Shorten PAL Approval Times
- Thread starter calalta
- Start date
"License has been issued"!!!
Timeline:
Jan 27: Application received
Feb 21: Online status: "Initial processing complete"
Feb 26: I called in and completed my interview
Feb 26: Reference called in and completed his interview
Feb 26: Online status: "Application has been processed and your license has been issued"
So pumped!!
FYI: this was a restricted and non-restricted application for a BC resident.
Good luck to everyone out there waiting for theirs to process. Based on most of these recent posts it seems the system works...
Aviator747
Member
- Location
- Cornwall, ON
Mine came in the mail today. Pal/Rpal. Happy dance!
Jan 20 - Application mailed in priority w/ notification
Jan 23 - Delivered
Jan 28 - Called in, was told that it was not in the system yet, and that there was a 3-week delay in entering applications. Asked for name and birthdate to confirm that it hadn't been entered yet (offered, not requested).
Feb 11 - Same as before, but told it can take 4-6 weeks to enter
Feb 18 - Listed online, with received date of Jan 23. Called in, everything checked out OK, but not ready for interview yet. Encouraged to call in -- "it'll be faster if you call us than if we call you" (sent personal cheque, not shown as cashed yet) - 28 day wait period over on Feb 20
Feb 19 Called in, told not ready but, try again by the end of "next week"
Feb 20 Same, still not ready
Feb 21 Cheque cashed/cleared. Called in, told "an interview is not necessary at this time". Asked about getting references to call in, was told that they would be contacted.
Feb 26 Got a reference to call in. After only one reference PAL was changed to issued online.
Summary: BC PAL/RPAL application. Probably could have gotten it issued right at the 28 day mark, but references didn't have time to call in until 26th due to schedules. No interview for applicant, only one reference required.
Will quote and post when it arrives in the mail.
Jan 23 - Delivered
Jan 28 - Called in, was told that it was not in the system yet, and that there was a 3-week delay in entering applications. Asked for name and birthdate to confirm that it hadn't been entered yet (offered, not requested).
Feb 11 - Same as before, but told it can take 4-6 weeks to enter
Feb 18 - Listed online, with received date of Jan 23. Called in, everything checked out OK, but not ready for interview yet. Encouraged to call in -- "it'll be faster if you call us than if we call you" (sent personal cheque, not shown as cashed yet) - 28 day wait period over on Feb 20
Feb 19 Called in, told not ready but, try again by the end of "next week"
Feb 20 Same, still not ready
Feb 21 Cheque cashed/cleared. Called in, told "an interview is not necessary at this time". Asked about getting references to call in, was told that they would be contacted.
Feb 26 Got a reference to call in. After only one reference PAL was changed to issued online.
Summary: BC PAL/RPAL application. Probably could have gotten it issued right at the 28 day mark, but references didn't have time to call in until 26th due to schedules. No interview for applicant, only one reference required.
Will quote and post when it arrives in the mail.
Update for my wife's RPAL. Sent it a day after mine, so mailed on Jan 8th 2014. Did nothing with it. Didn't call in, didn't check online. Showed up on Feb 16th 2014. Neither us nor her references ever got a call. Yah for BC?
Seems to be the case at the moment for BC. No interview, one or no references. Having a reference call in seems to speed it up a few days though.
Probably because it pops the paperwork to the top of the list actively instead of just waiting to process. Pretty quick processing for BC.
Saw some other posts from this thread quoting 3-9 months though. Kinda makes you wonder what happened, assuming no problems in processing.
- Location
- Vancouver, BC
It has to be the one of the best moments when your application finally shows up online. After calling them at least once a week for three weeks, only to be told to just wait and be patient, they have to be the most frustrating people to talk to but you just have to be super nice and polite.
Timeline:
Sent Express Post and Confirmation of Delivery on Feb 3
Just checked and it is online as of today March 1
Vancouver, BC resident.
will update later on in the process, time to start calling for interview.
Timeline:
Sent Express Post and Confirmation of Delivery on Feb 3
Just checked and it is online as of today March 1
Vancouver, BC resident.
will update later on in the process, time to start calling for interview.
Anyone else from Quebec mind sharing their timeline ?
Mine was received December 12th, it's now day 80 and still nothing, no one has been called yet...
I called several times and each time i'm told the same thing : Everything is in order and delay is normal, you'll get an update in 2-3 weeks.
Except last time i called, i've been told the same thing and on top of that i got a polite : Please stop calling...
Is it just me or is this process a real laugh in our face according to the fact that we are PAYING for this "service" ?!
Mine was received December 12th, it's now day 80 and still nothing, no one has been called yet...
I called several times and each time i'm told the same thing : Everything is in order and delay is normal, you'll get an update in 2-3 weeks.
Except last time i called, i've been told the same thing and on top of that i got a polite : Please stop calling...
