Shorten PAL Approval Times

I'm going through the process right now, one of the things I fgorgot to do was sign MY name on my photos, so they sent me a the form letter. What they do is they send you a photocopy of the picture you sent in with a sticker that has a barcode and your file number on the barcode and then they get you to sign the piece of paper and mail it back. They don't say anywhere in the letter that youc an actually fax them the signed paper with your picture instead the number's 1-800-411-0622 and they'll get it right away.

I faxed my picture off yesterday, just got off the phone with them and they already have it processed. seems like they've really managed to speed things up alot compared to how the guide in OP makes it sound lol.
 
I applied for my RPal, and received it quite fast. From the planning stage to RPal in hand was 8 months. However most of that time was waiting for courses and waiting for exam results. Courses near me were every 2 months, and it was 6 weeks for exam results. Once I had mailed the last pieces in I was told by instructor to watch the website to know when they got the application. I called as soon as it was up, and she asked me to call the next business day as not all my info was on file yet. I'm guessing its scanned in or something and they got to it at end of day? No idea, but she was super polite and I didn't argue. The next day (Business day) Monday, before I called her back, I made sure that my references were home and had time to do the interview. They did so I called her back. I called her, inquired about my RPal, and she asked if i had time to do my interview right then, which i had planned for so I did, did the interview, and at the end I informed her that my references were ready and waiting for her call. She said if I wished I could call her back tomorrow to see how their interviews went. I called the next day, and she said she was happy with the interviews and would be sending out my picture and whatever else to the card makers.(Cant remember what she actually called them) So from the time of receiving application to the time she sent off the paperwork to have my card made up was 3 business days, and it took 8 business days from that day to have it in my hand. 3 days for card to be made, and 5 days for Canada Post to deliver it. Didn't count the days exactly but I'd guess it was under a month from when I sent it to the time it was in my hand. My advice would be make sure you and your references are ready, and call them with everything ready, and BE POLITE!! Oh and make sure all your paperwork is complete. However don't be in a rush, nothing will make them work faster, some of the folks in my classes expected they could rush them because hunting season was coming up and they ended up missing the season. Did I get lucky? Maybe I did, I'll never know, but I did everything that my Instructors told me to and it worked out for me. (Before the course they set aside some time to do all this paperwork and paperwork process explanation.)
 
Anyone know roughly how long it takes for them to mail you the license in BC? Does it come from Miramichi or the CFO office in your province?
 
BC first time PAL/RPAL

July 4 - sent via reg mail
July 8 - received at Miramichi
July 25 - showed up online, called in and was instructed to have one reference call in to speed things up (no interview required for me)
July 26 - reference called in
Aug 5 - licenced issued (exactly 28 days since they received the application)

Now just waiting for the mail ��
 
QOTSA said:
I would just call in and explain what happened. If there is a problem with your application don't wait for them to tell you, it will add a lot of time to your application. Maybe they will say you need to send in the proper size photo and you can do it right away so it won't add any extra time to your application.
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Application Received on: 2016/07/28
Current Status: Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date.

will call tomorrow since it is after 5pm to ask about the picture and missing info, i am thinking all is good since it is "in progress" but then I can get the interviews over and done with. mind you the earliest they can grant it is Aug 24th so I have some time.
 
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Thanks. This is really good information. I like the bit about preparing your references to answer questions regarding why you are applying for restricted.
 
June 25th did course.
July 4th mailed.
July 11th received.
August 8th issued.
Waiting on delivery.

28 days exactly from received to issued. didn't call in (was going to wait until the 28th day) and no references were called.
 
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BC Here...

July 12 Received and still waiting.

Of course, my #1 reference fuc*ed me by not calling in when the application showed up on July 12 and didn't call in until August 9 when I ask him again. I actually went and called CFO and asked if I can switch reference (which I have no doubt did wonders to the wait time of my application) and they told me to ask my reference again. I will be contacting my Conservative MP next Thursday if my PAL/ RPAL is not issued by then.

