Hi Sam, if you look on the forum for visas and permits you will see I have written a topic there describing a situation which is similar to yours. The company I have signed a contract with applied for my visa on the 4th of November and I am yet to hear anything. It appears that a few others are in the same situation. This should provide some form of comfort. My company seems fairly sure that this is quite normal and that I will be getting the visa eventually, so I assume it will be the same for us all. But I understand what you are going through, I would also rather know sooner than later. All the best.