Shorten PAL Approval Times

I received my NR PAL last week!
Dec 18 - Application sent, Registered Mail with Signature (tip: save your money, just go with tracking, no sig needed).
Dec 23 - Application received (tracking did not update beyond "Out for Delivery" called CPC to find out why, see below).
Jan 15 - Attempted online check of status, no account info found, could not log in.
Jan 16 - Called RCMP to confirm things were received, was given the '6-week backlog' story, but confirmed my 28-day waiting period was over.
Jan 21 - CC charged $60.00.
Jan 24 - Online status check, account created now, but no status info.
Feb 07 - PAL received in mailbox! Issue date of license: Jan 27.

Application mailed to PAL received: 51 days (issued in 43 days).

Note on Tracking: I called Canada Post about the tracking number perpetually sitting at "Out For Delivery". They said the RCMP office is a 'bulk delivery' address. The RCMP have their own pick-up truck which goes to the post office and picks up their mail each day. The RCMP do not have tracking scanners, so the last scan that is ever done is "Out for Delivery" right before it goes in the RCMP truck. I was assured that for this delivery address, "Out for Delivery" was just as good as "Delivered". I was also informed that a signature will never be attached, for the same reason (no scanner to sign) so in the future, save your money.
This is different than an even larger bulk office like the Passport Office that have their own mail scanners and can do the "Delivered" scan.
I added this info in case anyone else runs into that and is concerned (sorry if it has already been covered before).
 
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I received my NR PAL last week!
Dec 18 - Application sent, Registered Mail with Signature (tip: save your money, just go with tracking, no sig needed).
Dec 23 - Application received (tracking did not update beyond "Out for Delivery" called CPC to find out why, see below).
Jan 15 - Attempted online check of status, no account info found, could not log in.
Jan 16 - Called RCMP to confirm things were received, was given the '6-week backlog' story, but confirmed my 28-day waiting period was over.
Jan 21 - CC charged $60.00.
Jan 24 - Online status check, account created now, but no status info.
Feb 07 - PAL received in mailbox! Issue date of license: Jan 27.

Application mailed to PAL received: 51 days (issued in 43 days).

Note on Tracking: I called Canada Post about the tracking number perpetually sitting at "Out For Delivery". They said the RCMP office is a 'bulk delivery' address. The RCMP have their own pick-up truck which goes to the post office and picks up their mail each day. The RCMP do not have tracking scanners, so the last scan that is ever done is "Out for Delivery" right before it goes in the RCMP truck. I was assured that for this delivery address, "Out for Delivery" was just as good as "Delivered". I was also informed that a signature will never be attached, for the same reason (no scanner to sign) so in the future, save your money.
This is different than an even larger bulk office like the Passport Office that have their own mail scanners and can do the "Delivered" scan.
I added this info in case anyone else runs into that and is concerned (sorry if it has already been covered before).

I sent mine with signature required. Got a signature of one of the employees (full name).
 
Yay!!! I am now licensed. But, one quick question. I don't see anything that say whether it is a Pal or a Rpal? I applied for Rpal. I should recieve my card in two weeks. :) I did my own interview on Fri. Feb. 14, My first first ref. did his on Fri. Feb 14 and my second ref did his today, Feb 17. I looked several hours later and low and behold I had my license number.
 
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Yay!!! I am now licensed. But, one quick question. I don't see anything that say whether it is a Pal or a Rpal? I applied for Rpal. I should recieve my card in two weeks. :) I did my own interview on Fri. Feb. 14, My first first ref. did his on Fri. Feb 14 and my second ref did his today, Feb 17. I looked several hours later and low and behold I had my license number.

When did Miramichi receive your application?
 
@William_olynyk
They dinged me the $80.00. I was expecting it to say my level of classification on the site. Or have some way of telling by the number issued. A prefix or suffix of R or NR or something to that effect. But that would be logical. I'm a happy camper otherwise.

@the ayeman

Jan 2, 2014
 
I received my NR PAL last week!
Dec 18 - Application sent, Registered Mail with Signature (tip: save your money, just go with tracking, no sig needed).
Dec 23 - Application received (tracking did not update beyond "Out for Delivery" called CPC to find out why, see below).
Jan 15 - Attempted online check of status, no account info found, could not log in.
Jan 16 - Called RCMP to confirm things were received, was given the '6-week backlog' story, but confirmed my 28-day waiting period was over.
Jan 21 - CC charged $60.00.
Jan 24 - Online status check, account created now, but no status info.
Feb 07 - PAL received in mailbox! Issue date of license: Jan 27.

