hometown,
Sorry to know that you are in the brink of lay-off. Hangon, hopefully things will get better for you soon.
One can find out if case is assigned or not only by talking to an IIO (becasue this status is not updated on AVM). In the past there are several cases where IIOs didn't have an up to date info. I mean people were told their case is not yet assigned but on the same day they received their approval notice by mail (that means when they were talking to an IIO the case was already approved)! The reason could be becasue the system is not yet updated when the case is assigned or approved etc.
So, most of the times (if the system is upto date) one may get some reliable info. if you think it is about the time and your case should be assigned by now and still the IIO says "It is not", just think positive and hope for the best that the case is already assigned and you are going to get your approval by mail even before AVM is updated. Note that it doesn't change any thing about when you will get your approval just by knowing whether the case is assigned or not!
Ofcourse if the approval is way over due (as per JIT) and IIO says the case is not yet assigned then one should start FAX enquiries or some thing else though!
Goodluck
PCee