Shorten PAL Approval Times

Application for PAL/RPAL in BC
Course completed on 25 Jan
Mailed 27 Jan
Received 30 Jan
Appears online and credit card billed Feb 21
Called in and ref can call in March 11
Ref called in March 13
Called in March 16 told they are almost done but it is still showing up as still in progress
 
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Mailed PAL App. February 13
Received February 17
In Progress March 11
Called today March 18 and was told to expect it to take another 2 to 3 weeks before approved. (Woman said they were backed up)
 
PAL/RPAL
Date received by CFP - Feb 17th 2015
Date the application number showed up online - March 11th 2015 AM
Cheque Cashed: March 16th 2015
Date references can call in: March 18th
Date status changed from in progress to issued:
Date License showed up in mailbox :
Province:Ontario

Called today on day 29 and they are ready for my one reference to call in, they are calling in now and will hopefully have it issued later on today :) some people get it issued an hour after references call :)
 
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it seems the east are getting their stuff processed faster than the west.

pal/rpal

they have had my app since the feb 6th i call yeterday still not ready for my referneces call back in 1 week.
 
I think I was extremely lucky this time... heres my time line as of now:
PAL
Date Sent Using Canada Post : Feb 9th 2015
Date received by CFP - Feb 12th 2015
Date the application number showed up online - Sometime afterwards ( couldn't check because of technical difficulties )
Cheque Cashed: March 11th 2015
Date status changed from in progress to issued: March 18th 2015
Date License showed up in mailbox : Can't wait till it does... haha
Province:Ontario

Now, time to go get my SKS...
 
rankster said:
Updated and final timeline: (RPAL Alberta)

Oct.24-25/14 - CFSC & CRFSC taken and passed with results in hand
Nov.13/14 - Sent out to Miramichi
Nov.20/14 - Recieved at CFC
Dec.31/14 - Cheque cashed, showed up online
Jan.13/15 - Phoned in inquiring about application status, given info for reference to phone in
Jan.13/15 - Reference phoned into CFC
Jan.21/15 - Status still "in progess" Phoned CFC inquiring about status, told application transferred to provincial CFO (AB)
Jan.28/15 - Phoned CFO office inquiring status - told it's not behind schedule at 69 days (LOL :confused:)
Feb.4 /15 - Phoned CFO office inquiring status - told it takes time to do background check etc, should phone back in 2 weeks
Feb.18/15 - Phoned CFO office inquiring status - told it's a long process and CFO will phone me if any further questions and that phoning in weekly does not speed up the process. (obviously they keep track on your file)
Mar.9/15 1:00pm - Phoned CFO office inquiring status - asked if a 109 day processing time is normal? 56 days at CFO seems like an abnormally long time compared to others experiences on online forums. Again told that it takes time. Politely asked if there was any way it could be sped up as a job position that requires PAL opened up and I'd like to apply. CFO agent said she would mark it as required for employment.
Mar.9/15 2:00pm - Checked status for the 476479864th time in 109 days. ISSUED!! Approx one hour after calling.
Mar.10/15 - Phoned CFC and asked for card number and expiry as I needed it to get a range membership. They provided it, no problem.
Mar.10/15 - Used Cabela's gift card online and made first firearm purchase (NR) without PAL card in possesion.
Mar.16/15 - Card arrives in mail. Canada Post also delivers Mossberg 500 to the door. :) :) :) :)
Click to expand...

Congrats happy shooting
 
:dancingbanana::dancingbanana::dancingbanana::rockOn:
PARKINGLOT said:
My final timeline:

-Took PAL/RPAL test Dec 3rd.
-CFO Stamped test results Dec 29th.
-Recieved test results Jan 9th.
-Mailed out application and test results via registered mail yesterday, Jan 13th.
-Application recieved in Miramichi Jan. 19th.
-Appeared online Feb. 10th.
-Called in Feb. 12th, told it should be about 3 weeks.
-Called in Feb. 19th, told they are backed up, it will probably be 6-8 weeks.
-Called in Feb. 24th, told my information is partially entered, but not yet ready for references to call in.
-Credit card charged Feb. 27th.
-Called in March 3rd, told one reference could call in. Reference duly phoned in.
-Online status changed March 9th - "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued. If you have not received your licence within 2 weeks please contact the Canadian Firearms Program Toll Free number."
-License came in mail, March 16th.

Total time from test to license in hand: 104 days.
Total time from being received in Miramichi to issued: 50 days.
Click to expand...

Congrats
 
rytheguy said:
it seems the east are getting their stuff processed faster than the west.

pal/rpal

they have had my app since the feb 6th i call yeterday still not ready for my referneces call back in 1 week.
Click to expand...

Nope, mine was issued 31 days after they received it. I'm from BC.

Finally got it in the mail yesterday, went out to buy my rifle and all they had left was the floor model which I was not into. Time to go somewhere else today.
 
