Hi Lou,
It's always difficult to know what to do for the best isn't it...whichever option you chose the wait is aways going to be shorter/longer than you expected
I can't remember when we exactly got allocated our case officer but we had no job offers and I think the first we heard from our case officer was when he phoned my OH at work to arrange a phone interview. Timescale as follows:
EOI submitted: 03/09/06
EOI selected from pool: End of Sept
ITA received: 03/11/06
ITA submitted: 23/02/07
Phone interview: 23/05/07
Residence visa AIP: 06/06/07
I can't check letter correspondence as i don't have it to hand but just checked e-mails and there's one on the 17th May 2007 confirming the date agreed for phone interview (so he had either phoned John that day or the day before to arrange it). On that e-mail he opens by saying "my name is xxxx, and I'm your allocated case officer"
Oh and once we had our confirmation of approval in principle we then renewed our passports before getting the stickers so not sure how quickly you can get it turned round. When we did send the passports and levy off we sent them off special delivery 18th July 07, the visa issue date is the 1st August 07. Can't remember when exactly we got them back but don't think it was long after the date of issue.
Hope this helps,
Clare
