How do I log into ecas?

[Isometry]

I've been going here: https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/?app=ecas&lang=en
and using my receipt number (R*********) but it's not letting me in. Am I supposed to use my surname/birthday/etc or my sponsors? Neither one seems to work. 

[sidkrose]

You can only log in once you've been approved as a sponsor, and sometimes not for a while after that (I don't think I was able to log in until about a week and half later). You can then log in with the file number (starts with F) and the applicant's info, or the UCI and the sponsors info, that will be at the top of your sponsorship approval letter/email.

[Isometry]

I've seen people say they saw 'in progress' in ecas, so there should be a way to log in with my receipt number (receipt number is an option, so I should be able to use it) before he's actually been approved as a sponsor, or else how are people seeing 'in progress'?

It's been almost a month and a half since they got the file and I want to know that they actually have it. The delivery confirmation we got when we mailed it just means that someone, somewhere, had it at some point. I'm getting worried that it just got lost somewhere. I want a progress bar. I really, really hate that we just sent all our hopes into the void and are now waiting blind, and I'm the patient one. He wants to see the people working, and be able to push a button to zap them if they're not working fast enough.

[pinklady]

Processing for sponsor approval usually takes a very short amount of time, same day even. People who've seen 'in process' perhaps took longer to decide. Straight forward applications are decided very quickly.
Until they pick up your file, you won't be able to log in.
Patience is required!!

[sidkrose]

They're currently at 63 days for sponsorship approval according to CIC. They are working on apps received October 3. So you've got awhile to wait. Like I said, I couldn't log into ecas before I was approved as sponsor, most people can't. I highly recommend signing up for the ecas tracker.

Here is the processing time for sponsorship approval:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

Edit to add -- Usually people see "in progress" once their application is at the VO. Maybe that's what confused you? And yes, you can log in with your receipt number and the sponsors info, but only once they've begun handling your file.