To the best of my knowledge, your new firm can license you immediately with a temporary license while it is moved over from your previous firm.  Your previous firm can’t hold your license to force the repayment of training costs.  They can however, seek a temporary restraining order to prohibit you from doing business if you solicit your clients - auumuing of course that you signed a non solicit.

I read in some marketing materials that i got from a indie b/d that if you have any dings/yes answers on your u-4 then FINRA has to review and approve the license transfer and it can take 2-4 weeks. Anyone have any experience with that? I cant imagine moving and not being able to talk to clients for that long.