Application mailed to PAL received: 51 days (issued in 43 days).

Note on Tracking: I called Canada Post about the tracking number perpetually sitting at "Out For Delivery". They said the RCMP office is a 'bulk delivery' address. The RCMP have their own pick-up truck which goes to the post office and picks up their mail each day. The RCMP do not have tracking scanners, so the last scan that is ever done is "Out for Delivery" right before it goes in the RCMP truck. I was assured that for this delivery address, "Out for Delivery" was just as good as "Delivered". I was also informed that a signature will never be attached, for the same reason (no scanner to sign) so in the future, save your money.
This is different than an even larger bulk office like the Passport Office that have their own mail scanners and can do the "Delivered" scan.
I added this info in case anyone else runs into that and is concerned (sorry if it has already been covered before).

I also sent mine signature required and got a signature
 
Thanks Aviator. Not bad at all. Hopefully mine is something similar!

Feb. 06, 2014 - With Canada Post
Feb. 10, 2014 - Received in Miramichi according to Canada Post (verified with signature).
Feb. 17, 2014 - No information available online. Called to confirm reception and verify all needed application info is present; shut down with the "4 to 6 weeks to get in our system" speech.
 
Yay!!! I am now licensed. But, one quick question. I don't see anything that say whether it is a Pal or a Rpal? I applied for Rpal. I should recieve my card in two weeks. :) I did my own interview on Fri. Feb. 14, My first first ref. did his on Fri. Feb 14 and my second ref did his today, Feb 17. I looked several hours later and low and behold I had my license number.

Where do you see the license number? Mine is showing:

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)

I assume this means its on its way?

For those of you in BC once you have seen this I get the gist your PAL card was in hand about 10 days later?

604Hunter, you and I have identical timelines to the letter including reference's interview. I didn't bother adding mine to the thread since it didn't contribute much cause of this. Were you in the Silvercore class in Vancouver mid Jan? What is your status now?
 
Where do you see the license number? Mine is showing:

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)

I assume this means its on its way?

For those of you in BC once you have seen this I get the gist your PAL card was in hand about 10 days later?

604Hunter, you and I have identical timelines to the letter including reference's interview. I didn't bother adding mine to the thread since it didn't contribute much cause of this. Were you in the Silvercore class in Vancouver mid Jan? What is your status now?

Lastcar- no, I did my course privately with a group of friends on jan 11-12. Glad to hear your license has been issued! When did your statues change to that? Mine still says the same as before, hopefully mine changes to "issued"in the next few days.
 
Where do you see the license number? Mine is showing:

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)

I assume this means its on its way?

For those of you in BC once you have seen this I get the gist your PAL card was in hand about 10 days later?

604Hunter, you and I have identical timelines to the letter including reference's interview. I didn't bother adding mine to the thread since it didn't contribute much cause of this. Were you in the Silvercore class in Vancouver mid Jan? What is your status now?

With luck, expect it in your mailbox next Monday.

Lastcar- no, I did my course privately with a group of friends on jan 10-12. Glad to hear your license has been issued! When did your statues change to that? Im still says the same as before, Hopefully mine changes in the next few days.

Did you call in today or not?
 
@Lastcar

When I first logged in after all the interview stuff and had to verify my address it gave me my number. If you click on the update email link it gives it too you too.

Hmmm, I must be using a different link to check on mine. I see no options like that.

Which are you using? Were you accessing the RCMP site using The Canadian Firearms Program's Individual Web Services? Where you need a GCKEY?

If so, I guess I am pooched now as it wants a license # or 00000000 if you are a new applicant. But I am guessing if they have given me a license # which I don't have I can't get in. Oh well. :)
 
With luck, expect it in your mailbox next Monday.



Did you call in today or not?

Called in this morning - Though it still doesn't show up online as issued, the person I spoke to said that my licence is now valid and was issued yesterday and I should receive it in 10 days!

Scratch that..... Now says its...

"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)"
 
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17 Jan : Application received - confirmed with tracking #
31 Jan : Called, told unable to check if in system.
03 Feb : Called again today, asked to check if in system. Still nothing. Nothing charged to CC yet either...
10 Feb : Application online!! "Current Status: Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date."
10 Feb : CC charged.
10 Feb : Phoned to do interview but account was not ready for interviews yet.
13 Feb : Phoned to do interview but was told "application has not been scanned into system, couldn't do interview. call back in a couple days"
14 Feb : Called into ext. 2533 to request to do my interview. Was told I didn't need to do one and I could just have 1 reference call in and then my application would be sent to the CFO
14 Feb : Reference interview done!
18 Feb : "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)"
 
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