Shorten PAL Approval Times

First time post...long time reader

Time line for me:
Ontario PAL/RPAL

Feb 6,7,8 - Courses taken
March 9th - Results back and stamped by CFO
- sent in original with the CFO stamp
March 12th - Received by CFP
March 31st - Application online
April 13th - First call to check on application (t's crossed, i's dotted) Told everything looked good, still processing and to wait a week or 2 and call in again
April 23rd - Called again and was told to have one reference call in. They did 10 minutes later.
April 25th - 'License issued' was posted online.

Total time: 45 days

Now just waiting for the mail

Make sure your application is filled out perfectly, check and re-check it. Don't pester them, just inquire. Super friendly people. Be patient (I know it's hard)

Personally I think sending the application complete, waiting for the safety certificates and sending the original stamped copies is the way to go. There is virtually no difference in peoples timelines that I have observed on this site. Proper Application with all documents is 43-45 days, just less chance things get shuffled or misplaced.

Cheers and good luck.
 
joshb said:
What kind of questions will they ask the reference and for how long approximately?
Click to expand...

The interview will likely take all of five minutes - but add another ten or fifteen minutes of possible hold time.

They will confirm their name and the contact address you provided, ask how long they've known you, if they know you've applied for a gun license and why (make sure they know to answer that it's for target shooting if you applied for restricted). They may ask whether you are prone to anger or fighting, if they've ever heard you make threatening remarks, expressed extremist political views, that sort of thing. They may broadly ask if there's any reason your contact thinks they should be denied. Fairly quick and simple.
 
ArcticHound said:
The interview will likely take all of five minutes - but add another ten or fifteen minutes of possible hold time.

They will confirm their name and the contact address you provided, ask how long they've known you, if they know you've applied for a gun license and why (make sure they know to answer that it's for target shooting if you applied for restricted). They may ask whether you are prone to anger or fighting, if they've ever heard you make threatening remarks, expressed extremist political views, that sort of thing. They may broadly ask if there's any reason your contact thinks they should be denied. Fairly quick and simple.
Click to expand...
Thanks:)
 
I currently have my non restricted pal decided to upgrade to rpal, took the test on feb15 got results same day. Sent on feb18, received by cfc on feb23 showed online march15 called in on March30th told my reference could call, ref called 10 mins later interview lasted 3 minutes, I called every week since and told the same thing ,still with cfo, I had a bout depression in 2012 and had to state that on application however it was the same thing I stated when I applied for my nrpal ,told the lady that nothing has changed i just had to say yes on the Application because it hadn't been 5 years yet. Called yesterday April 28 said I was frustrated and she said to try in another month as they are well within a reasonable time frame.and the bc cfo has not hundreds but thousands of applications to go through . It's been 47 business days and over 65 calendar days.oh well more time to save for a pistol I guess. I'll keep calling every week though ,you never know.im in bc by the way
 
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So over these guys.

They are actually the slowest and some of the rudest people I've ever spoken to on the phone, lol.

My application was recieved JAN 05th, 2015 (application for res and non res)

I checked and called weekly after my 28 day wait; It didn't end up on their desk (Wasn't able to have my references call in until March 20th.

One of my references messed up; so they mailed me a new reference form; it came to my house on April 2nd.

Priority sent it to them; waited until this week only for them to tell me the laws changed and that they only need to interview one reference now and have sent my app to the alberta CFO for final approval and to have the card issued.

They told me this will take up to another 1.5-2 months before I'll get it in the mail.

Absolute bull####.

And every time I called they were extremely condescending (I get it, I'm not french, they are likely elitist Quebecois people) for absolutely no reason.

Can't wait to finally get this license so I don't have to deal with these idiots for another 5 years.

/end rant
 
First time poster.

I have been reading this thread for a few days and found a lot of good pointers. Thanks guys.

Took CFSC course: February 21st 2015
Received CFSC results: March 3rd 2015
Application mailed: March 9th 2015
Application received: March 12th 2015
Took CRFSC course: March 23rd 2015
Application started to be processed: March 31st 2015 (at least that's what the CFC agent told me on the phone)
Application status showing online: first week of April 2015
Received CRFSC results: April 10th 2015
Faxed CRFSC results to CFC to upgrade application to RPAL: April 14th 2015
Called April 17th 2015 and was told that everything is in order (fax received and already in my file)
Called the following week to see if there is any progress. I was told the same thing and asked to call in 2-3 weeks
Called April 27th and was told that my application reached my provincial CFO. It is out of their hands now.
Called the following day and got the same answer.
Called again yesterday to ask for the reference/interview calls and got "it is out of our hands and you need to wait ... You could call in 2-3 weeks".

