§ 925(c) Program Status Tracker

We update this page whenever the Department of Justice acts. Last verified: September 22, 2026 — against DOJ’s program page and its official FAQ.

Question	Status
Can I file an application today?	Not yet — but the rule is now in effect (as of September 21) and intake begins this week. DOJ has published a phased schedule: September 25 — invited candidates; November 4 — first public window, capped at 5,000 applications nationwide; January 4, 2027 — 500 more, with the $30 fee beginning. The Nov 4 window is first-come, first-served and DOJ says the invited phase covers roughly 500 applicants. The online portal was still “coming soon” as of September 22 — but the official application form is out and we’ve read every page. What it requires →
Where is the rule?	FINAL RULE PUBLISHED August 20, 2026 (Fed. Reg. Doc. 2026-16981), following the July 2025 proposed rule and 3,427 public comments. Effective September 21, 2026.
Is DOJ actually granting relief?	Yes — in batches, ahead of the final rule. Most recently, 22 grants signed February 6, 2026 and published in the Federal Register February 23, 2026.
What will it cost to file?	A $30 federal filing fee (fee waivers and reductions available), per DOJ’s program page.
How many people will apply?	DOJ's own estimate: roughly 1,000,000 applications in the first year.
What should I do now?	Get complete before your window. Certified copies of decades-old court files can take weeks. With the first public window capped at 5,000 nationwide, a finished, attorney-reviewed package the morning of November 4 is the whole game. Start with the free checklist.

New from DOJ’s FAQ (verified September 22)

• 30-day shot clock. Once you begin the online application you have 30 days to complete and submit it — or you start over. And DOJ says a lost application link or PIN cannot be recovered. Translation: be document-complete before you ever open the portal.
• Fingerprints go through the Post Office. After submitting the first part of the e-application, you receive a QR code by email and get fingerprinted at a participating U.S. Post Office.
• November 4 is first-come, first-served. DOJ says so explicitly. 5,000 applications nationwide, and the line forms the moment it opens.
• The invited phase is small — roughly 500 applicants, per DOJ, to test the system before the public window.
• A denial can cost you five more years. Per DOJ: permanent presumptions mean permanent disqualification; 5- and 10-year presumptions must run out; status-based denials last until the status changes — and other denials add a fresh five-year presumption. A rushed or incomplete application is not a free swing.
• Mental-health prohibitions: DOJ generally requires exhausting available state relief first. Whether and how that applies in Kentucky is fact-specific — call us before assuming either way.

Timeline of the revival

• Feb 7, 2025 — Executive Order 14206 directs a review of Second Amendment policies
• Mar 2025 — DOJ interim rule moves § 925(c) authority from ATF to the Department; first grants follow that spring
• Jul 22, 2025 — Proposed rule published; application framework, criteria, and $20 fee proposed
• Oct 20, 2025 — Comment period closes with 3,427 comments
• Feb 2026 — 22 additional grants of relief published
• Aug 20, 2026 — Final rule published; $30 fee; new presumptive categories. Our full analysis →
• Sept 21, 2026 — Final rule takes effect
• Sept 16, 2026 — DOJ’s official application form surfaces: locality arrest records covering 25 years, reference certifications, two fingerprint cards. Our breakdown →
• Sept 25, 2026 — Application opens to invited candidates (DOJ selects — roughly 500 applicants; no way to apply for an invitation)
• Nov 4, 2026 — First public window: 5,000 applications nationwide
• Jan 4, 2027 — 500 more applications; $30 fee begins