Q: What does it mean if the status changes directly from "Editor assignment pending" to "Required reviews completed"?
Dear all, I have submitted a manuscript to the Journal of Integrated Circuits on 06/08/2019. I have been checking the online submission status right from the first day. All along it was " Editor assignment pending" and just one day ago, it was updated to "Required Reviews Completed". I am getting anxious. Why is there is no change in the status like "Under review"? Is it a bad news? how long it will take for the decision?
The status descriptions on online tracking systems vary across journals. Some journals use similar statuses for both internal and external review. In such journals, the admin check by editorial assistants, initial screening by the editor, and external peer review would all be referred to as "review." From your description, it seems that this is the case with your paper. Since no editor has so far been assigned, I think "Required reviews completed" in this case refers to the admin check which is done before the paper is assigned to an Associate Editor. The next status change will make things clearer.
Related reading:
What is meant by "Editor assignment pending" for a Springer journal?
This content belongs to the Journal submission & peer review Stage