Thread: FAL application turn around time frames

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Day 0 for me - submitted my paper application and supporting documents to my local police station.

Day 22: Received an email with possible dates for vetting interviews. 3 days next week or the week following.

Next week doesn't suit, have selected 3 days & 5 times the week following.

Interestingly my unrelated referee will be interview by phone, they are asked to be available at the same time as my interview but they don't have to be physically present.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Day 22: Received an email with possible dates for vetting interviews. 3 days next week or the week following.

Next week doesn't suit, have selected 3 days & 5 times the week following.

Interestingly my unrelated referee will be interview by phone, they are asked to be available at the same time as my interview but they don't have to be physically present.

An hour after I replied to the email I rec'd an interview appointment.

They book a long time 1230 - 1500 for related referee interview, unrelated referee interview, my interview and security check.

Just following up on this as others may find it helpful, so around 2 weeks after sitting my firearms safety course (and successfully completing the test) I was emailed to choose 3 possible interview slots, I chose the 3 earliest and received confirmation of the latest of the 3 slots for interviews, "bloody typical" I thought (the 28th of this month) although I am counting my blessings as from completing my application through to interview is only around the 3 month mark, fingers crossed my FAL is issued promptly after interviews/inspection next week

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Day 22: Received an email with possible dates for vetting interviews. 3 days next week or the week following.

Next week doesn't suit, have selected 3 days & 5 times the week following.

Interestingly my unrelated referee will be interview by phone, they are asked to be available at the same time as my interview but they don't have to be physically present.

An hour after I replied to the email I rec'd an interview appointment.

They book a long time 1230 - 1500 for related referee interview, unrelated referee interview, my interview and security check.

Day 34: Interviews (the delay of 1 week was my choice)

Two hours was booked for interviews (3) and security check.

The interview with my "non related" referee was done - by phone - before the face to face interviews.
Probably before the vetter left the office.

The interviews with my wife & I and the security check took less than 30 minutes.
Very few questions as it is a license renewal not a new application.

Must of passed as I was told it would be about 3 weeks for my new license to be printed.
If that's the case it will be about 8 weeks from start to finish including 1 week delay by my choice.

Security Check:
Viewed the firearms safe, made no overt move to note or record the number and type of firearms therein.
Did check for bottom (floor) bolts beneath the safe carpet - the bolts in the wall were visible.

Showed the interviewer that the other safe is used for ammunition storage.
He made the comment that the ammunition safe keys should be kept separate from the firearms safe keys.
Fair point I replied and said I'd action that.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Day 34: Interviews (the delay of 1 week was my choice)

Two hours was booked for interviews (3) and security check.

The interview with my "non related" referee was done - by phone - before the face to face interviews.
Probably before the vetter left the office.

The interviews with my wife & I and the security check took less than 30 minutes.
Very few questions as it is a license renewal not a new application.

Must of passed as I was told it would be about 3 weeks for my new license to be printed.
If that's the case it will be about 8 weeks from start to finish including 1 week delay by my choice.

Day 35:
Email received from firearmslicence.applications@police.govt.nz
"Please find attached a letter approving your application for a firearms licence.
The letter includes information regarding standard conditions and requirements for your firearms licence."

The letter includes the statements
"Please note this document cannot be used as substitute proof that you possess a current firearms
licence. Therefore, you cannot undertake any firearms or ammunition purchases or transactions until
you receive your licence card.

Your licence is issued under the Arms Act 1983 (the Act). The principles of the Act (section 1A) are:
• possession and use of firearms is a privilege
• licence holders have a responsibility to act in the interests of personal and public safety."

The expiry date of my renewed licence is 10 years from the expiry date of my current licence which is March next year, thus my new expiry date is March 2034.

I've got just under 9 months for the new licence to arrive.

Sitting on day 23 of waiting to be vetted. Hopefully things will move forward soon, but with the horrific weather in Otago at the moment, happy to stay warm for a few more days...

Got the letter confirming my FAL application has been approved and my license will be posted out to me within the next 4 weeks, so from submitting my application on-line (this is for a new license btw) to now has taken 79 days which included a 4 week wait for vetter to get down here for interviews and inspection, so it's likely the whole process will be around the 3 month mark, which I think is pretty good all things considered. The one part of note was that my first choice non-related referee was disallowed as it'd been a while since we had seen each other (as I'd moved 8 hours down the road!) Local Arms officer was very solution orientated and devised an alternative that met the requirements that they would be happy with (as, due to moving, I couldn't provide a referee that met ALL the requirements) all in all I've found the whole process pretty straightforward and completed in a reasonably timely manner. To celebrate, I nipped up the road to my mates (who's holding my Franchi 243 for me until my FAL arrives) and chucked some lead down the range

Hey guys, I have been contacted regarding my renewal in Aucks, which was approx 10 working days from submitting the forms. (Happy with the quick progress). We are having trouble coming to an arrangement only due to one referee getting time off work. I was told that they do the paperwork after the interviews on the same day, so latest slots are midday-2pm. Although the guy is friendly, I'm between a rock and a hard place. Has anyone else had later time slots such as 3-5pm which would be fantastic for my referee? Thanks

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Day 34: Interviews (the delay of 1 week was my choice)

Two hours was booked for interviews (3) and security check.

