EDINBURG – The private company tasked with taking fingerprints for state licenses is facing a backlog.

IdentoGo, the private company, is contracted with taking fingerprints for the Department of Public Safety.

The application fee for a license to carry in the state of Texas dropped from $140 dollars to $40 at the start of September. They say this could be the reason for the backlog.

Rio Grande Valley handgun instructor Roy Balli says the increase in demand was undeniable.

 "When it first changed it was super packed," said Balli. "It was super crazy. Everyone was jumping in to get on it."

Applicants are required to submit fingerprints into a DPS database to complete the process.

IdentoGo is the identity service company contracted to do the job here in the Valley.

IdentoGo representative Homar Mares says it could take up to two to three weeks to get an appointment.

"I was seeing up to eight to ten people per day. Now with the lowering of the price, I've been seeing about 20 to 25 people a day for the license to carry," Mares said.

Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr and Willacy counties saw marginal increases in active handgun license holders from the start of September through the end of October, according to DPS data.

Gun enthusiasts aren't the only ones who could feel the pinch. The backlog could delay the licensing and hiring process for someone in need of a fingerprint identity.

"If you have a job to get in nursing or teaching or something like that and you're on a time crunch and you're first appointment is going to be two weeks out," said Balli. "Well, that might cause an issue with getting hired at the right time."

Balli doesn't see the traffic slowing down anytime soon.