Thanks so much for all the posts so far and I feel tremendously empathetic for people that are struggling...
I wanted to share my timeline here since there has been substantial movement recently.
12:35 EST May 6th, 2021 - submitted my app (E0023~)
Sept 2nd, 2021 - AOR
2021 - 2022 - No substantial movement, but managed to actually link my bio in Oct
(They seem to have messed up my bio letter, and I had to submit my biometrics from another bio letter I received for my WP. This may have been a very bad idea as the system would automatically connect, but it wouldn't be considered as "added" until someone review my application.
I sometimes wonder if there is a trigger in their system that they would be notified once the criminality has passed, but for the criminality to pass, they would have to get my bio, a chicken and egg problem...)
Late 2022 - I notified them I've got married
Feb 2023 - Request letter for more info about my partner
Feb 2023 - Medical passed again.
During the past two years, I've contacted my MP numerous times, who was kind enough to enquire about the updates on behalf of me. Not too sure why I seemed to be the slowest among all of my friends in the same cohort. Maybe I have worked for the OPS and a tech startup in the US before as an intern. (Frankly I wasn't too sure how to report on the internships for this application. It would be easier to count towards education for EE, but I put in the titles and locations for the TR2PR app as I didn't want to leave any gaps.)
I wasn't able to make it back to my grandpa who declared medical emergency several times last year, and passed away after my father whispered the grandchildren wouldn't be able to make it back into his ears. I've cried and screamed and punched into my pillows so many times because of guilt, anger and confusion. Now I somehow made peace to myself and hope this nightmare would end soon for everyone that's reading this and still anxiously waiting.