Shorten PAL Approval Times
- Thread starter calalta
- Start date
Received my license in the mail today (Thursday) so in total 35 days!
Time to buy ammo and go shooting this weekend, got an Asil Bulldog from Corwin Arms it is going to be a blast !!
turns out I missed answering the question if I owned any firearms on my application, that's why they phoned asked. At 21 days, it was showing online, and by day 23 my credit card has been charged.
They said they are now uploading my photo and should be ready for interviews on about Wednesday... day 28.
Now, if only the Alberta CFO is on top of things I should have it soon.
They said they are now uploading my photo and should be ready for interviews on about Wednesday... day 28.
Now, if only the Alberta CFO is on top of things I should have it soon.
Had fully completed application for PAL/RPAL (no missing information), checked No to all personal questions on the application, in Ontario. I'm about as clean bean and boring as it gets. Very stable, never any issues with the law (not even speeding/parking tickets) or anything else for that matter. Good career, same wife for what seems like forever 
My timeline went something like this:
Feb 4/16 - Completed PAL/RPAL courses. The instructor sent/mailed off the test results the very next day.
Feb 17/16 - Received stamped test results from CFO
Feb 17/16 - Application sent via Canada Post priority to RCMP
Feb 22/16 - Received by RCMP
Mar 10/16 - Appeared online (Status check)
Mar 10/16 - Credit card was charged
Apr 7/16 - It's been 45 days and haven't heard anything. None of my references called, so I called in around 2:30pm, spent about 5 minutes on hold. Got an agent and was told everything was good, and if I wanted to speed things up, to have one of my references call in, and dial an extension. Lady was super nice and polite.
Apr 7/16 - One of my references called in, spent longer on hold in the queue than he did talking to the agent. They asked a few questions about me, and that was it. Reference sent me a text saying he called, so I checked status online, and it's completed and issued. Just waiting for it to show up in the mail now.
So for me, I didn't hear anything the entire time until I called in after waiting the 45 days. I suppose if I called after the 28 days it might have gone just as smooth. I'm wondering if it makes any differences that both my references checked that they were only available to be called in the evenings... not sure. When the lady told me to have a reference call in, she said they had to do it between 9AM and 5PM my time. They never called me, or my wife, and only wanted to speak to one reference. The reference they spoke to doesn't have a PAL, so that doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
My timeline went something like this:Feb 4/16 - Completed PAL/RPAL courses. The instructor sent/mailed off the test results the very next day.
Feb 17/16 - Received stamped test results from CFO
Feb 17/16 - Application sent via Canada Post priority to RCMP
Feb 22/16 - Received by RCMP
Mar 10/16 - Appeared online (Status check)
Mar 10/16 - Credit card was charged
Apr 7/16 - It's been 45 days and haven't heard anything. None of my references called, so I called in around 2:30pm, spent about 5 minutes on hold. Got an agent and was told everything was good, and if I wanted to speed things up, to have one of my references call in, and dial an extension. Lady was super nice and polite.
Apr 7/16 - One of my references called in, spent longer on hold in the queue than he did talking to the agent. They asked a few questions about me, and that was it. Reference sent me a text saying he called, so I checked status online, and it's completed and issued. Just waiting for it to show up in the mail now.
So for me, I didn't hear anything the entire time until I called in after waiting the 45 days. I suppose if I called after the 28 days it might have gone just as smooth. I'm wondering if it makes any differences that both my references checked that they were only available to be called in the evenings... not sure. When the lady told me to have a reference call in, she said they had to do it between 9AM and 5PM my time. They never called me, or my wife, and only wanted to speak to one reference. The reference they spoke to doesn't have a PAL, so that doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
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I am at 57 days waiting for a PAL,
still at "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date."
I know a friend of mine who sent his application in a week or two before mine, he had his card in hand in under 40 days.
We are both in alberta.
I guess this is just the government do there best to keep guns out of hands of legal citizens. getting a little frustrated.
still at "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date."
I know a friend of mine who sent his application in a week or two before mine, he had his card in hand in under 40 days.
We are both in alberta.
I guess this is just the government do there best to keep guns out of hands of legal citizens. getting a little frustrated.
I am not sure of my total time, but I was about 30 days waiting when I called and was told to get my references to call in. My reference called, I checked online 20 minutes later and my application showed approved and mailed. From my understanding here, that means it would mail out on the friday. This was thursday March 31st. I received my PAL in the mail on the 8th of April. Just bought a lightly used Savage Mark II FV used for a great deal yesterday. Thanks for the help everyone! Happy hunting!
MikeyScuba
CGN Regular
- Location
- GTA, Ontario
My son's PAL (he's 14) is approved and on it's way. March 22 billed by the RCMP approved on Friday. His app was sent to the Ontario CFO in Orillia but billed by the RCMP. No idea where the card is coming from but my bet is on Mirimichi.
At least we..er him, can buy ammo to shoot the clubs guns.
At least we..er him, can buy ammo to shoot the clubs guns.
Discrimination?
2 days short of HALF A YEAR WAIT today... called in yet again first time the call board was so overloaded that it said so and suggested calling back later (and hung up).. called later and waited on hold for over an hour, was told the application will be processed in the order it was received once again. Beginning to think that this is a test of patience and they want you to call in and see how urgent getting the firearm is to you, if it crosses the line of what seems normal this alone may add to the delay (they may think you are in a rush to do something bad/stupid).
