So I emailed my MP since we haven't heard a peep from LVO since April. The good news is they told us that the PA's eligibility has passed and security is in process (criminality has either not started or they couldn't get the info on it).
I also emailed LVO and they said our application is "currently undergoing routine background checks". Alhamdulillah this means that our file is being worked on
the silence made it seem otherwise but when I inquired back in August, they said our application was "with an officer awaiting review".
This means that somewhere in the past 2-3 months, our background checks have begun processing! Even though myCIC showed BGC in progress back in April (before our file even got transferred to LVO), they didn't officially start till a few weeks ago. I think this new trend of BGC going in progress while the file is still at CIC is misleading. My guess is CIC *just barely starts* looking into BGC, updates it on myCIC, then sends the file to LVO where months later, they start the real BGC. Problem is that we can't know for sure when LVO really started them. Those who get BGC in progress late in the process are lucky because then you have somewhat of an idea of how far away DM/PPR is.
Something that confused me though is that my MP said since our
sponsorship eligibility was passed on March 30, our 12-months processing time is until March 30, 2018. I always thought it was 12-months after our application was received at CIC (making it Feb 27, 2018 for us)?