Shorten PAL Approval Times

now day 106 of my RPAL request , had my pal for 10+ years

Called the cfc and got transfered to the SQ 3 weeks ago, the lady said they only needed to speak to my references, everything else was ok.

Just decided to call them to ask whats going on ,once again, the cfc transfered me to the SQ. The guy from the SQ asked for my phone number, and my references phone numbers too, (they were on the form I filled out more than 3 months ago but ...).

what a waste of time. I guess i will call them each week until i get approved.
 
Kneedragger said:
now day 106 of my RPAL request , had my pal for 10+ years

Called the cfc and got transfered to the SQ 3 weeks ago, the lady said they only needed to speak to my references, everything else was ok.

Just decided to call them to ask whats going on ,once again, the cfc transfered me to the SQ. The guy from the SQ asked for my phone number, and my references phone numbers too, (they were on the form I filled out more than 3 months ago but ...).

what a waste of time. I guess i will call them each week until i get approved.
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Yep - as I've learned: keep on 'em. Don't be afraid to be proactive. Even if you get the odd "not so nice" person, keep on them. It's your $ and your right to have them do their jobs.

**Also - this is how we learn to keep on government officials (and others). Never assume anyone is doing their job as efficiently as they can, lol. It's just a safer way to go.
 
My PAL / RPAL timeline

June 26/12: Application and course results sent
July 04/12: Application received at the CFC
July 23/12: Application appears online: Completed Initial Processing
July 23/12: Credit Card charged processing fee
July 30/12: Complete phone interview, 1st reference also completes interview
July 31/12: 2nd reference calls in and does their interview
Aug 01/12: CFC website indicates..Licence has been issued !! (allow 2 weeks to receive it)

And there I am...just over a month into the application process....and I have a PAL/RPAL on it's way
 
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vermintrex said:
My PAL / RPAL timeline

June 26/12: Application and course results sent
July 04/12: Application received at the CFC
July 23/12: Application appears online: Completed Initial Processing
July 30/12: Complete phone interview, 1st reference also completes interview
July 31/12: 2nd reference calls in and does their interview

And there I am...just over a month into the application process....wonder how much longer ?
Click to expand...

If you are lucky like I was with my RPAL, it will be issued tomorrow (28 days after they received your application) and you'll get it in the mail within 2 weeks.

Given the crazy wait times (4-6 weeks) for LTATTs in BC right now, I suggest that as soon as you see it marked as issued online, you should call in and get your license number over the phone. Then immediately apply for an LTATT. You will need to get a membership in a gun club and fax the CFO a copy.
 
dontshow said:
If you are lucky like I was with my RPAL, it will be issued tomorrow (28 days after they received your application) and you'll get it in the mail within 2 weeks.

Given the crazy wait times (4-6 weeks) for LTATTs in BC right now, I suggest that as soon as you see it marked as issued online, you should call in and get your license number over the phone. Then immediately apply for an LTATT. You will need to get a membership in a gun club and fax the CFO a copy.
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Yep...I'll be all over whatever I can do once I'm approved to speed things up.

I thought in BC we didn't need to belong to a club..or even own a firearm to get an LTATT ? The way I understood it is you just leave those sections blank and you are issued a LTATT for any (legal) firearm and any range in BC ?
 
For PAL in Ontario

June 28: Application mailed
July 3: Application received
July 9: Faxed course results
July 20: Application shows up online
July 24: Credit card charged
July 30: My interview and 2 references interviewed
July 31: License issued

28 days once received!
 
I think that from the time I started looking for an available CFS course, until I received my PAL in the mail was about 10 months, 5 of which were waiting after the course was taken.

Unfortunately my 'in process' time was exactly during the takedown of the LG registry, so apparently applications were taking longer than normal. Also, it was quite difficult to locate an instructor, as 4 out of the 5 on the list in my area never returned phone calls or emails. The 5th obviously had a long waiting list.

I find this length of time too long, and it occurred to me that it would be easy to simplify the process : Apply for PAL in writing, and get references sorted out straight away. Then you would be pre-approved, based on a 'Pass' for the safety course (like a beginner driver's license). Then a temporary PAL could be issued pending printing of the real thing. This saves the multiple waits : waiting to get into a course, waiting to get the paperwork back from Orillia, waiting for references to be contacted, waiting for approval, waiting for license.

It would also save time and money for the folks that don't qualify for whatever reason, ie if the references don't add up, then they don't have to bother paying for a course they can't use. The current process just seems backwards to me, but I'm probably missing something...
 
Japhro said:
The current process just seems backwards to me, but I'm probably missing something...
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You aren't missing anything. The process was designed by civil servants, not efficiency experts. When they set it up, they had no motivation to make the process user-friendly, simple, or efficient.

AFAIK everything you suggested is within the bounds of the Firearms Act. All it would take is some motivated civil servants and RCMP officers. Unfortuneatly they likely won't be motivated to make changes without our elected officials forcing them to. (Just look at the whole backdoor registry thing.)
 
finally, 107 days later, the SQ called me and my references. The lady was very nice and polite, asked me a bunch of questions and then told me I should expect to receive my license in the next 10 days

i'm happy !
 
Same here - should have good news by later today (Thursday). I spoke to the officer yesterday. My advice: stay on them. Respectfully, of course, but stay on them.
 
My license was issued yesterday...exactly 28 days after they received my application.

One hurdle done with...now a BC LTATT...gah...it never ends :mad:

If everything goes perfectly I might...might...be able to take my first shots mid September....unreal the red tape.
 
Your 124 should make me feel better about my 80 as of today, but it doesn't. Whom do you have to orally please to get things done, cuz at this point i'm willing....to give out my sisters number.
I wrote a nice little letter to my MLA & MP, explaining my displeasure with the BC CFO delays. Letters to the ombudsman and CFO are next, though I doubt they will help anything.
 
I empathize with those of you going through long delays...that just sucks dog balls.

I'm still not totally clear on the process...my application was approved by the CFC...is my license now mailed to me directly...or does it go to the BC CFO first..who then gives their stamp of approval and then sends it to me ?

If it goes to the BC CFO first...lord help me now
 
I would say generally, that any time that I have dealt with a federal government office, whatever the department it is, more often than not I encounter a sense of smugness, non-helpfulness, an attitude of entitlement, and a general lack of caring on their part.

They have none of the customer/service provider mentality, as there appears to be no positive reward for providing service excellence. In the absence of reward modes, they seem to be doing whatever they can to pass the time. On the other hand, there may be no or only slight reprimands for providing bad,slow,inefficient service. God help you if you remind someone that it is your tax dollars paying for their department. Then it's over. That you could hurl such an abusive and deeply personal accusation their way is inexcusable. You then have no rights whatsoever, lol.

Provincially, it's a bit better, and at the municipal level, at least outside the big cities, it starts to get ok again.
 
Splatted said:
Called the CFC today just to check in and ensure my paperwork was in order. They were very nice, confirmed my application was processing, and offered to do my interview right there.

They then managed to get a hold of my references and interview them within the hour, even before I had time to give them the heads up. That felt nice, a couple steps closer.
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Well it's been a week since interviews were done. I was told to call the CFC back if no update. They checked my file said their part was done and my application had been forwarded to the BC CFO. I've heard the stories of massive delays from that office <crosses fingers>
 
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