Shorten PAL Approval Times

I finally received my RPAL today, so I guess I should share my story about being impatient :rolleyes:

Oct 24 - Passed the safety course
Oct 25 - Mailed in my application w/ registered mail
Nov 2 - Application received by RCMP
Nov 9 - Called in to see if there was any missing info, told to call back in 2 weeks
Nov 23 - Called in again and did my phone interview. Had both my references call in same day
Nov 24 - Called in and told that it was now at the BC CFO office
Dec 1 - Called BC CFO, told it was in progress and to call back in 30 days for a status update
Dec 9 - Called BC CFO, told it was in progress and to call back in 30 days for a status update (hmmm...)
Dec 20 - Called BC CFO, told it was in progress and to call back in 30 days for a status update (Starting to think I was getting a generic response)
Dec 29 - Called BC CFO, told it was in progress and to call back in 30 days for a status update (Definitely a canned response, or they are just putting me at the end of the line because i called in :p )
Jan 2 - Called BC CFO, told that it was still 30 days, just like the last 4 times I called (oops, I guess they make notes lol)
Jan 3 - Issued. Assuming they figured it was easier to just approve it, than deal with me calling in again
Jan 4 - Called in and started the process for my LTATT
Jan 9 - Received in mail. :dancingbanana: Ordered 2 handguns, and now the wait starts all over..... :eek:
 
MILSLIMSHADY said:
Received my PAL/RPAL today in the mail!!! Will post my time line later on.
Click to expand...

Before the timeline details, you have to confess: To which Province do you belong? Lots of differences between them.

Congrats. Time to start kissing your money Bye Bye..................
 
My Timeline in Alberta

NOV.7th/11'-Unrestricted Safety Course
NOV.9th/11'-Passed Unrestricted Written/Practical Tests
NOV.15th/11'-Restricted Safety Course
NOV.17th/11'-Passed Restricted Written/Practical Tests
NOV.19th/11'-Sent PAL/RPAL application with photo copied test results thru CP snail mail
NOV.28th/11'-Application received by CFC online notice
DEC.12th/11'-Called CFC to see how my application was going. Officer thought he could give me my interview. Checked and said he couldn't. Was told to call back in 2
weeks if no calls were made to me and my references.
DEC.19th/11'-CFC called my 2 references
DEC.20th/11'-CFC calls me for my interview and Officer tells me my 2 references went
well.
DEC.28th/11'-CFC website status changes to "Your application has been processed
and your license has been issued"
JAN.9th/12'-Received my PAL/RPAL in the mail today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So in total they did everything in 43 days. I'm prepared to be broke for this New year already lol. This forum rocks...thnx everyone and hope this helps out other ppl also.
 
Challenged unrestricted Dec 1, 2011
Sent in application Dec 2, 2011 express post
Received application Dec 5, 2011
January 5, 2012 checked and it says this.

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 Canada Firearms Centre Toll Free number. (1-800 731-4000)


Pretty quick turnaround i guess.
 
Checked my status earlier today and it was still being processed. Then checked again about 2 minutes after reading this thread got me depressed and "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued. If you have not received your licence within 2 weeks please contact the Canada Firearms Centre Toll Free number. (1-800 731-4000)"! Woot!

OK, deep breath. My timeline was:

Nov 5/6 - CFSC
Dec 11 - got stamped results in mail
Dec 12 - sent application off xpresspost
Dec 20-ish - application shows up on rcmp website dated Dec 13th.
Jan 10 - I'm so happy! Think I'll go hyperventilate now.

Quigs
 
Finally obtained my licence in the mail 2 days ago, the process from when they received my app, to when it said completed and issued on the site was exactly 28 days, time from sent to me to me receiving about 2 weeks, 6 days.

The site says if you don't receive within 2 weeks please call, i waited a little bit longer and received it.

They say your course results may not come together and it could take up to 8 weeks to be mailed back, well... i got both my rpal and pal safty course test results stamped and returned to me( together on same day) in less than 2 weeks.

-2 week safety course stamp returns
-28 days app
-2 weeks mailing time to receive card


all in all not bad!, best of luck for those whom trying to obtain, and listen to your fellow cgn'ers!
 
References.....

I don't mean to 'jack' this thread, but believe this is pertinent to the topic.

My wife and I completed our CFSC last weekend, and are writing our CRFSC this upcoming weekend. I plan on sending out our applications for our RPALs via registered mail this upcoming Monday, and follow up with our course marks when they come in.

My question is regarding the references. I do not see where there is any written issue with what we would like to do, but I do not want to be halfway through the approval process, only to find that the registering agencies require more information.

My wife and I are applying at the same time, and will be using the same references.......should not be an issue I think. BOTH of our references are my sister and her brother-in-law (OPP). Anyone have an issue with using a married family couple as references, both for another married couple applying for their RPAL's or see where there would be an issue?

