Pls beware that there's no such 'rule' as processing the case/s in 6-12 months. It's just an avg figure by when most cases could reach culmination... however not an assurity.
Lot depends on the individual - his case filing - the supporting docs - ease of his b/ground & security checks - and the workload of the CHC.
Nonetheless, if there should be a counting, it should commence from the day your file reaches the VO - your CHC - upon the 120 days letter.
in our country..when i received a communication from the embassy (2nd aor), i noticed it was stated that 6-12mos. processing time started when my full docs reached their office.
and i believed it so, because, in the ecas, it will changed to in process only when the full docs are being started to process already and at that is after all docs has been received.
Yes, even the Pps can be witheld for sometime... However, we can always ask them to return the Pps -- if we have a pressing need (generally wise to avoid asking).