Hey Claire, I submitted my (Hardcopy) Essential Skills Work Visa + Partnership (my bf's) on the 8th July, and got an approval on the 18th July 2019. It was rapid. My previous Essential Skills took me 4 months and yet this time just 10 calendar days! What I've heard from my LIA was that - More specific information that are written on the Employer Supp Form could possibly speed up the process. For eg writing 'as attached Page 5 of Employment Agreement' compared to 'According to Employment Act 123 xyz'. Officers would not have to refer to and fro from different documents.