@bonz I’ve heard anything as little as just phoning up and getting notes added to your application can drop you to manual.
Wouldn’t really say there’s a “tell”, as long as there’s nothing questionable on your application like misspellings, wrong details, lack of or wrong documents. Sometimes they just need/want to look into things more than their computer can.
I don’t think a photo or identity confirmation will necessarily knock you to manual as I’ve seen both updates on a full digital application. I’d guess if your countersignatory seems suspicious or fake maybe. Photo seems to be the last check they actually do, most applications I’ve seen (digital and manual) seem to get approved days after submitting a new one.
The longer you’re on “documents received” means the longer it’s in digital processing and the further it’s getting so it’s a good sign.
(that is under the assumption you’ve definitely sent them everything they need).
If they actually had a decent tracker they could probably half the amount of support calls they get.
“Documents received” then “documents logged on system” would stop people asking if they have them or if they lost them.
“Awaiting more documents” would stop people being left weeks without being told they need more.
“Undergoing digital checks” would stop people asking why it’s stuck on docs received.
“in processing queue” then “with an examiner” would stop people asking why they’ve been processing it for 8 weeks.