Just a note about a few things with my application. We submitted on March 31st and had SA fairly quickly. We never had any request for PCC and schedule A, so I submitted them over email and mailed in hard copies. Since that time, we have been contacted twice to clarify a few gaps in the schedule A and provide an address for secondary school. Those requests came 2 weeks ago, and I was able to upload schedule A through the system. I have not heard anything since. Nothing to say the file is being transferred or anything to say the background check has started.
Also to add that we have now relocated to Canada, so that I could start work (I am a citizen and the sponsor). We had 1 way tickets and stated on our customs documents that husband and child would be staying for 6 months. We had to go through several people to explain the situation at the border, and speak with the supervisor. I had my employment letter and proof of medical insurance for 6months. The border agents were very friendly, and basically said Husband and child were fine to enter as long as he did not work, and as long as we were aware that they must leave the country when 6 months had lapsed if a visa was not confirmed.
So now we just keep on waiting. I think our file will be difficult as my son is a NZ/US citizen and my husband is English. We were PR in New Zealand prior to moving to Canada, so I have no idea which office our application will be outsourced to.