I did get transferred to a nice RCMP representative with CFO office (they have actually all been very pleasant to deal with) she told me that here in Alberta this wait is not uncommon, and that they also run a check on your last name and birth day combination to see if there are any hits to people with similar details and investigate this as well..being that mine ends with the same old Slavic ending that many arabic family names also share, she finally told the real reason for this delay. Having long hair and a full beard in my picture probably doesn't help the situation here.
I guess you or me can't say anything or its racial discrimination, but in this process political correctness does not apply.
So much for applying for any draw Tags this year
Thanks for your detailed instructions and advice, Unfortunately I live in Alberta and as mentioned in the edit to your original post it indeed does seem that the CFO is dragging out the process for as long as possible.
Don't know that it makes any difference but I applied for RPAL and PAL both and they only called one reference for interview, and i know all of the questions they asked and how she responded.
"Application Received on: 2015/11/13
Current Status: Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date. "
Called in and they said that the application was "on the CFO's desk" and that there were other applications ahead of mine that still needed processing, this was almost a month ago. still no change. Going on 6 months wait now
Is anyone else experiencing this with RPAL application in Alberta? Is this CFO sleeping at his desk!?!
2 days short of HALF A YEAR WAIT today... called in yet again first time the call board was so overloaded that it said so and suggested calling back later (and hung up).. called later and waited on hold for over an hour, was told the application will be processed in the order it was received once again. Beginning to think that this is a test of patience and they want you to call in and see how urgent getting the firearm is to you, if it crosses the line of what seems normal this alone may add to the delay (they may think you are in a rush to do something bad/stupid).
I did get transferred to a nice RCMP representative with CFO office (they have actually all been very pleasant to deal with) she told me that here in Alberta this wait is not uncommon, and that they also run a check on your last name and birth day combination to see if there are any hits to people with similar details and investigate this as well..being that mine ends with the same old Slavic ending that many arabic family names also share, she finally told the real reason for this delay. Having long hair and a full beard in my picture probably doesn't help the situation here.
I guess you or me can't say anything or its racial discrimination, but in this process political correctness does not apply.
So much for applying for any draw Tags this year
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2 days short of HALF A YEAR WAIT today... called in yet again first time the call board was so overloaded that it said so and suggested calling back later (and hung up).. called later and waited on hold for over an hour, was told the application will be processed in the order it was received once again. Beginning to think that this is a test of patience and they want you to call in and see how urgent getting the firearm is to you, if it crosses the line of what seems normal this alone may add to the delay (they may think you are in a rush to do something bad/stupid).
I did get transferred to a nice RCMP representative with CFO office (they have actually all been very pleasant to deal with) she told me that here in Alberta this wait is not uncommon, and that they also run a check on your last name and birth day combination to see if there are any hits to people with similar details and investigate this as well..being that mine ends with the same old Slavic ending that many arabic family names also share, she finally told the real reason for this delay. Having long hair and a full beard in my picture probably doesn't help the situation here.
I guess you or me can't say anything or its racial discrimination, but in this process political correctness does not apply.
So much for applying for any draw Tags this year
My application is definitely delayed also, although not as long as yours. Interesting comment you made about any hits on your last name being inspected.
I know there is someone in Ontario with my name who is a criminal, (I have had trouble with this crossing the border) I have to assume that is why mine is delayed. As my wife and a friend who both took the course with me, and both sent their applications in well over a week after mine, On Friday they both received their PAL cards in the mail. I fear I am in for a long wait for mine. I called on Friday and asked why for the delay and asked if I could talk to the CFO to explain, she said this is a normal wait and that she could not give me the CFO number at this time.
Yes, this CFO office agent was a very nice lady and was up front with me in every regards as to their process, while i do prefer that they err on the safety side I have to say , though it doesn't apply to me; I honestly feel bad for anybody with the surname Mohammad that is trying to follow this legal process.
Today is day 28 for me....In Alberta. Not sure what's going on with other folks here
Current Status: 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)
Current Status: 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)
Just unrestricted PAL. I waited to send in my application for Rpal cause it wasn't as important to me. I'll send it in now and if it takes a few months, no big deal. I did it that way on purpose to avoid any delays. My application was received by them March 16th.
Now I need to find out if I need the physical card to buy my gun or if this issue number is good enough?
Now I need to find out if I need the physical card to buy my gun or if this issue number is good enough?
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Did my Non-Restricted in February, sent in the application for PAL and RPAL at the same time with a note saying I was taking the RPAL in a few weeks, they received it on Feb 29th, got a letter a while later saying my application was incomplete, by that time I finished the RPAL and the 28 days was up, sent them the report by fax last week, it was immediately updated to Completed Initial Processing and in progress....got my references to call in today, and 30 seconds after they hung up the phone it was changed to issued.... very with happy with progress so far!
I wonder what is going on also. they won't tell me. I just called again and asked if there was a reason for my delay, they told me 3 months from the time it arrives is normal, I stated that I personally know people,my wife for instance, who sent their applications after mine who have their cards already. She said "I guess they are luckier than you,your application must have been put in a different pile than theirs, some get thru quick, some don't, it should take 3 months"
I'm feeling pretty frustrated with the system. guess I will just keep waiting as there is apparently nothing else I can do.
