PAL Wait Time

Icebane said:
Why not? That was the day I wanted to buy a gun and the government prevented the retailer to sell it to me and this whole process started. Actually, no, you can add a few more days to that number... The printer issue is not acceptable either. If they can’t handle the volume then change print houses... And the stamped test results is another unnecessary way to drag out an already overly long process.

Also I didn’t say the rcmp received it on February 8. They said that. I think they got it a few days before that...
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I would also say that when you're registering for the course, taking the course, filling in your paperwork etc. They're waiting on you, not the other way around.

I also agree that the RCMP are taking way too long currently. Beyond what's reasonable anyway.
 
been reading thru this massive thread. Started with 2017 and onward.

Can someone in the know share some insight in what the process is? As in, i am trying to read between the lines and understand what the process means.

I recall seeing something about if they look over your application and find anything wrong they stop the process. Or do they automatically charge your
credit card before even looking at it?

where in the process do they do a criminal record check? Does CFP do this before charging CC or does it wait until it goes to provincial CFO? I am thinking it is done at CFP before being passed to provincial CFO.

Besides the literal meaning of it, what does it mean when they say they are waiting for the picture to be scanned? Does this mean you have passed the initial checks and are basically approved?
Or do they routinely scan photos? Seems like a waste of time and resources to scan photos for apps they will/may later reject.

My app was received March 21. Opened and CC charged April 11 and appeared online. I called in on April 15 to check if all was good. Was told nothing missing all is good. They are waiting on photo to be scanned and then
will be sent to provincial CFO for final approval.
 
Hi all,

Frustrating process so far but here's my timeline so fast for my PAL application

Feb 16 CFSC taken
Feb 20 sent package by snail mail
Feb 26 received in Miramichi
Mar 1 Application started processing
Mar 27 Faxed missing Course confirmation after receipt from CFO in Ontario
Called several times in between, each time being told my application had been sent to CFO for further processing
Apr 18 Called CFO and was told application was NEVER sent and was sitting in someone's work queue in Miramichi, was then transferred back to Miramichi and spoke with someone who told me it could be another 3-4 weeks of processing.

I'm very frustrated as I was told several times by agents in Miramichi that the application was already at the CFO and therefore had not followed up because I was under the impression it would be any day the status should change and now I'm looking at wait times that exceed hunting season. Especially frustrated because it appears to be human error that has caused the delay for my case.

SIGH
 
Travdawg said:
I would also say that when you're registering for the course, taking the course, filling in your paperwork etc. They're waiting on you, not the other way around.

I also agree that the RCMP are taking way too long currently. Beyond what's reasonable anyway.
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Glad we agree that "the RCMP are taking way too long currently" but please don't say they're waiting on me. I had my application filled before my CFSC even started and mailed my stamped examination results within 4hrs of receipt. Believe me there was no waiting on their end...

In my opinion the period that you call "registering for the course, taking the course" is plenty reasonable a waiting period on its own. In my case, in my area, that was over 2 months right there. The extra month on top of that waiting for the stamped copy is unreasonable and unnecessary in my eyes.

How much safer are Canadians today because I've had to wait 6+ months total before I can finally go deer hunting 12 hours out of town 6 months ago? If it helps, I drive average speed and have never been in an auto collision in 25+ years of driving...
 
Blintok57 said:
been reading thru this massive thread. Started with 2017 and onward.

Can someone in the know share some insight in what the process is? As in, i am trying to read between the lines and understand what the process means.

I recall seeing something about if they look over your application and find anything wrong they stop the process. Or do they automatically charge your
credit card before even looking at it?

where in the process do they do a criminal record check? Does CFP do this before charging CC or does it wait until it goes to provincial CFO? I am thinking it is done at CFP before being passed to provincial CFO.

Besides the literal meaning of it, what does it mean when they say they are waiting for the picture to be scanned? Does this mean you have passed the initial checks and are basically approved?
Or do they routinely scan photos? Seems like a waste of time and resources to scan photos for apps they will/may later reject.

My app was received March 21. Opened and CC charged April 11 and appeared online. I called in on April 15 to check if all was good. Was told nothing missing all is good. They are waiting on photo to be scanned and then
will be sent to provincial CFO for final approval.
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I may be way off base as I'm simply a noob in the grand scheme of things, but have been doing a bit of research as well as from things I've gathered from talking with CFP and the CFO.

If something is wrong, I believe they'll pause the process and send you a letter (or phone) to correct the issue. For example, when I sent mine in I did so without the safety course report. They sent me a letter asking for me to fax it in. This does NOT stop them from charging you. I think they literally do this as soon as they open you're application.

As for the criminal records check, it seems if your application is complete and squeaky clean, CFP has the power to grant your approval right away. If it does not, it gets forwarded to the provincial CFO.

From what I've read on here the scanning of your photos is one of the first things they do. I also believe with 99% certainty that CFP receives your physical package in Miramichi and everything is digitized and the provincial CFO is accessing data entered in their system. I'm sure it doesn't take much effort to scan photos in the grand scheme of things. I mean they took your $60 or $80 even if they reject you so I'm sure they can afford to pay someone to scan all photos.

