PAL Wait Time

Checked the status of my application for PAL today and see the following message:

"Current Status: Your application has been received. It is currently being processed. You have been, or will be contacted either by phone or by mail for additional information. Please check the status again at a later date."

Does this mean there is an issue? I see other people are getting "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date." so wonder if I'm missing some information...

Call right away. It means you missed a box. Or screwed up a signature. Or something administrative and until it’s fixed won’t go further. Small clerical error. Or a picture error. Something silly.
 
It’s the cfo that does final approvals. And references and screening. So if you have a clean record and your refs pick up. You will be getting it soon. You could call the cfo and ask for the file number and if your reffeeences can call in. That will take the random out of it worth a few minutes on hold for sure.

yeah i may have to do that. Only on day 30 so ill give it a week or more than call to verify its at cfo and see if i can get interviews done asap. I only applied for a PAL so im hoping screening isn't as intense and means a faster turn around time
 
Decided to give them a call today just to see if they could tell me if ill need references called and if my picture has been scanned. Nice lady said currently my application is going through some sort of screening right now and

That's literally word for word what I was told yesterday when I called and then I looked online later in the day at my license was issued. I was also told during a previous call that they dont call references in Alberta anymore.

#### man your gunna get my hopes up lmao. Day 30 today i would lose it if i got it issued today lol.
 
Called the RCMP on Friday regarding my faxed cfsc report and they said it may take another week for them to put in their system (Sent the report 26th of November). The wait is killing me lol. Just missed the black Friday sales, so I gotta shoot for the Christmas sales next. I just hope to get approved before the holidays come around.
 
Mine is initial process completed since november 22th with no missing info and I am still waiting. I dont think I'll get it for christmas sales, at this point I'll stop waiting for it, its killing me aha.
 
Mine is initial process completed since november 22th with no missing info and I am still waiting. I dont think I'll get it for christmas sales, at this point I'll stop waiting for it, its killing me aha.
I feel you man. The pistol I wanted just sold out. The rifle I wanted is now a back order item. I’ve conceded to give up too as with Christmas coming not much is going to happen until mid January anyways. Plus all the paperwork post purchase. It was kind of expecting too much to be shooting in less than a year. There are cases of super fast turn around. But the average seems to be 4-6 months. Then att and registration racks on another month.
 
I feel you man. The pistol I wanted just sold out. The rifle I wanted is now a back order item. I’ve conceded to give up too as with Christmas coming not much is going to happen until mid January anyways. Plus all the paperwork post purchase. It was kind of expecting too much to be shooting in less than a year. There are cases of super fast turn around. But the average seems to be 4-6 months. Then att and registration racks on another month.

Yup, that's the Canadian government in an nutshell. Unfulfilled expectations. I hope that no one gets caught, during the holidays, unless that's gonna add another month.
 
Current timeline for my application. Located in Calgary, AB:


Sept. 22, 2018 - Completed CFSC (Only completed non-restriction portion as I hate shooting handguns and don't have the money for it)
Sept. 26,2018 - Mailed in application to Miramichi, only for Non-restricted PAL
Oct. 1, 2018 - Received at RCMP office, confirmed by registered mail (all days counted from this day forward)
Nov. 1, 2018 - Application status online "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date." (22 business days, 31 total days)
Nov. 2, 2018 - CC charged (23 business days, 32 total days)
Nov. 14, 2018 - Called RCMP number to check on application. Was told timeline could range anywhere from 45 - 90 days for completion (30 business days, 44 total days)
Nov. 26th, 2018 - Called again to check. Was told there was no issues and that I was still within the specified 45 - 90 days for completion. Instructed to call back in 9 weeks (LOL) if I still didn't have the licence. (39 business days, 56 total days)
Dec. 4th, 2018 - Called again to check. Was told that the typical completion time was 45 BUSINESS days and that I was still within that window. Current application was in its final stage of review prior to being sent off to the Alberta CFO for final approval. Instructed to call back if I still didn't have my card in hand by the end of the month (44 business days, 64 total days thus far)


I'm amazed that it is taking this long for me to only get a non-restricted PAL. I didn't check off any boxes, have no criminal history, and have no previous exes I need to worry about.


