5 March 2020. Is it I can get the ECA no on that day?
I wish I read the forum earlier so I would start the WES process same time as my IELTS...
From what I have read online, you will be emailed the ECA on (or close to) the estimated date of completion, and then you can apply for EE with the WES reference number from the ECA. Obviously you'll still need to wait to receive the printed copy, but you don't need the physical copy to submit the EE application (or ever, as far as I understand).
Shame, yeah, that would've been good. I just read their processing time on their website, but they seem to be taking longer now. I couldn't request my ECA any sooner, as I was still waiting to graduate from my master's, and get my degree certificate to send to WES. As soon as that happened, I requested the ECA.
Hope yours is actually completed on 5 March! And I hope I get my estimated completion date soon. Otherwise I'll call again. It's a pity they don't have an online system to track queries. I have reference numbers from emails, but I have to call them to track them.