Is it just me or is this process a real laugh in our face according to the fact that we are PAYING for this "service" ?!
Im from quebec my application was recieved november 27th i called four times sq told me they just need to call my recerences and do an interview, asked if i could just do it since i was already on the phone he says no and they will call me when its my turn, that was back in the start of feburary...
I'm in Ontario. My PAL/RPAL was received by the RCMP on Jan.21st. On feb16th my credit card was charged. Called in on the 23rd, asked if all was in order, a nice gentleman replied it was and I'd be called in 2 or 3 weeks for my interview. Not 2 minutes after hanging up the same man calls back and asks if I have ten minutes to do my interview. After interview they invite my references to call in. one did two days later, the other one did this morning, and after just checking online my license has been issued! Not nearly as bad a wait as all the horror stories I'd heard!
This is my experience:
- I sent my Restricted PAL Application on 6 Dec 2013 by Registered Mail. Everything was correct as I had a Lawyer friend of mine check it over. I used the Lawyer and Law Clerk as references (have been friends with both of them for 17+ years)
- Mailed on 6 Dec 2013 & CFC signed for the envelope on 9 Dec 2013
- A charge was made on my Credit Card on 7 Jan 2014 (RCMP/GRC 1-800-731-400 MIRAMICHI NB)
- After 63 days of patiently waiting, (10 Feb 2014) my references had heard nothing (they have a 24-hour answering service) so I called the CFC.
Here is how the conversation went:
[ME] Hello, how are you? Can you tell me how my application is going? My references have not received a call from you yet and I wondered if there was some kind of issue or problem?
[CFC] We have recently mailed you a (form) letter as we have not heard from your references. This letter gives you a deadline date after which time you application will be considered closed and you will have to re-apply.
[ME] What? I was not aware that my references were expected to phone CFC! I thought that CFC would have phoned them! Why did the application ask for the references phone numbers?
[CFC] Please ask your references to call 1-800-731-4000 x2533 and quote Reference # #########x. We also need to conduct a phone interview with you - would you like to do that now?
[ME] Yes, please!
[CFC] Are you depressed, suicidal, have mental health issues or are you a criminal? Why do you want a handgun? blah blah blah blah blah...
[ME] No. No. No.
[CFC] That is the end of the interview. Is there anything else that I can help you with today?
[ME] I BIT MY TONGUE and said my goodbyes.
I organized my references to call CFC and my Restricted PAL arrived by mail on 27 February 2014 - 80 days after CFC signed for the Registered Letter.
Sooo.... my experience tells me not to count on the "45 days, including the 28-day legislated waiting period, for a licence application" as quoted from the CFC website...
Our tax dollars hard at work? I suggest that we demand better service - these people are OUR employees. But, we won't, because we're intimidated by them and don't want to rattle the cage.
And, we're Canadian...
'Nuf said.
- I sent my Restricted PAL Application on 6 Dec 2013 by Registered Mail. Everything was correct as I had a Lawyer friend of mine check it over. I used the Lawyer and Law Clerk as references (have been friends with both of them for 17+ years)
- Mailed on 6 Dec 2013 & CFC signed for the envelope on 9 Dec 2013
- A charge was made on my Credit Card on 7 Jan 2014 (RCMP/GRC 1-800-731-400 MIRAMICHI NB)
- After 63 days of patiently waiting, (10 Feb 2014) my references had heard nothing (they have a 24-hour answering service) so I called the CFC.
Here is how the conversation went:
[ME] Hello, how are you? Can you tell me how my application is going? My references have not received a call from you yet and I wondered if there was some kind of issue or problem?
[CFC] We have recently mailed you a (form) letter as we have not heard from your references. This letter gives you a deadline date after which time you application will be considered closed and you will have to re-apply.
[ME] What? I was not aware that my references were expected to phone CFC! I thought that CFC would have phoned them! Why did the application ask for the references phone numbers?
[CFC] Please ask your references to call 1-800-731-4000 x2533 and quote Reference # #########x. We also need to conduct a phone interview with you - would you like to do that now?
[ME] Yes, please!
[CFC] Are you depressed, suicidal, have mental health issues or are you a criminal? Why do you want a handgun? blah blah blah blah blah...
[ME] No. No. No.
[CFC] That is the end of the interview. Is there anything else that I can help you with today?
[ME] I BIT MY TONGUE and said my goodbyes.
I organized my references to call CFC and my Restricted PAL arrived by mail on 27 February 2014 - 80 days after CFC signed for the Registered Letter.
Sooo.... my experience tells me not to count on the "45 days, including the 28-day legislated waiting period, for a licence application" as quoted from the CFC website...
Our tax dollars hard at work? I suggest that we demand better service - these people are OUR employees. But, we won't, because we're intimidated by them and don't want to rattle the cage.
And, we're Canadian...
'Nuf said.