I'm a little annoyed as I missed the black Friday sales and will most likely miss the boxing day sales as well. Winchester is having a wicked sale with a rebate on their PA SXP models and I would have loved to scoop one of those up before the new year.


Update:
Called December 10th, 2018 - Got the usual answer with no progression (48 Business days, 70 days total)
 
Edit: Sorry, cant figure out how to quote a previous reply, but thanks to those who posted advice!

Called RCMP this morning. Agent on the line was super helpful and apologetic. Turns out nothing was wrong with my application, it was just that once they scanned in my background check from previous country of residence the person processing the application didn’t move it onto the next stage...anyway, told to check back in 3 weeks if there’s been no progress...
 
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Alberta 2018

PAL course taken - 22nd Sept
Mailed application - 27th Sept
Application rec'd - 4th Oct
Check deposited - 4th Nov
Called RCMP - 19th Nov (they have evrything they need and at Prov. CFO)
Called RCMP -3rd Dec (again told they have everything they need and at Prov CFO. Asked to be transfered, was told it's too early but they had to transfer the call if I requested, I did. Got connected to a nice lady at the Prov. CFO, she asked a few questions and issued my licence, to be mailed out later this week)

No References called, one check box ticked.

Now waiting on my physical card to put a dent in that CC.

Card in hand - 10th Dec.

Good luck to all.
 
There’s nothing quite as nice as watching every gun go on sale and sell out. And Canada being Canada knowing it’s foinf to be 6 months back order. While playing the endless waiting game.
 
Called RCMP today, so my timeline so far:


october 22th 2018 : application sent

october 25th 2018 : application received by rcmp

november 22th 2018 : application show up online

november 29th 2018 : call rcmp, told no informations are missing, and to call back "in a few weeks" if i dont receive my pal.

december 11th 2018 : call rcmp, told my application is in final process, with quebec cfo, shouldnt take too long at this point and to call back in two or three weeks if i dont have my pal.
 
Called RCMP today, so my timeline so far:


october 22th 2018 : application sent

october 25th 2018 : application received by rcmp

november 22th 2018 : application show up online

november 29th 2018 : call rcmp, told no informations are missing, and to call back "in a few weeks" if i dont receive my pal.

december 11th 2018 : call rcmp, told my application is in final process, with quebec cfo, shouldnt take too long at this point and to call back in two or three weeks if i dont have my pal.

That's good to hear. I just talked to the staff at the CFO and they said they got my application, as well as my cfsc report that I've faxed to them (took about 16 days for them to get it) and that it might take a while to get approved due to it being hunting season, but I'm gonna call again soon to try and speed up the process. Now you and I are gonna have to hope to get approved before the holiday sales end lol
 
That's good to hear. I just talked to the staff at the CFO and they said they got my application, as well as my cfsc report that I've faxed to them (took about 16 days for them to get it) and that it might take a while to get approved due to it being hunting season, but I'm gonna call again soon to try and speed up the process. Now you and I are gonna have to hope to get approved before the holiday sales end lol

Yeah but I read on another forum that quebec CFO have a backlog and to dont expect nothing from them until at least february :( You may have better luck if you're not in quebec.
 
Complete Time Line
Toronto, Ontario
Oct 5-7 Took PAL and RPAL courses and passed both tests
Oct 18 Both tests stamped at FSESO
Oct 31 Stamped tests report received
Nov 1 Application sent by express mail
Nov 8 Application received and signed at Miramichi (took 7 days by express mail due to CP strike)
Dec 3 Credit Card charged, application status showed online
Dec 11 Checked at 8 p.m. "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued"
Did not received a call and no references were called by cfo
33 Calendar days from they received my application .... I think it's not that bad.
 
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