Caperr said:
I've been waiting 15 months for mine. Still says it is in process online.....and I guess it'd be too irrational to actually think you'd get any information by calling in.
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You need to contact your Member of Parliament. From what I read on this forum and other forum, having an MP contacting the CFC on your behalf really, really expedite your application. I hope your MP is Conservative...
 
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Label said:
BC Here...

July 12 Received and still waiting.

Of course, my #1 reference fuc*ed me by not calling in when the application showed up on July 12 and didn't call in until August 9 when I ask him again. I actually went and called CFO and asked if I can switch reference (which I have no doubt did wonders to the wait time of my application) and they told me to ask my reference again. I will be contacting my Conservative MP next Thursday if my PAL/ RPAL is not issued by then.



You need to contact your Member of Parliament. From what I read on this forum and other forum, having an MP contacting the CFC on your behalf really, really expedite your application. I hope your MP is Conservative...
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Our service standards to process a complete and accurate application are:

45 days, including the 28-day legislated waiting period, for a licence application;
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Your MP will tell you to wait for 45 days (your "next Thursday" is only day 38.), and even them getting involved will likely result in the CFC quoting their time frame telling you to wait, quoting the fact you delayed it.

Being a firearms owner in Canada, get use to being patient with the government. Just wait till you get an ATT and registrations to wait for.
 
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Well one week after being received by RCMP, my application status shows up online (Excellent!). However it says they will be contacting me for missing info (my CFSC report which is now going on 5 weeks and still no paperwork). So I called the "where's my paperwork" hotline and it seems like they must be pretty busy because they now send you to voicemail and tell you they will call you back. Last week when I called I had a clerk answer within 3 rings. Oh well, at least the 28 day has started while I wait for my course report...
 
Update!!! They just called back and told me that they are just finishing up June's courses and that I should be receiving my paperwork in next couple of weeks via email I provided. Now instead of keeping my eye on the mailbox I will have to keep my eye on my email!!! LOL. well at least it's progress I guess.
 
kingstonsportshooter said:
Well one week after being received by RCMP, my application status shows up online (Excellent!). However it says they will be contacting me for missing info (my CFSC report which is now going on 5 weeks and still no paperwork). So I called the "where's my paperwork" hotline and it seems like they must be pretty busy because they now send you to voicemail and tell you they will call you back. Last week when I called I had a clerk answer within 3 rings. Oh well, at least the 28 day has started while I wait for my course report...
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Ontario right? I think that is pretty lame that you have to wait for it. I am in Alberta and you get your "proof of course" after you pass the course, it is graded and signed by the instructor. (He told me "make a photocopy and only send the copy" really helpful guy) so i was able to send in my application the very next day if I had everything else in order. It only took me 3 days to get all my ducks in a row, that is a far cry from 5-15 weeks some people have in Ontario. I guess thats why there is that "Ontario sucks" song?
 
Big-boss-man said:
Ontario right? I think that is pretty lame that you have to wait for it. I am in Alberta and you get your "proof of course" after you pass the course, it is graded and signed by the instructor. (He told me "make a photocopy and only send the copy" really helpful guy) so i was able to send in my application the very next day if I had everything else in order. It only took me 3 days to get all my ducks in a row, that is a far cry from 5-15 weeks some people have in Ontario. I guess thats why there is that "Ontario sucks" song?
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Yup Ontario. Crazy! If I still have nothing by next Friday I am calling again. I just don't get it either! After completing the CFSC my trainer gave me a sheet stating I passed both practical and written, dated and signed by him and told me to show that to my Hunter safety training instructor to show him I had taken the firearms course and passed. And when I passed my hunter safety course it was as easy as bringing down the form, with the checkbox marked saying I had passed firearms training, down to Service Ontario, and being issued a temp Hunters Outdoors Card, with firearms designation, on the spot. Then received my new Outdoors Card the very next week. Not sure why that wouldn't be enough to send to RCMP seeing as it is a dated, signed document from instructor with his instructor number on it. Just seems like a run around.
 
Here's my story:
My first reference called about 25 days through. 2nd reference called on the same day and they said there's no need so they did not speak with the 2nd.
Called on the 29th day and they said it's being mailed. I asked if I can have my PAL number and was given it over the phone
 
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