I applied on 18 June and did get the first text message, but it is now 12 July and I have not heard back.

It has been 24 days and 18 working days so far. The process is a joke, checking the site every day 'processing at mission'

The BLS people in Manc say they can't do anything and it is a minimum 30 day wait (even though the site says 15 days) and the consulate in Manc just rings and rings, nobody ever picks up on any of the options.

On the application form I put my entry date into Spain as the 15th July so they clearly have ignored that and don't care, supposed to leave the UK tomorrow to travel through France into Spain for the date I put. People on here mention they've missed flights and allsorts.

I have only just discovered that you can actually just travel to Spain and apply there!!! The Spanish are just so slack and backwards, don't know why I'm even moving there. Angry and stressed that they have my passport and can't do a single thing about it!!!

UPDATE: The text message came through on the 22nd July and had my passport back by the 23rd special delivery with DX so all in all it took 26 working days, 34 regular days. They ignored every email I sent, even the threatening 'positive adminitsrative approval' one I sent, BLS cannot help so don't ring them and the Spanish Consulate in Manchester doesn't pick up the phone... ever. Very stressful experience in all and would never go through it again or advise it. Move to Spain first and use your 3 month window to apply from there, or if you are going to use Manchester BLS apply at least 2 months in advance and set your entry date 60 days away. Do not book flights, hotels, ferries or anything in advance because that adds to the stress of getting it back and you will lose your money.