PAL Wait Time

Ryinski said:
That's a crazy amount of time. I don't get why there's massive variations to the time frames people are reporting. I wish there was some transparency to this whole thing.b
My MLA is NDP �� don't know what he specifically thinks on this issue but I don't think I would be surprised.
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Haha I understand but you should still reach out to them IMO. My NDP reps have been very sympathetic and are aggravated by the situation as well, because the ABCFO won't give them the time of day which annoyed them and made it more interesting for them. Made it personal maybe lol.

NDP or no, it's a government process not working like it should be and that's a non-partisan issue!
 
rainbird said:
Haha I understand but you should still reach out to them IMO. My NDP reps have been very sympathetic and are aggravated by the situation as well, because the ABCFO won't give them the time of day which annoyed them and made it more interesting for them. Made it personal maybe lol.

NDP or no, it's a government process not working like it should be and that's a non-partisan issue!
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Can't argue with that.
 
Mailed application: 2022-09-08
Application received: 2022-09-15
Credit Card Charged: 2022-11-03
Still at "Completed Initial Review"

I had a couple of questions about what to do if I need to change my address during the process because I might be moving soon.
Couldn't get through to the CFP to ask, so I emailed my CFO who got back to me within an hour, and also offered (unprompted) to check on my application status again at the end of November and update me. SK CFO are far and away the most helpful bureaucrats I have ever interacted with.
 
HalRexnar said:
Mailed application: 2022-09-08
Application received: 2022-09-15
Credit Card Charged: 2022-11-03
Still at "Completed Initial Review"

I had a couple of questions about what to do if I need to change my address during the process because I might be moving soon.
Couldn't get through to the CFP to ask, so I emailed my CFO who got back to me within an hour, and also offered (unprompted) to check on my application status again at the end of November and update me. SK CFO are far and away the most helpful bureaucrats I have ever interacted with.
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We are very similar in terms of processing times. Mine (restricted upgrade application) was received 9/21, card charged 11/8. Did they tell you where your current status is at?

Agree, provincial CFO's office replied to me quickly and gave me a current status even though the application hasn't gotten to them yet. They replied to my email within an hour or so. CFP has never replied to any email...
 
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I just called using general query, they just said in final review by CFO. when I call 7503 extension, no one answer and hangup after a few minutes.
 
thegazelle said:
We are very similar in terms of processing times. Mine (restricted upgrade application) was received 9/21, card charged 11/8. Did they tell you where your current status is at?

Agree, provincial CFO's office replied to me quickly and gave me a current status even though the application hasn't gotten to them yet. They replied to my email within an hour or so. CFP has never replied to any email...
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The CFO told me that they're not able to check everything that the CFP is able to, but that there weren't any flags or requests for additional/missing info attached to my application. They weren't able to give me any sort of timeline which is why they said they will check again at the end of the month.
 
Ryinski said:
This is reasonable or acceptable to you why exactly?
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Anecdotally, a couple of people I know who had a long wait because of personal history boxes being checked didn't even have their references contacted, didn't get a request to let them see health info, didn't get follow-up for more information, nothing.

What's the point of a crazy long wait if they aren't digging deep to investigate? Just crazy. I could at least feel better about it if there was some measure of due-diligence being transparently practiced but the system just seem to treat those check boxes as a "will this application take longer yes or no" indicator.
 
Ryinski said:
This is reasonable or acceptable to you why exactly?
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If C-21 passes in its current form(God forbid) my application will go in the bin, if I get approved for a PAL somehow before then(possible), I'll get a nullification notice, shortly after or I will be denied renewal, I'd be grateful and frankly on the moon to be waiting 5 years, hell even 10 but don't mind me, I'm but a minority, no 1.5 years is far beyond what they used to take for regular applications, 1.5 years is for CFO applications(checked boxes).
 
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rainbird said:
Anecdotally, a couple of people I know who had a long wait because of personal history boxes being checked didn't even have their references contacted, didn't get a request to let them see health info, didn't get follow-up for more information, nothing.

