April 11 - RPAL License received
All in all it took 2 days shy of 3 months for me to take course, receive my license in the mail. No references contacted.
Purchased my CZ Shadow the other day
PAL Wait Time
- Thread starter rgh470
- Start date
April 11 - RPAL License received
All in all it took 2 days shy of 3 months for me to take course, receive my license in the mail. No references contacted.
Purchased my CZ Shadow the other day
Yea I asked my wife to take it to the post office to send it registered mail and she just put a stamp on it and threw it in the mail box. Probably should have done it myself but I figured she would do it. Oh well you’re right, I’ll prob have to gather all my paperwork a second time and send it all in again
April 11 - RPAL License received
All in all it took 2 days shy of 3 months for me to take course, receive my license in the mail. No references contacted.
Purchased my CZ Shadow the other day
It took over a month for it to arrive in the mail after it was processed and issued (as per the RCMP website?).
My PAL and RPAL were processed and approved in 28 days on the RCMP website. Says if I don't have it in the mail within 2 weeks, I need to call them. The RCMP website updated this past Monday... so it's been "approved and issued" for a week come Monday. I was hoping I'd have it this coming Monday or Tuesday based on mail times...
It was sent in an envelope with the Miramichi,NB address already printed on it. I’m hopeful it’s there but maybe I’ll get all my paperwork in order and if it’s not there at the end of the week I’ll fire the new one off via registered mail. Thanks for the advice!
Finally issued!
Here’s my timeline in Ontario total time 4 months
Jan 4 took CFSC NR
Sent application to Miramichi Jan 19
Received Feb 5
Credit Card charged March 5
March 6 “application in progress”
Called in 3 times in March (they don’t give much info at all)
License issued April 11th
Called in for pal #
Remington 1100 12 gauge limited edition 200th anniversary ordered!!
The dreadful wait is almost over
Can’t wait to get my hands on this thing!!
Here’s my timeline in Ontario total time 4 months
Jan 4 took CFSC NR
Sent application to Miramichi Jan 19
Received Feb 5
Credit Card charged March 5
March 6 “application in progress”
Called in 3 times in March (they don’t give much info at all)
License issued April 11th
Called in for pal #
Remington 1100 12 gauge limited edition 200th anniversary ordered!!
The dreadful wait is almost over
Can’t wait to get my hands on this thing!!
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So you were able to call in and get your PAL number before you physically received the card in the mail? My application is complete/approved, and "mailed out". It's been a week... I have ordered a handful of guns, that the shops are holding onto waiting for my PAL and RPAL... think I can call tomorrow to get my numbers, since the application has been approved? My licence was issued on April 8th... just waiting for this printer issue related backlog issue to work itself out I guess
Here is some info on why some applications go through faster than others
Some back ground info that was found on the government privacy website: https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-actions-and-decisions/audits/fr_010813/#archived
Only the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) in each province/territory and the delegated Firearms Officers (FOs) have the authority to refuse or revoke licences. The screening process can have as many as three stages, if required:
"
Primary screening of applicants, based on the information provided on the application form, is done by staff members at the Central Processing Site (CPS) in Miramichi, NB and at the Québec Processing Site (QPS) in Montréal. After it has been determined that the application is complete and the data has been entered into the Canadian Firearms Registration System (CFRS), batch Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) background checks including FIP are conducted electronically with the assistance of the RCMP Accreditation Unit. At the QPS, the Sûreté du Québec assumes this duty. FOs at the CPS can approve totally "clean" applications - that is, information requirements have been met and there are no hits on CPIC or FIP. (Note: Our review did not cover the specific processing activities at the QPS.)
Secondary screening, if required, which involves a closer look at regional automated police information retrieval databases and telephone follow-up with spouses (desk work) is done by CFOs and their delegates (FOs and support staff).
Tertiary screening, if required, conducted by Area and Local Firearms Officers is a more in-depth field investigation that can involve interviews with employers, aboriginal leaders, neighbours, etc."
Please look at the actual web page. It also gives detailed info on the so-called daily background check of PAL holders. So no, nobody is looking over your shoulder. Your PAL is a a licence just like a drivers licence or a pilots licence.
Some back ground info that was found on the government privacy website: https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-actions-and-decisions/audits/fr_010813/#archived
Only the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) in each province/territory and the delegated Firearms Officers (FOs) have the authority to refuse or revoke licences. The screening process can have as many as three stages, if required:
"
Primary screening of applicants, based on the information provided on the application form, is done by staff members at the Central Processing Site (CPS) in Miramichi, NB and at the Québec Processing Site (QPS) in Montréal. After it has been determined that the application is complete and the data has been entered into the Canadian Firearms Registration System (CFRS), batch Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) background checks including FIP are conducted electronically with the assistance of the RCMP Accreditation Unit. At the QPS, the Sûreté du Québec assumes this duty. FOs at the CPS can approve totally "clean" applications - that is, information requirements have been met and there are no hits on CPIC or FIP. (Note: Our review did not cover the specific processing activities at the QPS.)
Secondary screening, if required, which involves a closer look at regional automated police information retrieval databases and telephone follow-up with spouses (desk work) is done by CFOs and their delegates (FOs and support staff).
