Shorten PAL Approval Times

I'm curious about this too. I'm set to roll over 21 days myself. Called in and had a polite chat today. The charge on your CC appears to be the important marking point. If the charge appears, but nothing on the site then the advice was to call in. (Still no charge on my end.)

I get the idea the first thing they do when they grab your appl is process your payment, then log it into the system to begin processing.

It couldn't hurt in your instance to call in just politely inquire. Explain the reason for the call & ask as to your status.
 
Ok so my application was online yesterday. So 25 days from date of receipt. It did however say RCMP has or was going to call me for some information. I called in to speed up the process (hunting season is right around the corner). I was informed I needed to have another form filled out by my local police department and I included the wrong proof for my restricted license. She said they mailed out the application yesterday to show what was missing. I was wondering if I can get them the info they need without waiting for the letter to come back in the mail. Do I have to write something specific on the stuff I mail back? My application number? Are the documents sent to the same address or somewhere else?
Thanks
Danny
 
call them and see what it that you need, if its a signature or something you`ll have to wait for the form, i had the same issue, my buddy forgot to sign the form for his reference spot, , priority post it back with signature required, and shouldnt take to long, , my pal took me 90 days from test to card in hand, and at least 20 days was messing around sending the forms back and forth and such


Vitulla said:
Ok so my application was online yesterday. So 25 days from date of receipt. It did however say RCMP has or was going to call me for some information. I called in to speed up the process (hunting season is right around the corner). I was informed I needed to have another form filled out by my local police department and I included the wrong proof for my restricted license. She said they mailed out the application yesterday to show what was missing. I was wondering if I can get them the info they need without waiting for the letter to come back in the mail. Do I have to write something specific on the stuff I mail back? My application number? Are the documents sent to the same address or somewhere else?
Thanks
Danny
Click to expand...
 
Rpal---
Package received by CFO on Sep.14
Credit card charged on Oct 8
One reference called on Oct 15
Status changed to "Your licence has been issued." Oct 19
total 35 days processing time. Only one reference was called. No interview for me.
For a RPAL, I am very surprised by the processing time. I thought it would be much longer than 45 days because I'm not a PR or citizen in Canada.
 
Hello! I love that I found this thread and I love reading everyone's experiences that might reflect my own.

2 x CFSC passed: Aug 23rd
Approved: Aug 26th
mailed to me: Aug 31st
Rec'd Results: Sep 1st
App Sent Priority: Sep 9th (without either having a 2nd reference! :’( )
Both Apps signed Rec'd by RCMP: Sep 14
My App shows up online with correct rec'd date: Oct 7th
CC charged: Oct 7th
Husband’s App shows up online: Oct 7th with Oct 7th as rec’d date, instead of Can Post Sep 14th date :(
Mailed back for missing 2nd reference: Oct 8th
App rec’d: Oct 16th
App ret’d Xpost: Oct 16th
Apps rec’d by RCMP: Oct 19th

I'm at tad obsessed with checking the site status.

How long should I wait to call in offering an interview? If I call in soon and they take me, could I (optimistically) receive a card by Nov 1-15th?
 
Hey everyone,

I just phoned RCMP and nice lady said what "my application almost done and now they sent it to CFO, and waiting now for approval", ###s, what it is mean , how far I am ?
Thanks!

Regards,
DHudson.
 
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Ontario RPAL

CFSC: Aug 16, 2015
CRFSC: Aug 23, 2015
CFSC/CRFSC Stamp: Aug 25, 2015/Sept 2, 2015
Sent application: Sept 1, 2015 -> Registered mail, require signature
RCMP received: Sept 08, 2015
Online: Oct 02, 2015
CrdCard charge: Oct 02, 2015
Called CFC: Oct 02, 2015 -> said app is in final review. Have 1 reference call in.
Reference called in: Oct 02, 2015 (3 min call)
Called CFC: Oct 06, 2015 -> said application with cfo; wait a week then call back
Called CFO: Oct 16, 2015 -> said application was in queue; sent application to reviewing officer; gave extension, said to call and leave message
Called CFO reviewing officer: Oct 16, 2015 -> left message
Received call from CFO reviewing officer: Oct 19, 2015 -> Interview; approved
Received actual card: Oct 26, 2015

Tutorial was extremely helpful.
Thanks.
 
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Here's my experience for an Alberta R/PAL (similar timeframes as eXecallibur)

CFSC: Aug 15, 2015
CRFSC: Aug 25, 2015
CFSC/CRFSC Stamp: NA (I guess this is not required in Alberta)
Sent application: Sept 9, 2015 (took me a couple weeks to coordinate w/ my references) -> Standard Canada Post mail, no signature required.
RCMP received: Sept 16, 2015
Called CFC: Oct 2, 2015 -> Said they haven't received it yet, but to call back if it does not appear on website in 2 weeks.
Showed online: Oct 12, 2015 (as being received Sept 16)
Cheque cleared at bank: Oct 14, 2015
Called CFC: Morning of Oct 16, 2015 -> Said they had called both my references, but hadn't reached either. Was instructed to have one of my references phone in.
Reference called in: Oct 16, 2015 (before noon)
Oct 16, 2015 (afternoon): Showed up on website as, "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. (1-800 731-4000)."