What's the point of a crazy long wait if they aren't digging deep to investigate? Just crazy. I could at least feel better about it if there was some measure of due-diligence being transparently practiced but the system just seem to treat those check boxes as a "will this application take longer yes or no" indicator.
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It might help if the CFP office had at least one printer per million PAL holders
 
I must have checked my IWS a record amount of times today...at least 20-25...I didn't expect to see anything different in terms of the status, but LO AND BEHOLD...the 26th time is the trick...or they are tracking how many times I log in and check and finally felt sorry for me...

PROVINCE: ONTARIO
APPLICATION TYPE: Restricted endorsement upgrade (original PAL issued almost 20 years ago)
APPLICATION RECEIVED VIA FEDEX TRACKING NUMBER: September 21, 2022
DATE OF CHANGE IN IWS STATUS: November 8, 2022
DATE IWS SHOWS AS APPLICATION RECEIVED: September 21, 2022 (so they do backdate it to when they actually received it)
CREDIT CARD CHARGED (RCMP-CFP GRC-PCAF): November 8, 2022
CURRENT STATUS: APPLICATION APPROVED AND UPGRADED RESTRICTED ENDORSEMENT LICENSE ISSUED: November 17, 2022

I thought I was seeing things until I actually checked my IWS personal profile and sure enough, my privileges are now listed as non-restricted and restricted - and my new license expiry date is not till 2028...

The only thing I did differently this week was contact the CFO's office in my province, who just told me that central processing still had it...this was only a couple of days ago. I don't understand how it gets from CFP to CFO and approved that quickly. I checked with my new references and neither one was called. Bizarre.

So I hardly have any advice to dispense except maybe try EMAILING your provincial CFO's office and trying to find out a status - who knows, they may be prodding CFP as a result, who knows...either way I am happy, but I am not happy that there are those who had theirs in before mine (some of you well before) and your applications are in limbo. It could be that mine was only a restricted endorsement and maybe already having a PAL helped...who knows...no rhyme or reason, but at least in 2028, I can do the renewal online...

I hope everyone gets their PALs quickly going forward. All the best to all.
 
thegazelle said:
I must have checked my IWS a record amount of times today...at least 20-25...I didn't expect to see anything different in terms of the status, but LO AND BEHOLD...the 26th time is the trick...or they are tracking how many times I log in and check and finally felt sorry for me...

PROVINCE: ONTARIO
APPLICATION TYPE: Restricted endorsement upgrade (original PAL issued almost 20 years ago)
APPLICATION RECEIVED VIA FEDEX TRACKING NUMBER: September 21, 2022
DATE OF CHANGE IN IWS STATUS: November 8, 2022
DATE IWS SHOWS AS APPLICATION RECEIVED: September 21, 2022 (so they do backdate it to when they actually received it)
CREDIT CARD CHARGED (RCMP-CFP GRC-PCAF): November 8, 2022
CURRENT STATUS: APPLICATION APPROVED AND UPGRADED RESTRICTED ENDORSEMENT LICENSE ISSUED: November 17, 2022

I thought I was seeing things until I actually checked my IWS personal profile and sure enough, my privileges are now listed as non-restricted and restricted - and my new license expiry date is not till 2028...

The only thing I did differently this week was contact the CFO's office in my province, who just told me that central processing still had it...this was only a couple of days ago. I don't understand how it gets from CFP to CFO and approved that quickly. I checked with my new references and neither one was called. Bizarre.

So I hardly have any advice to dispense except maybe try EMAILING your provincial CFO's office and trying to find out a status - who knows, they may be prodding CFP as a result, who knows...either way I am happy, but I am not happy that there are those who had theirs in before mine (some of you well before) and your applications are in limbo. It could be that mine was only a restricted endorsement and maybe already having a PAL helped...who knows...no rhyme or reason, but at least in 2028, I can do the renewal online...

