Hey there new May applicants!
CIC may - or may not - send you an AOR - acknowledgement of receipt. If you receive one, it will be by email. Not everybody gets one though - so if you don't, don't panic, it doesn't mean anything. Until you hear from CIC, the only way to know if your application has arrived is to check the tracking number if you sent it registered.
If you get an AOR, you will be given a UCI ( unique client identifier), and a file number (Starting by F + 8 digits). After a few days, you can check on ecas ( go on CIC website and look for "check my application "), where it mostly says "your application has been received". Ecas doesn't say much, and is not very reliable, so don't put too much effort into it.
After a month ( more or less) you will get the sponsor approval. It can come via email, or via snail mail. Ecas will then say "decision made" under sponsorship part. It says " a letter has been sent" - but it means either letter or email.
TO check ecas : UCI + sponsor information (last name, no initial), OR File number + applicant information.
Good luck to all,
Sweden
PS: my offer still stands! if you want to have a May spreadsheet, I'm happy to create one, but one of the May applicants need to be in charge of the updates. It's nothing complicated, and I can always help to get started, but I'm done with my PR and will not be following this thread.