Congratulations Emperor. I noticed that in your timeline you submitted your application on April 2012. Is that right? From april 2012 to Sept. 30, 2012 for Strategic Initiative. It took them 6 months to decide.
I Thought strategic initiative will only take 2 to 3 months for them to decide. I also applied thru online under strategic initiative on September 15, 2012 and Iam still waiting for the LOA, they requested additional docs in october 12 which i submitted 7 days after. My friend from Uk already got his LOA since Nov. 4. We are both under the strategic initiative and applied at the same time but i guess he's more lucky than I am as he got his LOA while Iam still waiting. Iam from Philippines and currenlty based in the pacific islands.
Anyways, Congratulations again and wish you luck to your CIO application.