Received actual card: 23-Oct

Tutorial was extremely helpful.
Thanks.
 
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Finally ! :)
My time line:
1. Pass challenge test - Sep. 05 , 2015
2. Sent application Sep 07 , 2015
3. Credit card charged and application shown online - Oct 06, 2015 (with application received note Sep 11, 2015)
4. Got mail from RCMP that needs get safety courses, minimum 4 hours. - Oct 12 , 2015
5. Have pass 5 hours courses and pass test again and faxed copy to RCMP - Oct 14, 2015
6. Licence has been issued - Oct 22, 2015
Province SK.
P.s. I phoned few time to the RCMP and CFO while my application was in process and all of them was extremely friendly and nice! Thanks to them!
Regards,
D'Hudson.
 
I called and spoke to the CFC this afternoon, inquiring as to the status of my application. It didn't show on the system, but the staff member checked with the team and said they are currently working on applications received on Sept 23. Thought that might be useful information for others waiting.

My application had been received on Sep 30, she said to check back in a week.
 
Profire62 said:
I'm in the same boat.
Location BC
New Rpal sent May 24
Received in NB May 27
Showed on-line June 18
Reference call in as of July 19
Sent to BC CFO July 27

Still waiting...was able to talk to the CFO's office, and it has been given to one of the firearms officers for further review, more than likely because I checked 'yes' to one of the personal history questions. Hopefully it will be coming soon as I am going hunting for the first time in October!
Click to expand...

Update!
Received a phone call yesterday from the BC CFO's office and both myself and my wife were interviewed. I checked on-line last night and my status changed to "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued."
Total wait was 148 days!
Now comes the bigger battle, convincing my wife that our kids can be safe with guns in the house. (i already promised a safe comes first) Can't wait to go shopping!
 
Profire62 said:
Update!
Received a phone call yesterday from the BC CFO's office and both myself and my wife were interviewed. I checked on-line last night and my status changed to "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued."
Total wait was 148 days!
Now comes the bigger battle, convincing my wife that our kids can be safe with guns in the house. (i already promised a safe comes first) Can't wait to go shopping!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update. Maybe mine is close. Mine was received in NB on May 28.
 
So I'm in the sept 21st batch. Was missing some paperwork. Faxed it in Monday of last week and today was updated to this:
Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check again at a later date.
I called to see if my references could call in and they said no it was transferred to the CFO
anyone know how long it could take from here?
Thanks
 
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Well after pretty much 3 months it got approved!

My application received date was put into the system incorrectly, so they had to start a new application number for me which made it impossible to check online. So, every week or so I called the office in Miramichi and asked politely for an update. They were always very kind and had no issues looking into it for me. For the last 5 weeks or so the application has been sitting at the Cheif Firearms Office for final approval but nothing had changed even today when I called so I asked if it were possible to speak to the CFO's office directly. Without hesitation she put me through and once I got a hold of someone there, I simply said I was calling in regards to my application and if they had time, I was wondering if they could look into it for me. She took my information down, put me on hold for approx. 5 minutes and came back and said she just approved it for so I should have in within a couple of weeks. It has taken some time, but I'm sure excited to have it within a couple weeks! Thanks again to everyone on various forums for posting advice on speeding the process up. My advice to everyone is to definitely call them, be polite and if things have stalled at the CFO's office, don't hesitate to contact them directly.

License: Non-Restricted PAL
Location: BC
Application Registered Mailed from BC: July 30, 2015
Application Received: August 4, 2015
Viewable Online: August 26, 2015
Credit Card Charged: August 27, 2015
Status Approved Over Phone: Oct 26, 2015
 
Vitulla said:
So I'm in the sept 21st batch. Was missing some paperwork. Faded it in Monday of last week and today was updated to this:
Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check again at a later date.
I called to see if my references could call in and they said no it was transferred to the CFO
anyone know how long it could take from here?
Thanks
Click to expand...

My Application was at the CFO's office for about 5 weeks, then I called and asked to speak to them directly, and they approved it on the spot. Good luck! I hope it goes quickly for you.
 
Update: application appeared online this morning @ Day 27. Status: "...currently being processed. You have been, or will be contacted for additional information." Called in, agent told me "they need legal confirmation of my middle name." Um, what? Really?

Asked if I could fax vs mail & was given their fax #. Faxed a copy of my Alberta Operator's Licence, quoting my application number in doing so. Was told to call back in a week to follow up. I'll give it a couple of days...
 
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