I do see where there would be, so apologize for wasting 'thread space', but as I hope you can understand, I've seen stranger things happen when dealing with governing agencies....appreciate any feedback.
 
RGC said:
I don't mean to 'jack' this thread, but believe this is pertinent to the topic.

My wife and I completed our CFSC last weekend, and are writing our CRFSC this upcoming weekend. I plan on sending out our applications for our RPALs via registered mail this upcoming Monday, and follow up with our course marks when they come in.

My question is regarding the references. I do not see where there is any written issue with what we would like to do, but I do not want to be halfway through the approval process, only to find that the registering agencies require more information.

My wife and I are applying at the same time, and will be using the same references.......should not be an issue I think. BOTH of our references are my sister and her brother-in-law (OPP). Anyone have an issue with using a married family couple as references, both for another married couple applying for their RPAL's or see where there would be an issue?

I do see where there would be, so apologize for wasting 'thread space', but as I hope you can understand, I've seen stranger things happen when dealing with governing agencies....appreciate any feedback.
Click to expand...

There's no issues that i'm aware of, when I applied for my PAL/RPAL I used my best friend and my mom as my references.

And when my friend applied back in 09 for his he used his Uncle and his Dad.
 
I used the tips in your post and it did save time on my application approval time. I ran into some snags with holidays and a reference going to Florida for vacation, but if you look at the dates their end went fairly quickly, it was my reference that held everything up.

Oct 15 - Challenged the restricted test and passed
Oct 24 - They received my information
Nov 18 - I called in and did my interview over the phone
Nov 24 - They called my references and got a hold of one
Nov 29 - I gave my 2nd reference info to call in
Dec 23 - Second reference did interview
Jan 3 - They mailed my license
Jan 9 - I got my license
 
Quigs said:
Checked my status earlier today and it was still being processed. Then checked again about 2 minutes after reading this thread got me depressed and "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued. If you have not received your licence within 2 weeks please contact the Canada Firearms Centre Toll Free number. (1-800 731-4000)"! Woot!

OK, deep breath. My timeline was:

Nov 5/6 - CFSC
Dec 11 - got stamped results in mail
Dec 12 - sent application off xpresspost
Dec 20-ish - application shows up on rcmp website dated Dec 13th.
Jan 10 - I'm so happy! Think I'll go hyperventilate now.

Quigs
Click to expand...

hate you!!!!! im still waiting for mine.

nov 21 they recieved it
i called in my interview and had my ppl call in as well.
Have called in twice looking on status and been told its with the ontario cfo (been with them for almost 3 weeks now)

Whats up with that?
 
masterqaz said:
hate you!!!!! im still waiting for mine.

nov 21 they recieved it
i called in my interview and had my ppl call in as well.
Have called in twice looking on status and been told its with the ontario cfo (been with them for almost 3 weeks now)

Whats up with that?
Click to expand...

They're swamped with applications. Mine was 3 weeks turnaround and that was in November before the most recent surge.

If you call the 800 number, press 1 for English, then 5 for "information regarding authorization to transports", it will connect you with the Ontario CFO's office. Be polite! They can hold you up indefinitely.

"Hi there, just calling to see if I can assist in getting my firearms application approved. It's been in limbo for 3 weeks, Mirimichi tells me you guys are swamped? Is there any additional information you needed or are we just waiting on a specific person to review and stamp it?"
 
I have been lurking for a while, however I figured I should post where I am at. I live in Kamloops, BC.

3 Dec - Challenge and pass PAL
5 Dec - Paperwork in the mail
20 Dec - Shows up on the site as in progress (received 12 Dec)
9 Jan - Called to ensure nothing was wrong and was informed it has been sent to the CFO.
16 Jan - Had to leave a message for the CFO, CFO called me back, reviewed some previous details, application approved and issued.

Now's just a waiting game I suppose!
 
Last edited:
About those "Stamped" results...

I took and passed the non-restricted course in May 07...before the whole "Stamping" thing started. But I've only just sent an application with results to the CFC on the 11th.

I was unaware of the CFO having to stamp the results until a few days ago after reading through this thread.

I'm guessing this will hold it up, and add a ton more time to the process?

Or will they see I did it before that started...and let it slide?
 
Well good news everybody... mine is approved :)
Im in BC. Applied for Restricted PAL.

Dec 10-11 - took course
Dec 15 - Sent all paperwork XpressPost
Dec 19 - Received by CFC as noted by Canada Post, but not showing on website yet.
Dec 22 (or 23) - Shows up in online status check website, as received Dec 19, straight into "in progress".
Jan 9 - Did my interview. Reference A did interview
Jan 10 - Reference B did interview
Jan 16 - Application approved. Checked at 12:42am, the 15th was the 28th day.

One thing to note here, most likely the change from "in status" to approved is automatic should you be approved before the 29th day.

Best of luck to the rest of you.
 
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