The interview with my "non related" referee was done - by phone - before the face to face interviews.
Probably before the vetter left the office.

The interviews with my wife & I and the security check took less than 30 minutes.
Very few questions as it is a license renewal not a new application.

Must of passed as I was told it would be about 3 weeks for my new license to be printed.
If that's the case it will be about 8 weeks from start to finish including 1 week delay by my choice.

Security Check:
Viewed the firearms safe, made no overt move to note or record the number and type of firearms therein.
Did check for bottom (floor) bolts beneath the safe carpet - the bolts in the wall were visible.

Showed the interviewer that the other safe is used for ammunition storage.
He made the comment that the ammunition safe keys should be kept separate from the firearms safe keys.
Fair point I replied and said I'd action that.

all that crap for a renewal , i've had one for ni on 55yrs i'm 70 now so that's the end for me when it runs out , and i suppose it costs a arm and a leg as well .

A renewal costs $126 or so, for 10 years if you apply for the renewal before your existing license expires. And your renewed license is valid for 10 year. If you wait till it lapses and change your mind and re-apply then if granted, it only lasts for 5 years.

Originally Posted by k300

Hey guys, I have been contacted regarding my renewal in Aucks, which was approx 10 working days from submitting the forms. (Happy with the quick progress). We are having trouble coming to an arrangement only due to one referee getting time off work. I was told that they do the paperwork after the interviews on the same day, so latest slots are midday-2pm. Although the guy is friendly, I'm between a rock and a hard place. Has anyone else had later time slots such as 3-5pm which would be fantastic for my referee? Thanks

My interviews and inspection started at 4pm and finished around 6pm. The "paperwork" is done on a laptop as the interviews progress, this is then submitted to the local firearms office on the same day. They should be able to offer you later time slots.....

Originally Posted by Zedrex

My interviews and inspection started at 4pm and finished around 6pm. The "paperwork" is done on a laptop as the interviews progress, this is then submitted to the local firearms office on the same day. They should be able to offer you later time slots.....

Not exactly. The questions are answered on the laptop at the time of the interview however, the vetter has to do a detailed report with a recommendation of every person interviewed in a firearm licence application for a new or renewal licence. That is normally done at night or on the vettor's days off if they have someting else on in the evening. New pistol and restricted licences take a lot longer because of the extra referees and the recording of serial numbers.

Originally Posted by k300

Hey guys, I have been contacted regarding my renewal in Aucks, which was approx 10 working days from submitting the forms. (Happy with the quick progress). We are having trouble coming to an arrangement only due to one referee getting time off work. I was told that they do the paperwork after the interviews on the same day, so latest slots are midday-2pm. Although the guy is friendly, I'm between a rock and a hard place. Has anyone else had later time slots such as 3-5pm which would be fantastic for my referee? Thanks

I ended up using another next of kin, and the interview went well. Safe inspection was simple, as it had passed E cat scrutiny previously. They have done a video-call with ex partner who said there were no issues, so the last piece of the jigsaw is unrelated referee scheduled for next week. I was advised the whole thing will be sorted out in a 3-4 weeks. I managed to get to the range on the weekend, so that was a bonus.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Day 35:
Email received from firearmslicence.applications@police.govt.nz
"Please find attached a letter approving your application for a firearms licence.
The letter includes information regarding standard conditions and requirements for your firearms licence."

The letter includes the statements
"Please note this document cannot be used as substitute proof that you possess a current firearms
licence. Therefore, you cannot undertake any firearms or ammunition purchases or transactions until
you receive your licence card.

Your licence is issued under the Arms Act 1983 (the Act). The principles of the Act (section 1A) are:
• possession and use of firearms is a privilege
• licence holders have a responsibility to act in the interests of personal and public safety."

The expiry date of my renewed licence is 10 years from the expiry date of my current licence which is March next year, thus my new expiry date is March 2034.

I've got just under 9 months for the new licence to arrive.

Day 56:
New, colourful, "New Zealand Firearms Licence" arrived this morning.

Just under 2 months from application to receipt of the new licence.

Hey team. I was 4 months from application to receiving my licence in the mail, Canterbury region.