Have anyone that applied between January - July 2020 received any AOR recently, saw a post now on 2019 applications where they asked questions about their application and it was already approved in January but they never received emails.
There is only 2 ways to submit applications, VIA courier to the NS office or the online portal https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html. According to me you can not submit applications via email.
I am constantly watching all self employed application forums. I see there is 2 in 2019 one have send in his passports for visa and the other have received medical request during October.