Posted: 4/2/2025 2:21:19 PM EDT
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I've had a MA non-resident Class A LTC for a long, long time. I used to do the command performance at the FRB in Chelsea every year, then was pleasantly surprised when they went to doing it via mail. Now they've got the online MIRCS portal. I know people like to sh*t all over govie websites, but I didn't find it difficult to use at all and I see it as a great improvement. I made an account and completed, but did not submit, and renewal application. What's stopping me is that I cannot find any information on how to pay the $100 fee. I called the FRB, left a message, got nada back. I emailed the FRB, same nada back. I guess it wouldn't be the full bureaucratic experience without this sort of frustration--er--"service"  Has anyone been through the entire process including payment? If so, how did you make payment, and how did you reference the MIRCS application it applies to? |
| Yes, I did the MIRCS online app for my NR LTC renewal last month. The next business day, I received an Email with directions about payment (MO or bank check only). You do NOT get a receipt or copy of your application when you do it online, but I printed the online acknowledgment and included that with the check. Now you wait a number of months before receiving the LTC. |
NRA Firearms Instructor
Moved to NH!
Moved to NH!
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Originally Posted By LenS: Yes, I did the MIRCS online app for my NR LTC renewal last month. The next business day, I received an Email with directions about payment (MO or bank check only). You do NOT get a receipt or copy of your application when you do it online, but I printed the online acknowledgment and included that with the check. Now you wait a number of months before receiving the LTC. Perfect, exactly what I needed to know, thank you! I've always waited months, regardless of the process. |
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It took two business days, but I did get an email with the payment instructions. It appears that the new system is working (so far). What's interesting is that they no longer ask for a SASE to mail the license in. @LenS was this your experience as well? Attached File |
I just received an Email from FRB acknowledging receipt of my MO and advising that it could be another 3 months before I receive the new NR LTC. I mailed the MO almost exactly a month ago . . . does it take them that long to open the envelope?  When I find my USPO MO receipt, I'll check on when they actually cashed it, I'll bet it was ~3 weeks ago. |
NRA Firearms Instructor
Moved to NH!
Moved to NH!
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I send in my renewals 6 months early. The fastest I've had a turn-around was approx. 3 months. The slowest a little more than 6 months (I was actually lapsed for a week). They don't seem to care if the renewal shows up early. The new license simply trumps the old and is good for 12 months. Yeah, I'm not getting full value for my $100, but it prevents lapsed credentials. |
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Originally Posted By LenS: Not true. Look at the effective date. It is always the day the old one expires, regardless of when you receive it. In December 2024 I sent my application in for my then current LTC with an expiry in September 2025. My new card was recently received (Mar 2025) but won't take effect until September 2025. (My "old card") Issued in September 2024 and valid through September 2025 remains valid. When they don't process the renewal until after the previous license expires, the license will be dated to approximately the date of mailing. For example, I had an extremely long renewal in 2022. Despite sending it in well before my license's expiration in March 2022, my renewed license was not completed until September. My new issue date reflected a day in September 2022 and an expiry in September 2023. (There is no grace period for non-resident LTCs and a I could not carry/possess in Mass or sign BFS certificates during the lapse.] |
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Originally Posted By LenS: Yes. I forgot the SASE 2 yrs ago and spoke with the FRB Director and he told me not to worry about it. Last year I didn't bother to send a SASE. Prior years they never used my SASE to send me my LTC. Most years, they have used the SASE that I sent them, including this year. I too have had years when I have sent an SASE with my application and received my renewed license back in a letterhead envelope. |
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Originally Posted By aa777888-2: It took two business days, but I did get an email with the payment instructions. It appears that the new system is working (so far). What's interesting is that they no longer ask for a SASE to mail the license in. @LenS was this your experience as well? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/16697/image001_png-3510651.JPG My most recent renewal (submitted December 2024) was on paper. My renewed license (which takes effect in September) came with a letter detailing how to get MIRCS portal access and a similar procedure for future applications. It was about a 3-month turn-around this year. Also- I always use a trackable mailing service when sending any paperwork to FRB. (Typically I use certified mail- which is the cheapest approach- similar to my approach with other government organizations....) |
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Originally Posted By aa777888-2: I send in my renewals 6 months early. The fastest I've had a turn-around was approx. 3 months. The slowest a little more than 6 months (I was actually lapsed for a week). They don't seem to care if the renewal shows up early. The new license simply trumps the old and is good for 12 months. Yeah, I'm not getting full value for my $100, but it prevents lapsed credentials. I sent my NR renewal 4 months early in October 24. They sent me a new LTC a month later that wasn't valid until February 25, which is when my old one would have expired. Incidentally, my buddy who has the same expiration date sent his in 3 months early in November 24. He didn't get his renewal until almost April 25. 
