Ok, I can speak to the part about the letter of good conduct having just retired from New Mexico back to Canada and got my PAL restricted qualification. You will not get. PAL without the letter of good conduct from wherever you have lived the past 5 years. Didn’t know this when I returned and it was a headache to get one long distance in NM. So, apply to your local US state police for the letter. Usually there is an on line form. Send particulars asked for with the fee and in about three weeks you get your letter. Send that with your PAL application.