Shorten PAL Approval Times

Does your pal number change on an upgrade? (I don't think it does but I'm sure someone can confirm)

Your actual number doesn't change, they just add a "0002" to show that it's the 2nd issue. Funnily I have my very first PAL/RPAL but have a 0002 after my number because the card they issued first they sent to the wrong address, so they had to issue me a 2nd card..their screw up not mine.
 
Thanks for the tip. May be able to coax it out if I mention ATT.. (Mostly its to get started at my local club, I don't have enough $$ or experience for my first handgun purchase)


As Cranswick says stores usually want to see the actual card, online you just need your number.

Good luck trying to get your number over the phone, it really depends who you get. I was told that if it's your first PAL/RPAL their policy is not to give the number over the phone that you have to wait for your card.
With that said if you're getting an RPAL you need to apply for a long term ATT anyway, so call the BC CFO extension and ask to do that over the phone and have them email it to you, you will need to scan and email or fax your range membership to them. When they email it to you your PAL number will be on the ATT :)
Most stores will allow you to purchase a gun and then hold it for you pending the arrival of your PAL.

Congratulations!


I just checked on Canada post website, and my application has been signed for. That was next day by registered mail.
so I guess its in their hands now.....
 
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Thanks for the tip. May be able to coax it out if I mention ATT.. (Mostly its to get started at my local club)
I just checked on Canada post website, and my application has been signed for. That was next day by registered mail.
so I guess its in their hands now.....

Yep, once it shows "issued" on the CFC website you could give your Provincial CFO a call and tell them you would like to get the paperwork started for an ATT so need your number. :)
That's what I did, however she was ever so helpful and said she could put the paperwork in for my ATT right then over the phone if I could just fax my range membership to her she would get it started. The upside was I had my ATT emailed to me within about a week, the downside was that I still didn't manage to get my PAL number over the phone:(

When it comes to the CFC and CFO's and owning restricted guns that you can actually transport to the range I've found that patience is something you have to have alot of. :rolleyes:

First you wait for your license, then you wait for an ATT, then you wait for transfers and a short term ATT so you can bring it home, then you wait for Registration Certificates to show up in the mail so you can actually take it to the range...wait, wait, wait. It is all worth it in the end though ;)

Right now I'm back to waiting, this time for mother nature to give me some decent weather on my days off so I can get out target shooting again!:p
 
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Yep, once it shows "issued" on the CFC website you could give your Provincial CFO a call and tell them you would like to get the paperwork started for an ATT so need your number. :)
That's what I did, however she was ever so helpful and said she could put the paperwork in for my ATT right then over the phone if I could just fax my range membership to her she would get it started. The upside was I had my ATT emailed to me within about a week, the downside was that I still didn't manage to get my PAL number over the phone:(

It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask though. I already have access to my dad's guns, although registered to someone else..
Should get me started at the range.


When it comes to the CFC and CFO's and owning restricted guns that you can actually transport to the range I've found that patience is something you have to have alot of. :rolleyes:

First you wait for your license, then you wait for an ATT, then you wait for transfers and a short term ATT so you can bring it home, then you wait for Registration Certificates to show up in the mail so you can actually take it to the range...wait, wait, wait. It is all worth it in the end though ;)

Right now I'm back to waiting, this time for mother nature to give me some decent weather on my days off so I can get out target shooting again!:p

I can forsee alot of waiting in my future. There are limited options for me, in terms of gun shops and peticularly restricted/handguns.
Oh well. We shall see what happens.
 
Guess what was in the mail!!!! Going shopping now.
Nov 28 - sent in app
Dec 3 - mail/app received
Dec 27 - called. Info provided completed
Jan7 - called
- interviewed
- ref to call with app # and to ext 2533.
Feb 18 - u got mail.

Did you mean Jan 18 - u got mail?
 
just one other question.. And then I must just sit back and wait.
When should I expect the credit card to be charged? if I had some
idea I can budget for next payday, or the one after that.
 
Ok here is the update:



Dec 28th: Application mailed.

Jan 3rd : Application Received as per Canada post

Jan 24th : Application shows up online as “completed initial processing and is now in progress”

Jan 25th: Called to confirm if everything is OK and I was told to call next week for the interview.

Jan 30th: Called for the interview and had 1st Reference call as well.

