My lifetime renewal took just under three months. Got it the other day.
After the election everyone and their mom applied for the lifetime permit. When I put in the paperwork I had 15 or 20 people behind me in line. In years past I was always alone in the office when I renewed. Massive influx of applications.
And the permit division recently had their funding and staff cut way back. They are doing the best they can.
It's the gubmint, dude. If you expect everything to go smooth all the time, you must not have much experience dealing with them.
