases. Pretty freaky getting a 8 1/2 x 11 envelope marked with FBI on it, when you don't normally get that kind of mail.
 
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MSG Laigaie

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
3,239
Location
Philipsburg, Montana
still no guarantee that you won't get delayed...

I was getting delays and did not like it. I called the FBI and said"wtf". I was told the local LEOs were holding me (I have irritated BPD). He offered a Upin, but told me, if the locals put a hold on it , the upin will not matter.
 

dadada

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Messages
112
Location
Edge of the woods
I was getting delays and did not like it. I called the FBI and said"wtf". I was told the local LEOs were holding me (I have irritated BPD). He offered a Upin, but told me, if the locals put a hold on it , the upin will not matter.

How could the local PD get involved with a NICS check? You don't think the FBI dials up your local cop shop to get info on you during the NICS check, do you? The check only takes a few minutes, so they'd have no time to do the actual computer check, look up your local pd's #, track down an officer in the office, chit-chat about you, etc... The check is a computer based search. IF your local PD's put some kind of flag on you, which isn't possible, then the UPIN would defeat this. The FBI isn't allowed to maintain a file on you, (I know, I know, I'm sure there are files on most people anyway!), which is what the purpose of the UPIN is for. It's your authorization for them TO keep a file on you. That way, if they get a hit on you, they've already stored the info about that hit in your file, explaining what the issue was and then they don't have to do a background search on the hit.
 

Difdi

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2010
Messages
987
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
I was getting delays and did not like it. I called the FBI and said"wtf". I was told the local LEOs were holding me (I have irritated BPD). He offered a Upin, but told me, if the locals put a hold on it , the upin will not matter.

Washington State Constitution Article I, Section 24: RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.

How is a local police department able to put a hold on a UPIN without tripping over the state constitution?
 

MSG Laigaie

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
3,239
Location
Philipsburg, Montana
How could the local PD get involved with a NICS check? You don't think the FBI dials up your local cop shop to get info on you during the NICS check, do you? ..................

Actually, yes, I do. When I spoke with agents about this situation they told me that if the local LEOs want to flag me for five, they can do that. NICS agent said there was nothing they can do and then asked what I had done to PO my local chief. I told him I was suing him because one of his officers made an a$$hat of himself. The NICS guy laughed and then apologized. Still nothing he can do. You can beat the rap, but not the ride. It no longer bothers me and I plan for it when I make a purchase.
 

Davpacjr

Newbie
Joined
Sep 11, 2018
Messages
1
Location
Buffalo, Ny
So I have been watching this old thread because I did apply for a VAF UPIN in late May, early June. Yesterday I got my UPIN in. It is a nice letter that basically says it does not guarantee approval right away, and that you can still be denied if any disqualifying information appears, and that you can also remove your info if you send a written letter to them. Oh they also ask you to keep the letter in a safe place.

So right now it is about a 3 to 4 month turnaround (If you have all the paperwork filled out and send them copies of any paperwork like past disputes that you won) this is as of today 9-11-2018.
 

OC Freedom

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2014
Messages
646
Location
ADA County, ID
So I have been watching this old thread because I did apply for a VAF UPIN in late May, early June. Yesterday I got my UPIN in. It is a nice letter that basically says it does not guarantee approval right away, and that you can still be denied if any disqualifying information appears, and that you can also remove your info if you send a written letter to them. Oh they also ask you to keep the letter in a safe place.

So right now it is about a 3 to 4 month turnaround (If you have all the paperwork filled out and send them copies of any paperwork like past disputes that you won) this is as of today 9-11-2018.

It took me over a year to get my UPIN. I still received delayed purchases with my UPIN, but just not as often. Finally got an Idaho carry permit which bypasses the check altogether, problem solved. The UPIN was a dissapointment.
 
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