This has always been the case, AVO has always been behind other VOs. It's depressing but it's same old same old. You can only hope that the new commitment will make things seem a bit more like a level playing field. When I joined this forum before I even applied in august 2016 AVO was processing apps at around 7-10 months. I had hope things would get faster but instead I got processed at 13 months, the longest average processing time AVO has ever processed at (I know, I did the research). I hope for all of you 2017 apps that you don't have to go through what us 2016 apps have gone through, particularly those who applied June 2016- November 2016. It's been exhausting, soul crushing, and never ending. I hope all those 2016 apps waiting, hear soon. I'm waiting for you all to hear before I bow away from this forum for good. Us 2016 apps we're in this together. 2017 apps I wish you all the best and truly hope this process speeds up, i don't wish that painful @ becos am in agreement with all that u said here