So finally an update - INTERVIEW!
We checked eCAS yesterday and now in addition to application received and Medical results received, there is a new line that says "interview scheduled for Feb 22, 2012" No letter yet, but I assume it's coming.
It's crazy - they've had our passport for 3.5 months and they only ask now, and set it for 6 weeks from now - what takes so long? The interview date will be about a week after our 6 months processing (in Delhi only - 8 months total) is up - why so late. It also screws up all kinds of plan we had, but that's another matter...
So, now we need to start preparing. I'll search through the discussion here (I know several people have posted interview experience, but I never thought we'd come to it so I usually glossed over it) but any advice/suggestions would be welcome!
Two immediate questions: does anyone know if it's possible to move the interview date (sooner = better)? We'll wait for the letter and see what it says, if nothing do a CSE message asking to move it forward. I'm doubting it will happen, but it's worth a try.
The other thing is getting file notes - CAIPS (or some other way I vaguely remember). I remember people saying it sometimes gives clues as to what they are thinking, though from what I've seen it generally doesn't give much info. Any thoughts from people who've gone through the process?
And finally, seems like there is some correlation between disappearing addresses and updates, hopefully everyone else gets better news than us!
The one good side is that we finally get to meet and talk to a person about this process, something we've wanted for quite some time. It's scary to think that they are concerned about our application enough to call an interview, but we're trying to be positive and are certainly going to make the most of the chance. Our relationship is genuine and we haven't done anything wrong so in the end we feel we have to get it, it's just a question of when and how much hassle we have to go through to get it.
Oh, and one more point - we've applied as common-law partners (lived together for 14 months before application, and are still together now in India - me on tourist visa) which I imagine is one of their concerns as it's not so common here. Does anyone else know of other common-law applicants via Delhi?
Good luck to everyone else waiting, and wish us luck. Let's hope they sort things out quickly after the interview, but given the experiences of yug, gwalyat and other interviewees still waiting for visas after months and months, I'm getting pretty concerned this is going to take a lot longer than we'd planned...