We put our form in in august 2015, we had a month delay between stages 1 and 2 due to a huge once-in-a-decade holiday we already had booked, and then we asked to delay approval panel by another month so we could get our finances a bit more in order, and we went to approval in April 2016.
There was some delay in anything happening after approval as someone in the office at the LA died suddenly, causing a backlog both with their work, and shock/upset for their colleagues.
Had our first match in June but it wasn't right.
Had our second match in July. Shortlisted with another couple so we had to interview for kid in august! By then in our minds kid was ours though, so it's a good job they went with us!!!
Had a matching panel date in October, but husbands bad sinus infection throughout august turned out to be an immune system disorder! Panel was cancelled whilst he had hospital tests, biopsies, biotyerapy, and an agonising wait for a letter to come through from his consultant confirming he's still ok to adopt, even though this is something he has forever now!
In November they told us the next available panel they could have us on was February. I got a bit angry at the world at this point, to put it mildly! And Christmas sucked. But soon. Soon. :)
So 18 months from application, including a 4 month illness delay, and 2 months of slowing the process down.