How do we know we OPT-IN already?

[runnyeggsham 0]

Hi all,

Here is a dumb question but I only started taking this case for my cousin and he is clueless. That and we have a language barrier as well. I speak minimal Chinese and he speaks no English. Haha. It's sad, I know. Anyway, he had an older Chinese guy who was helping him but this guy is pretty senile and cannot remeber what he did and still uses a typewriter to fill in information.

Bleh, anyway, all I have are some emails that have been requesting information since October 2013. Somehow, along the way the GUZ number switched to GZO. In addition, original paper documents that were forwarded to them were sent back saying that they need to be sent in electronically or else they won't process it.

I am guessing that along the way, electronic processing was completed but there is no emails or letters that they have given me to show it. It's frustrating to get involved during the middle phase. So far, I've read some posts from this site, another immigration site, and read the official NVC website a couple of times but their directions are confusing and lacking information. Even naming the pdf documents are a pain. For example, it says to include the case number, then the applicant name, then the document name. Well, if the document pertains to the petitioner, then do they still include the applicant name or the petitioner name? Doh. Maybe, it's just me, over complicating things.

What I know so far, and what I am still confused about:

1. Electronic Processing was applied for and approved somehow.

2. I need to request to OPT-IN to NVCElectronic@state.gov BEFORE submitting pdf files?

3. If I submitted pdf files before I OPT-IN, then that means I need to resubmit?

4. Any way of knowing if I OPT-IN already? Do they send an email that says, "congratulations, you OPT-IN, now send in documents this way...blah blah blah...."?

Ugh, I appreciate the help in advance. I'd like to see which steps people take from step 1 to step finish if there is a good CURRENT tutorial somewhere. So far, been only nosing around Saylin's blog which kind of probably stopped after she got her card.