My family and I got our pasports stamped with entry clearance certificates within 3 hours from applying at the Visa Office in South Africa. No questions asked. Just gave them the three VAF-1 forms, HSMP letter, birth and marriage certificates, and proof of available funds and the payment for the EC's.
We bought plane tickets immediately that afternoon, and we are flying to Heathrow on the 9th October.
I guess now the hard work starts of finding accomodation and a job
But I am glad to do it, as I was one of those who waited patienly for more than a year for our HSMP applications to be processed and aproved.
Good luck to those still waiting for approval. We will see you there.
Francois Benadie