Hello everyone!

I'm new to this forum and very thankful that I've encountered this through my search on the internet. My case is a little bit different from most of you here. I applied for a Tier 2 visa sponsored by my current employer last May 30, 2012 and received my refusal letter on June 15, 2012. I asked help from a solicitor to process my appeal to the AIT. He was the one who prepared my appeal papers and lodged it to the tribunal last July 10, 2012. I just want to know how long does it usually take to know the hearing date and is there anyway that I can contact the ECM at the British Embassy Manila so that I will know if they've already received my papers? It seems to me that I am kept in the dark about the progress of my appeal as I have no way of calling the AIT for update enquiries as I am here in the Philippines and my solicitor always tells me to be patient and just wait. I am hoping that my appeal will not go into hearing and that the ECM will just overturn the decision.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.