At this point I do not know what to do. How can I know if the CFO is ready for the interview / reference calls? Any pointers/ideas?

I have been reading in this thread that we could call for the phone interview and let references call CFC to expedite the process. Usually I call 1-800-731-4000 (option 2 for English .. then option 5 ... then option 2) and end up talking to an agent. Is that what I am supposed to be doing? I was wondering which number/extension should I be calling at this point to get done with the interview and reference calls to get the final approval?

Thanks in advance for your input and help.

UPDATE: I was able to reach the CFO handling my file. She was very nice and professional. She explained to me that the RCMP did not transfer the results of my CRFSC. As soon as it goes into my file, they will do the reference calls.
 
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Jan 26 - Registered for first available courses.
Feb 6/7/8 - CFSC + CRFSC
Mar 6 - FSEO Stamp
Mar 10 - Received stamped results.
Mar 12 - Mailed application.
Mar 17 - Mail signed for.
Apr 7 - Application appears online.
Apr 8 - Called in: Still entering data, call back next Friday.
Apr 14 - Called in: Looks complete, call back in a week or two.
Apr 17 - Called in: No news, call back in a week or two.
Apr 23 - Called in: No news, call back in a week or two.
Apr 23 - Called in: ready for one reference. They called in half an hour later.
Apr 27 - Called in: High call volume message, and IRS style “courtesy disconnect”.
Apr 28 - Called in: no news, check back next week.
Apr 30 - License Issued!

94 days from the time I decided to go for it (i.e. stopped waiting for indecisive friends to take the course with me).
44 days from application was received at CFP for an RPAL, in Ontario, guess I got lucky.
 
If you're only doing non restricted you won't need a reference call. If it's both non restricted and restricted the cfo will call you when they're ready. If you miss the call call the cfc and they will have a note on your file and will transfer you directly to that officer.
 
Hi,

I called a couple of times today and I finally was able to reach the CFO handling my file. She was very patient and professional. She answered all my questions. Looks like this call might save me 2 weeks of waiting time.
 
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Seppe101 said:
If you're only doing non restricted you won't need a reference call. If it's both non restricted and restricted the cfo will call you when they're ready. If you miss the call call the cfc and they will have a note on your file and will transfer you directly to that officer.
Click to expand...

where did you get this info about no reference call required if someone just applying for a non-restricted license? thx:)
 
joshb said:
where did you get this info about no reference call required if someone just applying for a non-restricted license? thx:)
Click to expand...


A cfc officer told me when I was applying for my non restricted that they do not typically call any of the references if
You're only applying for non restricted. Mine were
Never called
 
Just saw the website updated to "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress" for my applicaition. Should I wait a bit longer before calling in and asking if my refrences can call in? (applied for RPAL). Credit card charged as well as of Apr 30th.

Application mailed: April 1st
Application Recieved April 9th
Completed Initial Processing: April 29th
Credit Card Charged: April 30th
 
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novawar said:
Just saw the website updated to "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress" for my applicaition. Should I wait a bit longer before calling in and asking if my refrences can call in? (applied for RPAL). Credit card charged as well as of Apr 30th.

Application mailed: April 1st
Application Recieved April 9th
Completed Initial Processing: April 29th
Credit Card Charged: April 30th
Click to expand...

I don't think they will even look at it until your 28 day waiting period is up. I'm currently at day 36 since received. I've made no calls yet. I'll wait til day 45. No rush, away working
 
novawar said:
Just saw the website updated to "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress" for my applicaition. Should I wait a bit longer before calling in and asking if my refrences can call in? (applied for RPAL). Credit card charged as well as of Apr 30th.

Application mailed: April 1st
Application Recieved April 9th
Completed Initial Processing: April 29th
Credit Card Charged: April 30th
Click to expand...

I don't think they will even look at it until your 28 day waiting period is up. I'm currently at day 36 since received. I've made no calls yet. I'll wait til day 45. No rush, away working
 
Yeah, it will be a couple more weeks at least before I would even try to call. Not sure but if I had to guess calling right now would not help your file. My advice wait 2 weeks after it gets posted online. Got the feeling that when you call and are talking to them, even casually you are actually being interviewed. I would suspect that every time you call is being logged and recorded.

I waited 2 weeks and was told to call back in a week or 2. Called 10 days later and then they were ready for my reference
 
Calalta, thank you so much for posting the Shorten PAL Approval Times information. Very much appreciated. My son is taking his non-restricted course this weekend, so your post will be very helpful.
 
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