I would just like to add something to this , I actually took our applications down to Birmingham on Tuesday lunchtime after triple checking everything was in order .I made an appointment online on Monday evening for Noon on Tuesday , I arrived at 11,55 and was called in on the dot of noon. However I am glad I did take the time to go because when I handed over the visa applications , they asked me for payment , I pointed out that I had paid online and had printed off the receipt for the payment ,which I had with me , but it wasn't showing on their system . Luckily the chap that was dealing with me went off and after what was a very long 20 mins , came back after having to search through the records and had found the payment . I was really panicking for a while because I hadn't taken any cards with me and was scrambling around to make sure that I had enough cash to cover the fees just in case they hadn't found it .
Re the signatures matching , thats a difficult one because on the new passports the signatures are actually shrunk down , so with the best will in the world they are never going to match perfectly.
I just wonder if they will return them because my photos dont match or do they allow for us ladies to change hair colour etc ?
I'm tracking mine every evening but until they are back safely in my sweaty little palms I won't rest .