Shorten PAL Approval Times

Give it 1 week. Call Alberta CFO and ask if there's anything else they need from you. Tell them you're available if they need to call you. Once I did that I got a call 2 hrs later and was approved
 
Sent july 30th
Recieved august 5th
Issued october 1st after talking to a very nice lady in the cfo office (Ontario)


NOTE TO EVERYONE WAITING : i was told they are dealing with 140 000 renewals of people trying not to pay the fee on top of the usual hunting season rush so they are backlogged quite a bit
 
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Day off here in rainy Vancouver so called the BC CFO. I'm 2 weeks shy of 90 days but thought I'd try my luck anyways. The lady on the phone said "my application has been assigned to a firearms officer but they haven't had it long enough for me to worry about it yet"

Omg lol. 2 1/2 months and it's still not long enough. Feels like pulling teeth at the dentist.

After that response from the BC CFO I said "#%$@ it" and decided to not worry about it and just enjoy life. I didn't bother calling in Jul/Aug/Sep and last couple weeks I've been working 75 hours a week...hard to say no to double pay OT.

Today, after a full 6 months from submitting my application:

Application Received on: 2013/04/05

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 Canadian Firearms Program Toll Free number. (1-800 731-4000)
 
Application Posted by Express Post, Received in Miramichi Aug 26th as per CP tracking.
Attempted to check online a number of times over the next few weeks, nothing. The system finally indicated that the information I was trying to use to verify myself was correct, which indicated to me that my app was in the system.
Called in Sept 26th, and spoke to someone who confirmed my app was in the system, said that the wait was 90 days right now due to all the hunters applying. Advised that it is currently 60-90 days.
I cannot log into the system at all to find out what is going on since they added some new layer of security. When I log in, it takes me to a page where it asks me to set 3 security questions for password recovery. When I enter the three questions, and try to submit, the form does nothing. I have tried it on 3 different computers and on my smartphone and the same result. SO, as a result I cannot even get to the point to check on my application at all, since I keep getting forced to set these security questions but cant proceed past that point.
$%$$%$$$!! Anyone notice this?
Calling them again tomorrow to see if I can speed it along by offering to do my interview, and get my app ID number.
Wish me luck.
 
This is what the website says every time I try and get to see my application status :

Attention All Users

Access Key is going through some changes to improve security. To make sure you can continue to access your account, please enter questions and answers. You will need to use these in the future.
Security Questions

You have two choices:
Select three questions from the list and provide an answer for each.
Or
Enter three questions of your own choosing and provide an answer for each.
 
this is the form they want filled out but never submits because it seems to be broken
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Security Questions

Please select three questions from the lists below and provide an answer for each. You cannot use the same question or answer more than once.

Note: Answers are not case sensitive

Security Question 1
Answer to Question 1

Security Question 2
Answer to Question 2

Security Question 3
Answer to Question 3

Email Address Confirmation

You provided the email address below when you registered for Access Key. This is how we would contact you if you ever need to recover your profile.

If the email address below is correct, please click "Submit and Continue"

If the email address below is incorrect, please enter your current email address and then click "Submit and Continue"
Email Address:
 
thanks!! that did it!

Application Received on: 2013/08/26


Current Status: Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date.
 
Hey, I'm wondering if I can print my picture on plain blank white paper? I can't find specifics on this anywhere! I'll call them tomorrow if no one knows :)
 
As long as it's the right do mentions/resolution you can. However some people have reported getting denied on good quality home pics and others stating grainy poor quality black and whites getting accepted. Got mine at Shoppers drug mart for about $12.
 
Oldccm, thank ya! I'll just get a professional one done :) wanted to save the 30 minute drive to town...But It's worth the potential 3 week wait! Lol
 
Oldccm, thank ya! I'll just get a professional one done :) wanted to save the 30 minute drive to town...But It's worth the potential 3 week wait! Lol

I took the pictures for myself and my wife, put both the pictures on to one 5x7 sized print in photoshop with the right resolution and measurements sent it off online to walmart for printing picked it up a few minutes later for $0.11 cut them out and it was all good, but if you don't have a walmart near by or access to a digital camera it may be worth the $12 to get it done professionally.
 
August 7th - PAL Application mailed from Ontario
August 12th - Application received
September 11th - Credit card charged
October 8th - Application shows up online, initial processing completed.
Just called in and spoke with someone at the CFC.
She advised me that I am passed the interview/reference stage, and that they are in the process of scanning my photo and sending my application off to be reviewed by the CFO.

57 days and counting so far.

When should I call my CFO office?
 
Just spoke to an extremely nice lady at the Firearms office.

I only mailed my application about a week and a half ago.. not in their system yet. She said due to back logs, or just an extra-ordinary amount of people realizing they need to get their license now, it could take up to a month for it to show up in the system.

She was super nice and said even though it will likely be a few weeks before my application even shows up in the system I can call back on a weekly basis and inquire.

So don't be afraid to call!
 
Hey

When did you do your interview? I sent mine in about 3 days after yours, received on the 16th of August. Has been in the "it's now in progress" stage and I just called this morning to see if I could do my interview. Lady was nice and said Its not ready yet and it's still in the early stages. I wonder how yours got processed so quick????
August 7th - PAL Application mailed from Ontario
August 12th - Application received
September 11th - Credit card charged
October 8th - Application shows up online, initial processing completed.
Just called in and spoke with someone at the CFC.
She advised me that I am passed the interview/reference stage, and that they are in the process of scanning my photo and sending my application off to be reviewed by the CFO.

57 days and counting so far.

When should I call my CFO office?
 
What province are you guys in? The staff at the CFO office in Ontario are great people. A nice phonecall/visit works wonders to move along your application
 
Sent my PAL application (just for non-restricted) about August 17th. Says they received it Aug 23. Credit card was charged on Sept. 20th. Currently it says online 'initial processing completed'.
Called this morning and they said it is still in the early stages of processing, no info is missing. The guy said it is going slow right now with it being hunting season, and to call back maybe if I don't hear anything by the end of the month.
I don't think the phone call moved anything along in particular :) But there we go.
 
Hey

When did you do your interview? I sent mine in about 3 days after yours, received on the 16th of August. Has been in the "it's now in progress" stage and I just called this morning to see if I could do my interview. Lady was nice and said Its not ready yet and it's still in the early stages. I wonder how yours got processed so quick????

I haven't done an interview. I called yesterday when I noticed it was in the "in progress" stage to make sure I wasn't missing any info or had anything filled out incorrectly. She told me my application was complete and accurate, and I asked her if I could do my interview, and I was told I don't have to. Which I found kind of odd??
 
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