I started trying to get my certificate of validation 12 months before my planned fir test for conversion as a mate had warned me about CASA taking a while. End result, two 'lost' applications followed by a third application and getting the CoV faxed to the flying school on the morning of my instrument rating test a mere 11 months and 3 weeks after my initial application. Frustrating thing was each time I called them to confirm receipt of the application, first two they said 'it is received, allow two weeks for processing'. Both times I left it for 3 weeks and then called to be told 'no record of that in the system. Third application CASA wouldn't process it as they kept saying they had no record of getting confirmation of my licence from UK CAA despite the UK CAA saying they had sent it 5 times. In the end a very nice UK CAA officer took the contact details for the CASA person I was dealing with and stayed in the office late so that they could talk to them directly and stay on the phone until CASA confirmed receipt of the fax. That should have been the clue to steer clear of Aussie aviatio ,