Shorten PAL Approval Times

I mailed my application in on Nov. 14/2012 and for the longest time whenever I checked the website it said that my application was in progress. I called CFC a couple of times and they said that they had forwarded my application to to the CFO in Ontario in December and that now all I could do was wait. I grew tired of this and decided to just call the CFO and see what was up. I did that last week, and the lady that I spoke to said that I had sent in the application without a signature from my spouse. They had no intention of contacting me to sort it out, they were just waiting for me to get impatient and call them. So 63 days after I mailed it in I had my spouse call in and say everything was okay. Today, 71 days after I mailed my application it is finally approved!

The moral of the story is - call in to see what's up. They won't call you and it might just hurry the process along.
 
They received my application without proof of a firearms safety course on Dec. 31.

When I got the stamped proof of a firearms course back from the Ontario CFO, I sent in a copy immediately even though I did not have a file number.

I think it was exactly 3 weeks later that I got a file number and it said "processing" and something about they will call me or send me mail. I waited a couple days and then called them -- apparently the stamped firearms course report that I sent it either did not make it there or they didn't link it to my application because it didn't have a file number, so I had to fax it in -- good thing they sent me two stamped copies.
If anyone else from Ontario is at this stage, if I were to do it again I would just wait until my file number is available and fax in a copy to 1-800-411-0622.

Now my status is: Current Status: Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date.

How long does it usually take for a PAL in this state?
Should I call in and offer to interview even though it is just a PAL and they might not intend to interview me or my references?
 
mine is for just non-restricted PAL, they recieved it in miramichi on december 2nd with my stamped CFSC paperwork attached...I made sure i dotted all my i's etc. And they did do interviews for myself and references in the first week of january...my status has been "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date" since before the interviews were carried out...so roughly a month so far...
 
They received my application without proof of a firearms safety course on Dec. 31.

When I got the stamped proof of a firearms course back from the Ontario CFO, I sent in a copy immediately even though I did not have a file number.

I think it was exactly 3 weeks later that I got a file number and it said "processing" and something about they will call me or send me mail. I waited a couple days and then called them -- apparently the stamped firearms course report that I sent it either did not make it there or they didn't link it to my application because it didn't have a file number, so I had to fax it in -- good thing they sent me two stamped copies.
If anyone else from Ontario is at this stage, if I were to do it again I would just wait until my file number is available and fax in a copy to 1-800-411-0622.

Now my status is: Current Status: Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date.

How long does it usually take for a PAL in this state?
Should I call in and offer to interview even though it is just a PAL and they might not intend to interview me or my references?

When it says "in progress" it's the interview stage, in a few days after the status change call the 1-800-731-4000 number but use ext. 2533 to get around the operator and if your file is ready they will interview you, have your references call in the same way afterwards with your file number and do their interviews and then it's off to the CFO.....which is where I am now and after reading the last few page, being from Ontario I fear I am in for a very long wait
 
My application has been in progress for a bit over 2 weeks, no interview. I think I might have caught the lady after a bad call and got stuck in the bottom of the pile.
 
RCMP received application on nov 29 2012.
Called them today and they said it has been sent to CFO ontario.
Now that CFO has it how long before it is issued?
 
A little hope for people, App for pal/rpal was received Dec5 by cfc, roughly 20 days later showed up online, called in for interviews Jan 7, went to cfo for 2 weeks. I called Jan 23 and was told it would be at the cfo's for another 3 weeks before stamp of approval. I almost gave up checking online but it got the better of me today and found it has been issued!! Ontario.
 
They've had mine for 100 days today. Man this is painfull funny how I can walk in, get a passport and walk out within an hour with the same background checks I would assume. Even worse I got a 10 22 and 5 butler creek 25 round mags paid for waiting for me. This blows
 
Just got off the phone with the alberta cfo since I haven't called in a week and she said could be waiting a few more months even!!How can this be that one CFO is so backed up. I see others in Alberta in the 30 day 50 day range on the same timeline as me. They've had I'd there for almost 70 days how long does it take to do a background check?
 
A little hope for people, App for pal/rpal was received Dec5 by cfc, roughly 20 days later showed up online, called in for interviews Jan 7, went to cfo for 2 weeks. I called Jan 23 and was told it would be at the cfo's for another 3 weeks before stamp of approval. I almost gave up checking online but it got the better of me today and found it has been issued!! Ontario.

Me too !!! Kept calling CFO and finally issued. Day 67
 
I take it as a very good sign that shooting sports is alive and healthy in the country. I've been waiting almost 3 weeks and still not online, Ontario.
 
Received dec17 just went online this morning (jan14) and saw that it was in "initial processing" and just checked again this evening to find it is "in progress". WOOOHOO

Called today after missing a call from a "blocked number" and was able to do my interview. She said they had mailed me a notice telling me to call in for an interview. So heads up to anyone waiting for them to call you, they might not apparently.
I only applied for a PAL btw.

Maybe next week it will be approved and mailed?
 
RCMP received application on nov 29 2012.
Called them today and they said it has been sent to CFO ontario.
Now that CFO has it how long before it is issued?

They are quite backlogged but it shouldnt be too long, mine was received Nov 21 and was issued 1st week of Jan,
 
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