Jan 31st: 2nd Reference called as well. Check status and it shows that license has been issued.



Total time: 28 days.



Thanks CGN for making this a very smooth process. :bigHug:



Cheers
 
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Ok here is the update:



Dec 28th: Application mailed.

Jan 3rd : Application Received as per Canada post

Jan 24th : Application shows up online as “completed initial processing and is now in progress”

Jan 25th: Called to confirm if everything is OK and I was told to call next week for the interview.

Jan 30th: Called for the interview and had 1st Reference call as well.

Jan 31st: 2nd Reference called as well. Check status and it shows that license has been issued.



Total time: 28 days.



Thanks CGN for making this a very smooth process. :bigHug:



Cheers

wow that's fast! what province do you live in? please don't say Ontario...
 
Trust me whe I say it can be random. I upgraded from pal to rpal and was approved in 25 days though I was told all along I had to wait 28. My brother in law who moved here from England is still waiting and it's been 10 months. For those of you looking at restricted licenses. As Karmadoc said be prepared to wait, then wait, then wait some more especially if you are in BC. Your looking at a transfer time of about 3-4 weeks right now. Then waiting for your registration certificate. Good luck to all of you. Glad I'm done this whole process as well as the transfer process. If anyone has specific questions feel free to pm me.
 
Ok here is the update:



Dec 28th: Application mailed.

Jan 3rd : Application Received as per Canada post

Jan 24th : Application shows up online as “completed initial processing and is now in progress”

Jan 25th: Called to confirm if everything is OK and I was told to call next week for the interview.

Jan 30th: Called for the interview and had 1st Reference call as well.

Jan 31st: 2nd Reference called as well. Check status and it shows that license has been issued.



Total time: 28 days.



Thanks CGN for making this a very smooth process. :bigHug:



Cheers

How is it that I'm upgrading my license from pal to rpal and you got a complete license before I could even do my interview ... These people are so frustrating.. Today the lady kept speaking in French ... Then insisted I pressed 2 for French ... Why would I press 2 for French just to wind myself up?
 
Seems like a good processing day in Ontario.

RCMP received my application on Dec 31. Exactly 3 weeks later it showed up online and there was a problem -- they had not linked the stamped firearms safety course report that I had sent in, so I faxed it. This past Monday I called and they said I didn't need to interview (PAL only) and that my picture just needed to be scanned. Today the status changed to "issued". So 31 days for me.
 
My buddy called in and did his interview but he was so excited that he forgot to ask for the file number for his references. Is the file number you need for when references call in the same as the application number? I'm guessing no but I wanted to make sure so I don't waste my time calling in with the wrong number. Thanks!
 
Yes it's the same file number.

My buddy called in and did his interview but he was so excited that he forgot to ask for the file number for his references. Is the file number you need for when references call in the same as the application number? I'm guessing no but I wanted to make sure so I don't waste my time calling in with the wrong number. Thanks!
 
Toronto, ON

Seems like a good processing day in Ontario.

RCMP received my application on Dec 31. Exactly 3 weeks later it showed up online and there was a problem -- they had not linked the stamped firearms safety course report that I had sent in, so I faxed it. This past Monday I called and they said I didn't need to interview (PAL only) and that my picture just needed to be scanned. Today the status changed to "issued". So 31 days for me.

i'm going to call them again today, they recieved my application december 2nd, and it's for a PAL....interviews were conducted, and were not conducted until first week of january, and still nothing...it's not a huge deal, but what gives? i called 2 weeks ago and they said there weren't any problems with my application and everything looked good but give it a few weeks for approval...

EDIT:

Ok, well i just called the Ontario CFO, the woman forwarded me to officer Haines, possibly because he needed more information? i left a voice mail, he called me back in about 15 minutes, and he only had one question, and that was "is there any reason not to give you a license?" i replied, "none that i can think of" and he said "me either, you want your PAL number?" he said it's already in the mail...

so yeah, i'm not sure if maybe they wanted to contact me prior to issuing, and because i'm out of country they couldn't reach me at my home phone, because immediately after the phone call it showed up as issued online, and immediate prior to the phone call it still said processing...i found that strange, since most people just get approved without any phone calls...anyways, hooray for me...but i'll have to wait until next hunting season, since i won't be back in Canada until late march :( but i have all summer to waste money at the range :)
 
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