I hope everyone gets their PALs quickly going forward. All the best to all.
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Congrats!
Got my fingers crossed mine's not far behind.
 
HalRexnar said:
Congrats!
Got my fingers crossed mine's not far behind.
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I am definitely sure yours is, my friend....they already told you there was nothing out of the ordinary or missing...in my case, CFP didn't upload my photo yet...you are in good shape and with nothing outstanding and a CFO rep willing to help you out, I am sure we will be hearing good news from you soon.

In looking at this thread there seems to be somewhat of a trend of people getting hold of someone from the CFO's office (usually by phone) and they approve it on the spot or confirm approval...it may be a coincidence, but anything helps...the Ontario CFO's office does seem to have a fella for which his applications seem to take forever. I am sure yours will be approved shortly - ya never know, you may want to log on now and check just in case...
 
thegazelle said:
I am definitely sure yours is, my friend....they already told you there was nothing out of the ordinary or missing...in my case, CFP didn't upload my photo yet...you are in good shape and with nothing outstanding and a CFO rep willing to help you out, I am sure we will be hearing good news from you soon.

In looking at this thread there seems to be somewhat of a trend of people getting hold of someone from the CFO's office (usually by phone) and they approve it on the spot or confirm approval...it may be a coincidence, but anything helps...the Ontario CFO's office does seem to have a fella for which his applications seem to take forever. I am sure yours will be approved shortly - ya never know, you may want to log on now and check just in case...
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I'm in AB, I would recommend people definitely call the phone number, especially if there's anything not 100% straight forward with your application. I had one question that needed explanation and that was the job loss in the last two years(can anybody imagine why I lost my job in the last two years? Lol) All the offices were caught off guard by the handgun ban and are scrambling to get up to speed, and are likely prioritizing on simplicity just to get things out. Call in, be super polite and even coy, and maybe you will be lucky enough to get someone as nice as I got. Good luck.
 
Ryinski said:
I'm in AB, I would recommend people definitely call the phone number, especially if there's anything not 100% straight forward with your application. I had one question that needed explanation and that was the job loss in the last two years(can anybody imagine why I lost my job in the last two years? Lol) All the offices were caught off guard by the handgun ban and are scrambling to get up to speed, and are likely prioritizing on simplicity just to get things out. Call in, be super polite and even coy, and maybe you will be lucky enough to get someone as nice as I got. Good luck.
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Agree with your suggestion for others. When my last PAL renewal was up in 2018, I was less than one year removed from a job loss AND in the midst of a divorce, both of which contributed SIGNIFICANTLY in the delay of processing my renewal (and as it was a renewal, I did the thing online). If I remember right, it was close a year for a renewal, and they ended up interviewing me (even though my PAL was renewed like 3 times before then) and took forever to get a hold of my ex, who of course argued against the renewal (long story there, she was being directed by the convicted felon that she was seeing at the time) - and CFP went back and forth with subsequent interviews with me. But ultimately, I had my PAL renewed, thankfully.

Despite what the CFP will say in the status message that if they need further info they will contact the applicant, in reality that does not seem to be the case and it is, unfortunately, incumbent on the applicant to chase, prod, and inquire about the application. A number of folks here have indicted that their CFO's office has been helpful so I agree with Ryinski's suggestion to try there...and keep it professional and courteous - it definitely helps.
 
Ryinski said:
I'm in AB, I would recommend people definitely call the phone number, especially if there's anything not 100% straight forward with your application. I had one question that needed explanation and that was the job loss in the last two years(can anybody imagine why I lost my job in the last two years? Lol) All the offices were caught off guard by the handgun ban and are scrambling to get up to speed, and are likely prioritizing on simplicity just to get things out. Call in, be super polite and even coy, and maybe you will be lucky enough to get someone as nice as I got. Good luck.
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Do you happen to know the number for Ontario?
 
My license was issued on November 2nd. It's now the 18th (16 days later)

Does it usually take this long to mail?

Edit: apparently they haven't even printed it yet
 
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