Thanks SalfordUSA and good luck to you. It's a relief to have our passports back in hand. Now turning to other anxiety-inducing issues (UK driving license and citizenship this year I hope!)
Just to be tedious, did you include a pre-paid special delivery envelope with your application? If not, your docs will return to you by second-class mail which could add a couple weeks to the wait time, as I understand it.
In any event, I'm sure you'll be getting good news very soon!
I did send a pre-paid Special Delivery envelope along. I'm actually starting to get pretty worried now. I keep thinking, Oh, it's the Christmas Rush that delayed it, but then I remember you sent yours later than me. I did include my daughter in the application, so perhaps that makes it take longer, but what I'm really worried about is the four pages of driving offenses (from the US) that I included for my criminal record. They are the same ones that I included on my spouse visa, and I haven't had any since 2008 (I don't drive here), but I keep thinking maybe the IO for my spouse visa was more lenient than this one - if that's possible? Every day that the post comes without our visas is like another brick of worry on my shoulders.
Also, don't most people get some sort of email when their visas are approved? I've heard others mention this before. If I'm expecting an email before the post, then I don't think there's any hope of us getting to Spain to see my parents. Obviously, if we're rejected, that will be the least of our problems - we'll probably be seeing a LOT more of my parents if that is the case!
Just a worry wart here! I actually have a letter from UKBA saying they received my app on 24/10/2011. So it's been 11 1/2 weeks from the day they received it to today, and some others here have mentioned a timeline of about 12 weeks. I suppose I don't really need to start worrying until next Wednesday? ha ha