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Thanks for the clarifications, gents. I also always send to the FRB via USPS certified with return receipt. They got my check. Nothing left to do except wait. This is my 40th renewal with Mass. I've had an unrestricted Class A a looooong time. To carbon date myself further, I was taking a class at the old S&W Academy. It was a relatively advanced class, so you would expect a fair number of people serious about concealed carry. I was the only person to answer "Yes" when they asked if anyone was armed, and the only one with a Mass. license. There were no class instructions to show up sterile. Perhaps they assumed nobody could carry in Mass. It certainly was unusual. It became a cluster at lunch break because I was not going to head out in the wasteland of Springfield unarmed. They had me holster up in the parking lot 
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For the first time since forever (decades), the FRB has actually reached out with a reminder to renew. The way the state rolls, you'd figure they'd want me to forget! The notice came this week, approx. 6 months before expiration. Attached File |
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum."
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Originally Posted By aa777888-2: For the first time since forever (decades), the FRB has actually reached out with a reminder to renew. The way the state rolls, you'd figure they'd want me to forget! The notice came this week, approx. 6 months before expiration. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/16697/IMG20260521090717_jpg-3765718.JPG Got the same letter this week as well. Also about 6 months prior to expiration. I’ll send in our renewals sometime in the next month when I open the computer. |
I did my MIRCS non-resident renewal this morning. Oh. My. God. What a train wreck! The software shitification epidemic has reached MIRCS.  First I couldn't log in even though I knew my password. That's because since last year they've switched to a statewide method of authentication. There's no warning of this, no help. You just have to assume all your previous MIRCS stuff is gone and make a new account. After making the new account, lo and behold, the old MIRCS stuff is still there. Hooray! Then the site takes you through all the usual questions. There are some minor changes and new questions, no big deal. But if you back up a page sometimes information appears lost, sometimes it isn't, and sometimes it reappears randomly. I get to the end and there's no way to review the application in total. I click the submit button and I get the spinning wheel of doom forever. After about 20 minutes I gave up. I logged out and logged in again. Now you have to access the application through a different mechanism whereby you select each page manually and then select edit. At least in this mode information did not go missing and it was easy to move around the pages and double check everything. Finally I hit submit again and it goes through. Then I print a copy for my records. The printout does not show answers for previous states or previous license locations. There's no way to look at the details of the application on MIRCS after submittal. Panic sets in! I called the FRB and they checked for me. The info is in the database 100% OK. I get the big shoulder shrug about how it must be a glitch in the print function. Heavy sigh  For those who may be doing the same thing, I recommend starting an application, immediately saving a draft, then going back and working on the draft version, rather than letting MIRCS lead you through it. |
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum."
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More good news (seriously!): the FRB now accepts online payments. I received an email this morning with payment instructions less than 24 hours after I submitted the MIRCS application. Sure, there's an additional "convenience fee" of $2, and you can avoid that by mailing a check as usual. But I'm more than happy to spend $2 rather than drive to the bank, get a bank check, address and stuff an envelope, then drive to the post office to send it certified because I don't trust them! |
"Cogito, ergo armatum sum."