I agree with x30
Ric2, if Sept approvals can start, when Jul, Aug are still waiting, then why cant Nov approvals start even if previous months are sill waiting.
What I feel is that VSC has some newly hired junior officers, and then there are senior officers. All the cases are assigned first to junior officers. Junior officers are asked to see, if there was change of jobs, change of address, anything wrong with medical, etc, etc. If everything is fine, then junior officers approve it. But if there is any Red Flag, the case is forwarded to Senior Officer. Senior Officer takes more time to go into the details of application. So it takes more time. Then he decides whether to approve or issue an RFE, etc.
Therefore, the first cases approved every month are the ones which arre approved by Junior Officers like Sept cases at present. The Jul-Aug cases which are delayed are with Senior Officers and are being reviewed for decision.
Again, this is just what I feel. I may be totally wrong. But I expect some Nov approvals in 1st week of Oct.