PAL Wait Time

My wife mailed mine on Dec 4, 2017. My mistake....not telling her to send it registered mail. I am not even recognized by their website to check status yet. Also am not sure about the place of birth question as to exact syntax they will use in regards to commas, fwd slash, town and district I was born in. So I phoned today, Jan 9, 2018, and the lady said it might be in the building but can't tell me that. So unfortunately for me I won't know if it got lost in the Christmas mail surge.

Update: just showed up online Jan 19. It states: Application Received on 2017-12-11
Current Status: Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date.
 
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Got my first time RPAL the other day. Submitted last week of October, received about 2.25 months later a week into Jan, called twice to check up, had a bit of a delay with credit card. I am in Alberta.
 
mb571 said:
Also am not sure about the place of birth question as to exact syntax they will use in regards to commas, fwd slash, town and district I was born in.
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For birth date, "-" between day-month-year is accepted and 0's should be added to single digit days and months; August 5th 1977 would be 1977-08-05, as a random example.

I recall I filled in my application form using all upper case letters to make it easier to read. However, on the online status form, I capitalize the first letter and use lower case for the rest of my name and town as per normal spelling and it works just fine.
 
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Sorry...not birthdate... but:
Place of Birth /
E-Services PIN
(City, Municipality or Township you indicated on your Firearms Licence application).
I want to go help them sort out their work flow. You would think they would open their mail, do a brief computer entry, then put the applications in the to do pile. Then at least folk would know that it has been received.
 
It would be a good idea to have all document be photocopied before sending the original to RCMP.
I did a step even further :
Took my photocopies and the originals to my bank and got my financial adv. to certify them.
So in the event ( luckily It did not happen) of mail lost, I still can supply with the certified copies.
My time line for AB
0ct 30 2017 completes CRFSC/CFSC
Nov 3 mail out expressport
Nov 8 received by RCMP @ Miramichi
Dec 19 credit charges appears on line
Dec 20 called in
Dec 23 approved and issued
Jan 05 called in not received within two weeks
Been told it was only printed in JAN 02 and mailed out JAN 03
Jan 08 license received

Hope this helps.
No reference called
Background checked in Sep 2017 due to volunteering works.
 
WWW226 said:
It would be a good idea to have all document be photocopied before sending the original to RCMP.
I did a step even further :
Took my photocopies and the originals to my bank and got my financial adv. to certify them.
So in the event ( luckily It did not happen) of mail lost, I still can supply with the certified copies.
My time line for AB
0ct 30 2017 completes CRFSC/CFSC
Nov 3 mail out expressport
Nov 8 received by RCMP @ Miramichi
Dec 19 credit charges appears on line
Dec 20 called in
Dec 23 approved and issued
Jan 05 called in not received within two weeks
Been told it was only printed in JAN 02 and mailed out JAN 03
Jan 08 license received

Hope this helps.
No reference called
Background checked in Sep 2017 due to volunteering works.
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Pretty much my timeline - I may have been in your PAL course. I was surprised they did not call my references either... perhaps it is the regular Criminal record checks I have had done.
 
PAL Timeline

Here's my timeline from Ontario, hope this helps!

October 28th/29th - CFSC and CRFSC

November 3rd - Mailed out application without course results

November 9th - Application recieved by Miramichi

November 20th - Course results show up in the mail

December 20th - Credit card charged and application shows up online

December 20th - Faxed in course reports, and called in to check if anything else was needed (nothing needed)

December 21st - Online shows completed initial processing

December 22nd - License issued status online

January 8th - Card shows up in the mail :cool:

I checked no to all of my boxes and neither of my references were contacted.

Anyways, happy to be able to get a better hold on the sport now. w:h:
 
Marmot96 said:
Here's my timeline so far in my BC experience.

Completed 2-day course November 4th and 5th 2017: Got the results on the spot woo!

Application for PAL and RPAL sent November 9th: Poor timing since it was going to be a long weekend which would lag delivery times a bit but should be all good.

Application was received November 20th: I did not send it via registered mail and found out this date after it appeared online

Application has completed initial processing January 4th 2018: I was notified of a charge to my card so I checked the application status online and it is up.

Took 31 business days for it to appear online after being received which is pretty good by the looks of things. I'm going to give them a call next week to see if there's anything they need from me and my references to call. Figured I shouldn't pounce on it right away after it's made its way into the pile.
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UPDATE:

License has been issued, January 10th, 2018: I expect it to show up in the mail by next week, but wow I think they made great time on my application. 35 business days from the point where they received my application and 45 days from the day I finished the course.

License arrived in the mail, January 16th, 2018: Now to go shopping weo! Total time from course start to it being in my hand was 73 calendar days or 49 working days.
 
