Shorten PAL Approval Times

DougPeach said:
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)

How long does it usually take for them to send it to me? I check the mail twice a day :D

:)
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Mine was issued april 25th and I still have not got it in the mail yet. If it's not here by Monday I'll be calling as that is almost 2 weeks.
 
On day 27 from reciept and there just putting it into the system now with my picture and everything. Hoping I can call tomarrow to get the interview done told me to call back in a week. LOL how's tomarrow sound?
 
ph33r said:
So my application just showed up online. I will be keeping you all updated, as I have some variables that could make things interesting. Namely, I have an ex-girlfriend that corresponds to their definition of a breakup of a significant relationship, so we'll see how this affects everything. She did not sign the application. I do not have her home address. Also, this is a Québec application for a RPAL. Here goes:

  • 11th of February: Passed CRFSC
  • 25th of February: Passed CFSC
  • 23rd of March: CRFSC and CFSC results on hand (I know, I shouldn't have waited)
  • 26th of March: Sent application via the Sûreté du Québec (In Québec, all applications must be mailed by a police officer. Ergo, they are sent by regulair mail)
  • 2nd of April: Application received (as per CFC)
  • 23rd of April: Application shows up online
  • 24th of April: Funds of 80,00$ collected
  • ???? : Personal interview complete
  • ????: First reference interview complete
  • ????: Second reference interview complete
  • ????: Ex-girlfriend interview complete (Theoretical)
  • ????: Québec CFO approval
  • ????: RPAL issued?

End is in sight.
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Well, the only update is that the funds cleared on the 24th of April last. I just called Miramichi, they told me my file is with the Québec CFO for final approval. I was a bit surprised and asked them if I or my references did not have interviews to be done before the file was transfered to the CFO for approval. She replied that the file is with the Québec CFO and that they are the ones conducting interviews if there need be.

I was a bit late today to talk to the Québec CFO (closes at 1600 EST), but last time I did they said that interviews were never done on a basis of the interviewees calling in themselves, and that I had to wait for my turn or else "it wasn't fair for the other people in the line".

I understand the concept of "call tomorrow" to get somebody else on the line and possibly another answer, but I just thought I'd share for all the ones having to deal with the Québec CFO.
 
Fire arms coarse March 15th
Mirimishi March 29th
Online April 19th
Interview May 2nd
References May 4th
Waiting on Ontario CFO........

My friend and I took the coarse together. His was approved on Friday!
 
digital-audiophile said:
It's no wonder Canada post is losing money. By now I could have already drove out to NB picked up my PAL, had a lobster and a pint of Keiths and drove back. :D
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Still nothing in the mail today :( if it does not show tomorrow I'll give them a call Wednesday AM as that will be 2 full weeks from the day it was 'issued'. The message on the website says that if you do not receive in 2 weeks to call the CFC.
 
My application was finally approved today. I was given the extension number for the firearms officer assigned to my application by the CFO's office on Friday. I gave him a call, he pulled up my application and asked me some questions (had answered yes to one of the questions, job loss). He then told me he would take care of it in the afternoon. He also said that he was processing applications from January, no idea if that was true. I am very glad I called him and got my application out from the bottom of the pile.

In total it was 46 days from the time it was received to issued. Once they tell you it has been transferred to a firearms officer, ask them for his/her extension number to finalize the application. Call in, I did once a week as soon as it showed up online.
 
digital-audiophile said:
Still nothing in the mail today :( if it does not show tomorrow I'll give them a call Wednesday AM as that will be 2 full weeks from the day it was 'issued'. The message on the website says that if you do not receive in 2 weeks to call the CFC.
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If they send it registered mail I can see it taking a bit longer but 2 weeks is crazy.
 
Just checked the wifes application on-line, nothing yet but the payment was taken off our CC last Wednesday 2nd. Time to make a call tomorrow I think....

Thoughts.... ?
 
I dropped mine in the mailbox non registered mail on monday the 16th of april. still not showing as received on the site. i called today and was told it takes 3-4 weeks for them to receive applications and to call back after 4 weeks had passed. i have my pal already and am applying for my rpal so im glad i wont have to wait the 28 days as well. will keep posted .
 
landy_andy said:
Just checked the wifes application on-line, nothing yet but the payment was taken off our CC last Wednesday 2nd. Time to make a call tomorrow I think....

Thoughts.... ?
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I tracked mine this way too. It was online the next day as "In Process". It certainly should be online if you've been billed.

When you call, be polite and informed. "Hello, I'm calling about the status of my PAL application. I was billed for it last Wednesday, but I'm worried perhaps my name was misspelled because it's not showing online. Can I speak to an officer about this?"
 
Bam approved in 35 days thank you Alberta CFO helper lady

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)

I called again on May 8, different woman answered had me stay on the line for 10 mins but came back an said that I was approved and should be getting it in the mail next week at the latest
 
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Noltz said:
I tracked mine this way too. It was online the next day as "In Process". It certainly should be online if you've been billed.

When you call, be polite and informed. "Hello, I'm calling about the status of my PAL application. I was billed for it last Wednesday, but I'm worried perhaps my name was misspelled because it's not showing online. Can I speak to an officer about this?"
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We wondered that, or as were ex-pats maybe they have her place of birth as a special code & that's why it doesn't show up. Will know in a little while...
 
I can post my full time line for anyone in Ontario who wants an example of the full time frame...

March 3rd - took course and challenged exam for PAL
March 9th - took course and challenged exam for RPAL

March 22nd - completed application and gathered signatures.
March 23rd - sent application via registered mail.
March 28th - application received and signed for in Miramichi, NB.

April 18th - application shows up online (stating the missing exam results)
April 19th - receive the stamped PAL exam results in the mail.
April 25th - received the stamped RPAL exam results
April 26th - Faxed both results in...
April 27th - Called in and did my interview
April 27th - Both References call in to do the interview...
April 27th - Checked online... 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 )
May 8th - I checked the mail and 12 days later it arrived (yes I included saturday and sundays :p)

For me it seems that the longest and most painful wait was for the stamped results to make there way to my hands...

It seemed like forever but if you think about it... it is quicker for a new applicant to get a PAL / RPAL then a drivers licence...
 
YAHOO!!!!!! RPAL came in the mail today!!

My final timeline in Calgary, Alberta

Mailed: 2012/03/20 regular Canada Post
Application Received on: 2012/03/26
Application showed online: 2012/04/17
Called in -Interview Done: 2012/04/25
Reference Called in Interview 1: 2012/04/25
Reference Called in Interview 2: 2012/04/25
RPAL Issued: 2012/04/25 (checked online a few minutes after 2nd interview done)
RPAL Received: 2012/05/08

So the total time from from the day I mailed it to the day it arrived was 49 days.

So now here are a few interesting things I would like to point out.. So it seemed to take forever to get to my house after it showed online as approved on 2012/04/25. On the letter along with my card it shows 2012/04/30 as the issue date of the license, the other point is that the postmark on the letter is 05/02/2012.

This being said I believe that the info in the OP about cards being printed and mailed on Fridays is incorrect.


The only thing I would have done differently if I had to do it again would have been to send registered/signed for post rather than just regular, just for the peace of mind it arrived in NB.

On a very positive note right after I got the card out of the mailbox I went to my range and initiated the transfer on the pistol I bought and paid for two weeks ago. :D
 
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