The sudden action might be result of Pilot project actually being Predictive analytics.
The reason why UK applicants are not getting same treatment is simple, "it is a pilot project with limited subjects".
Refer my earlier post in April
Apr 27, 2017 at 8:11 PM
Re: SPOUSAL Sponsorship PAKISTAN @ London Visa Office
Speaking of London Pilot Project,
Have you guys heard of "
Predictive Analytics".
while we are here thinking that LVO has not touched our files lately,
system will be categorizing "low risk" and "high risk" category, then those with "low risk" tag will get PPRs or even PRs very soon.
I'm not sure, but this might explain London Pilot Project.
here is a link that i read last month
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/01/05/immigration-applications-could-soon-be-assessed-by-computers.html