Tertiary screening, if required, conducted by Area and Local Firearms Officers is a more in-depth field investigation that can involve interviews with employers, aboriginal leaders, neighbours, etc."
Please look at the actual web page. It also gives detailed info on the so-called daily background check of PAL holders. So no, nobody is looking over your shoulder. Your PAL is a a licence just like a drivers licence or a pilots licence.
So I guess I’m hung up on the secondary screening due to checking off yes to a personal history question. I’m wondering if my biggest delay is them actually doing some digging on me or just being stuck in a queue while the single person that I’ve been assigned to enjoys their vacation days.
Well... I didn't have much luck today. I phoned the RCMP and inquired as to the status of their printer related issues. My status relative to the backlog due to the printer issues, and also asked for my licence numbers. Before I go any further, I was nothing but nice, courteous and pleasant from start to finish with the representative on the phone.
I was met with a bit of resistance immediately. She wasn't really interested in having the conversation, it seemed. She promptly told me that it's not "printer issues" but "printer maintenance". I then proceeded to ask if that due to the fact that I'm "approved and issued" that I could be provided my licence numbers - at which point she sharply informed me that no one is to EVER obtain their licence numbers ahead of time. That we must wait until the physical cards are mailed out and in hand before we can purchase a firearm, ammo, etc (I desperately wanted to get into the conversation about how the number is all that's needed as most ammo and firearms are purchased online... but I knew she wasn't going to care). I explained to her the reason I called was due to the fact that I know of others who have been issued the numbers ahead of time due to the printer issues... she sharply told me "that's not possible". I then proceeded to ask where I was in relation to the backlog... she wouldn't look, but gave me a rough idea, saying "probably about 2-3 weeks before it's printed", she wouldn't look at my file specifically when I asked, and after I questioned her again looking for a better idea of where my licence was in the printing process (because many of you knew almost exactly when yours would hit the printer from conversations with the RCMP)... again she would only give me a rough idea based on her loose knowledge of the backlog - nothing specific relative to my licence specifically.
It was a frustrating conversation to say the least. She wouldn't offer up any cold hard facts, and just loose information relative to the situation. No licence numbers or further help. Again, I couldn't have been nicer, calmer and courteous.... but believe me, I wanted to pull my hair out. I must have be lucky enough to get the "wrong person". Boo.
I did tell her that I wanted the number so I could begin the process of purchasing a rifle that is very hard to obtain... that if I didn't get the number soon, it's very likely that the firearm would be sold and gone forever. Was that a mistake?
I'm thinking I should call back and get someone else who's a little more receptive?
I was met with a bit of resistance immediately. She wasn't really interested in having the conversation, it seemed. She promptly told me that it's not "printer issues" but "printer maintenance". I then proceeded to ask if that due to the fact that I'm "approved and issued" that I could be provided my licence numbers - at which point she sharply informed me that no one is to EVER obtain their licence numbers ahead of time. That we must wait until the physical cards are mailed out and in hand before we can purchase a firearm, ammo, etc (I desperately wanted to get into the conversation about how the number is all that's needed as most ammo and firearms are purchased online... but I knew she wasn't going to care). I explained to her the reason I called was due to the fact that I know of others who have been issued the numbers ahead of time due to the printer issues... she sharply told me "that's not possible". I then proceeded to ask where I was in relation to the backlog... she wouldn't look, but gave me a rough idea, saying "probably about 2-3 weeks before it's printed", she wouldn't look at my file specifically when I asked, and after I questioned her again looking for a better idea of where my licence was in the printing process (because many of you knew almost exactly when yours would hit the printer from conversations with the RCMP)... again she would only give me a rough idea based on her loose knowledge of the backlog - nothing specific relative to my licence specifically.
It was a frustrating conversation to say the least. She wouldn't offer up any cold hard facts, and just loose information relative to the situation. No licence numbers or further help. Again, I couldn't have been nicer, calmer and courteous.... but believe me, I wanted to pull my hair out. I must have be lucky enough to get the "wrong person". Boo.
I did tell her that I wanted the number so I could begin the process of purchasing a rifle that is very hard to obtain... that if I didn't get the number soon, it's very likely that the firearm would be sold and gone forever. Was that a mistake?
I'm thinking I should call back and get someone else who's a little more receptive?
If I had started to hit some resistance, I would have kindly ended the call and then phoned back again. If it sounded like I got the same person when I called back I'd just hang up and try again. Just my opinion though. Seeing as others have gotten the number over the phone and the fact that she didn't go in to your file to note down anything, I'd say call and try again.
I'd say it's definitely worth calling again and hoping for someone who is a little more considerate for others in the world. But it is possible that the RCMP has caught on to our little scheme of calling to get our numbers so we can order online in advance of getting our actual proof of licensing. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't want the influx of calls for this purpose and the inevitable problem that will arise when one of us gets caught with a gun and no proof of licensing...
Only tip I can offer other than the obvious be over the top polite is to make sure you get the person's name, write it down and politely say "Hi, Debby" for example as you are writing it down. People seem to be a little more helpful when they know you are recording their name. However, if they've all been briefed to no longer give out PAL numbers over the phone, then we will all have to wait that much longer...
Good luck,
FYI Mine was issued on March 21st. Still waiting...