I called in last week to inquire about mine. Guy answered and after confirming my details brought up my file, and geez, we have only had your file for 6 weeks, and it usually takes a LOT longer than that so basically "why are you calling?" - I said well exactly, it's been 42 days bang on, but your website says 45 days so it has to be close right? He says - hey you can't believe ANYTHING you see on the internet buddy. I responded by saying - well it's on the RCMP website - is the whole thing garbage? He started laughing and said Touche! Said I was in scanning, have a good day and card is in the mail right now. Cheers
 
Just to give everyone an update:

Sent via Registered Mail on Jan 22, 2015 from Burlington, ON
Arrived on Jan 28th
Showed up online Feb 20th
Gave them a call on Feb 27th to ask if anything in my application was missing / and when my references could call in. (Was told to call back in about 2 weeks)
Received a call Mar 3rd to confirm some details. (Was told that I should be able to get my references to call in after a few days, the data just needs to be entered into the system)[/
Reference called in Mar 18th
Mar 19: Current Status: Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued. If you have not received your licence within 2 weeks please contact the Canadian Firearms Program Toll Free number. (1-800 731-4000)

:)
 
Kindness gets things done..

Showed up online last week, was told to "call in 3-4 weeks from now to see if references are ready" -- Waited 8 days, called today, References can call in - both called, one was told "We don't need to hear from you, 1 was enough" i'm told my photo is awaiting scanning... So I think i'm almost there.
 
Grinthock said:
Kindness gets things done..

Showed up online last week, was told to "call in 3-4 weeks from now to see if references are ready" -- Waited 8 days, called today, References can call in - both called, one was told "We don't need to hear from you, 1 was enough" i'm told my photo is awaiting scanning... So I think i'm almost there.
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat as you mine has been with them for 30 days, my reference called yesterday. They told me it is headed to the CFO for photo scanning or something and then from there it either gets approved or goes for secondary review by the CFO.

Hopefully I get it soon!
 
So here's a weird question - i've called 3 times, once to provide a credit card payment, once to be told to wait a week, now to tell my references to call in.

I've never been "Interviewed" -- unless you count basically asking me the questions on my application -- did I miss something?
 
Lowbanks67 said:
Timeline so far
App received Feb.12th
Online and payment charged March 9th (day 25) - indicated "information still required" which was my safety course results.
Called on March 10th, given fax# to send safety course copy.

Tried several times on March 11 and 12 to fax but something not working so I emailed a scanned PDF file.

They emailed back that they received the info and forwarded to appropriate dept for processing.

Online now indicates "application completed initial processing ..........."

Will wait till day 45 before calling again. PAL only
Click to expand...

Checked again on a whim, "Licence has been issued", so only 35 days since receipt of application (PAL only).
I guess quick ones like mine help bring down the average.
 
Did I make a mistake?

Hello All,
I have applied for my PAL/RPAL back in December.
Here is the timeline:
Mailed exam results (both PAL and RPAL) and the application Dec 2, 2014
Received by RCMP Dec 8
Showed up online Jan 7, 2015
Credit card charged Jan 9
RCMP called one reference Feb 9
I called RCMP Feb 10. Was told it was being scanned and sent to Ontario CFO and to call back in 2 weeks
I called every two weeks and was told the same thing. It is with the CFO and they (CFO) are not requesting any more info and everything is OK.
Called today, same thing, it is with the CFO (been at the CFO for 5 weeks) and to call back in 2 weeks. This time I asked to speak to CFO and was transferred right away. The nice lady at the CFO gave me the name of the person who has my file and transferred me to his phone. I left a very polite message, clearly spelling my name and date of birth and my phone #. I said I like to know the status of my application and if there is any other info that I can provide will be happy to do so. So far nobody contacted me. Was it a mistake to leave a message? Do not want to piss anybody off.

I have a clean record and no red flags in the past.

Thank you
 
I called and was told to ask "one of my references" to call in. I am applying for both PAL and RPAL. I was wondering if this is the normal process, or should I ask my other reference to call as well. Has anyone had the same experience ?
 
Gatvolboerseun said:
I called and was told to ask "one of my references" to call in. I am applying for both PAL and RPAL. I was wondering if this is the normal process, or should I ask my other reference to call as well. Has anyone had the same experience ?
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They only need 1 reference as I just went threw the same process. If it's anything like when my reference called in, they issue your pal the next day
 
I had mine call in last Friday and mine is still in process. It seems that it depends on either the province or if they decide to send it to the CFO for secondary approval.
 
Gatvolboerseun said:
I called and was told to ask "one of my references" to call in. I am applying for both PAL and RPAL. I was wondering if this is the normal process, or should I ask my other reference to call as well. Has anyone had the same experience ?
Click to expand...

So I had both call anyway, the second was told "That's ok we don't need to ask you any questions his other reference called"
 
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