Just a heads up to those of you that sent your SMC application to INZ just this month, the team that receive applications, lodge them and deduct the fees for SMC applications are currently taking 21 days from the date they receive the application to the date they lodge it and deduct the fees (I'm astounded at how slow it is at the moment - it hasn't been this slow for a long time!). They are currently opening, lodging and receipting SMC applications that were received at INZ on 31 January. So if you sent your application after 31 January, it could still be a long wait until your application is lodged and the fees deducted.