The biggest bottleneck seems to be the CFO, despite CFP receiving EVERYTHING and then it gets thinned out based on the province the person is in. I think it's because most of the work is done with the CFO

Welcome to the queue :(
 
Icebane said:
I had my application filled before my CFSC even started and mailed my stamped examination results within 4hrs of receipt. Believe me there was no waiting on their end...
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I believe your biggest mistake was mailing your results. If it takes say 3 weeks for them to get to your initial application, it's not unreasonable to think they'd take as long to get to your follow up. You should have faxed in the results.

I ended up signing up for a VoIP fax number simply for the purpose of scanning and faxing my course report to them. Took 1-2 days for it to get added in to my file.
 
xeronine said:
I believe your biggest mistake was mailing your results. If it takes say 3 weeks for them to get to your initial application, it's not unreasonable to think they'd take as long to get to your follow up. You should have faxed in the results.

I ended up signing up for a VoIP fax number simply for the purpose of scanning and faxing my course report to them. Took 1-2 days for it to get added in to my file.
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I didn't mail in the results, they were together with the application. And, I must admit, I was leery to wait for the stamped examination results to mail it all in together but the firearms examiner on my course advised us that that was the safest and most efficient way to process the application. Do you think I was ill advised by our government official? Rhetorical... Glad I could help them make their process more efficient (Very heavy on the sarcasm here)...
 
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I was told 2 weeks ago that it was in the mail. Called again when it didn’t show and they said it hasn’t even been printed and there is a backlog so expect another 2-3 weeks.
 
Day 172

I can't even begin to describe how disappointed I am that it didn't show up again today in time for the long weekend. Another weekend where the Canadian Government has prevented me from doing what I want to do.

Nov 2, 2018 Signed up for CFSC
Jan 5-6, 2019 CFSC taken
Feb 1, 2019 Stamped test results received from province
Feb 1, 2019 PAL application mailed out snail mail
Feb 8, 2019 R.C.M.P. claim to have received my application on this date.
March 11, 2019 Credit Card charged $60, Application listed "in progress" on website.
March 19, 2019 Phoned in and was told application is with CFO
March 21, 2019 Online status now reads "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."
April 18th, 2019 still waiting...
Tuesday April 23, 2019 Cross my fingers that day 172 will be the day...
April 25, 2019 Opening Day for spring turkey: Another hunting season that our government has prevented me from participating in...
 
Go hunt with a buddy that has a lic. I did that yesterady. It's not day 172 either the RCMP started your lic. on the 11th of March when they charged your credit card so it's day 38. It is on them from that date your CC was charged not before. Getting your course done any paperwork filled out is on you as is anyone who wants a firearm. BTW though I feel your pain my Lic. was issued on the 21st of March as well and has still not been printed.
 
Mikey01 said:
Go hunt with a buddy that has a lic. I did that yesterady. It's not day 172 either the RCMP started your lic. on the 11th of March when they charged your credit card so it's day 38. It is on them from that date your CC was charged not before. Getting your course done any paperwork filled out is on you as is anyone who wants a firearm. BTW though I feel your pain my Lic. was issued on the 21st of March as well and has still not been printed.
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Sorry I am counting the days where my freedom was denied, and out of my control. There is only one organization that controls this whole thing, the RCMP. Who do you think manages the CFSC, the RCMP. I had to go through the entire process, which started when I signed up 172 days ago...

I am new to the hunting community but from what I've seen so far you guys have bent over way too far forward for too long. This community is in dire need of serious representation for acceptable service.
 
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Icebane said:
Sorry I am counting the days where my freedom was denied, and out of my control. There is only one organization that controls this whole thing, the RCMP. Who do you think manages the CFSC, the RCMP. I had to go through the entire process, which started when I signed up 172 days ago...

I am new to the hunting community but from what I've seen so far you guys have bent over way too far forward for too long. This community is in dire need of serious representation for acceptable service.
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Whoa bro.. just simmer down. I just read all your posts and you repeatedly refer to 150+ days blah blah blah, to cut right to the point it has not been that long. Like Mikey pointed out your on day 38. Your previous post indicated you were counting from the day you wanted to buy a gun and weren't allowed to as a result of you not having a license, ummm it doesn't work that way. Get over yourself and stand in line like everyone else. You have waited far less than some, including myself. Gun licensing is not a service oriented government arm.
 
38... Do you guys have trouble with math? The RCMP admited to receiving my application complete with stamped examination results on February 8th. Today is April 18th. How do you figure 38 days?

I am not aksing for special treatment aside from "everyone else". I am saying all of us (me included) are being put through a process that I believe is excessively and unnecessarily too long. If you think 6+ months from start to finish is reasonable, you are entitled to that opinion. Mine is different...
 
For some perspective here, when was the last report in this thread of someone here actually receiving their plastic in the mail recently? This week. . . Last week. . . The week before that? ? ?
 
Chill out some people wait a year. It's the government.

Icebane said:
38... Do you guys have trouble with math? The RCMP admited to receiving my application complete with stamped examination results on February 8th. Today is April 18th. How do you figure 38 days?

I am not aksing for special treatment aside from "everyone else". I am saying all of us (me included) are being put through a process that I believe is excessively and unnecessarily too long. If you think 6+ months from start to finish is reasonable, you are entitled to that opinion. Mine is different...
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greatwhite said:
Chill out some people wait a year. It's the government.
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Sorry. I don't meen to come off enraged. I've just never been told I can't do something for this long a period of time. And I have already lived a good part of my life... I get that our society has problems with guns but a 6+month waiting period isn't going to diminish that.
 
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