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mb571 said:
Sorry...not birthdate... but:
Place of Birth /
E-Services PIN
(City, Municipality or Township you indicated on your Firearms Licence application).
I want to go help them sort out their work flow. You would think they would open their mail, do a brief computer entry, then put the applications in the to do pile. Then at least folk would know that it has been received.
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Sorry, my mistake for misreading your post. But the second half of my previous reply still applies (regarding capitalization of letters). I just tried RICHMOND and Richmond. Both are accepted by the login page. I also tried Richmond, BC (including a comma) and it also worked. Seems that space is quite flexible. Unfortunately, what that means for you is that it isn't in the system yet if you've already tried some combinations.

I'm sure it will find it's way into the system once you hit that 28 business day mark! I knew I should have sent registered mail too as it would have given me a better idea of when to start counting.
 
I just phoned in and the friendly gentleman on the other end informed me to submit the PAL application without the course papers to at least get it started since they are "backed up". Then call in at a later time to get an application number and fax the paper work after. Wish I'd known this as I would've mailed mine weeks ago to save some time.
 
Background

I have been shooting for 55 years (not all in Canada!). I was taught by my dad, a World War 2 vet. I have held a PAL or its previous equivalents ever since it was ruled that we should be licensed. I have been in my local gun club for 19 years where I serve on a volunteer committee. I have shot IPSC for 17 years and serve as secretary of our local IPSC chapter.

RPAL Renewal Timeline for RPAL expiring 2018-01-15

2017-10-27 Online renewal and payment submitted. A transaction approval and Licence Renewal Confirmation were sent to my email address.

2018-01-05 Called Firearms Office. Was told my application was in progress. (same as website)

2018-01-08 Called Firearms Office. Was advised that a request for my club membership card had been mailed to me. I was instructed to email or fax it to them. I emailed it and received an automated acknowledgment.

2018-01-09 Called Firearms Office. Told them that I was more than concerned about the lack of a new RPAL. Was told that there was a 6 month grace period after expiry of my current RPAL for renewal. I stated that it was my impression that this grace period was for me, the licence-holder, not for them to use for their own short-comings. I was transferred to what I think was my local CFO's office. I explained my predicament to them, stating that even though there is a grace period, I am not allowed to trade, move or transfer my firearms until the new RPAL shows up. I also explained that it would cut 2 weeks off my hunting licence. At this point the agent went and checked whatever email account the requested membership cards are stashed in and told me that it had been processed.

2018-01-10 Website said the application had been processed and licence issued.

I will update this post when the licence actually arrives in the mail. IMHO, this just takes too long!
 
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Kawawang Cowboy said:
I just phoned in and the friendly gentleman on the other end informed me to submit the PAL application without the course papers to at least get it started since they are "backed up". Then call in at a later time to get an application number and fax the paper work after. Wish I'd known this as I would've mailed mine weeks ago to save some time.
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That sounds great. I think they are good people in that office with huuuuge workload.
 
Thanks mate! As it turns out, I found out yesterday that my app is with AFO, needs to check on one issue I checked as yes, which is no biggie. I left him message and will keep calling until we get it all done. That was good timing before I sent a fax... Hopefully won't need to send fax, as I don't want to seem overly anxious.....
 
First post from Alberta. This is my time line for PAL RPAL November 14 application received, Dec 23 status appears online, Jan 4 license issued, Jan 12 license received in the mail. A little under 2 months not bad considering it was Christmas and all.
 
My RPAL timeline - Vancouver, British Columbia
Nov 14 '17 Finished CRFSC
Nov 17 '17 Mailed out application via snail mail.
Early Dec Called 1-800-731-4000 to check if they received my application. Nope. They said that they had just started processing late Oct. Applications.
Mid Dec Found out I could check the application status online. Started making daily checks.
Jan 10 '18 See that the application has finally been received online on Jan 9th. Called the office to see if the paperwork was all good and if I could get a file number to give my references.They said it wouldn't be necessary to have the references call.
Jan 11 '18 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)

Hopefully it arrives this week :d

EDIT: just saw that I was billed $80 on Jan 9th '18
EDIT: Received license today. January 18th '18
 
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My PAL/R timeline from Ontario
Nov 18/19 did both courses
Nov 22 mailed application(regular mail)
Nov 27 application received
Dec 19 received stamped test results
Jan 11 application appears online, I call in to get fax number and fax stamped results
Jan 12 call in to verify they received my fax, told they received them and are sending photo to be scanned
Jan 15 card issued and mailed

33 days from the time they received til they issued it
 
That was quick! I see they received mine on the 3 Nov '17. But am still in the "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date" phase.
Maybe I should call to see if anything is missing etc. Payment was also taken not long after application was received.
 
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