Hebination
Here's my complete process for anyone that is interested. I initiated my Step Up on 6/13/2015.
 

 

Well, that's helpful.  Other than identical Step up and payment dates, I have consistently been a day behind you.  With any luck my card should be shipped back today.

najstronics
The 980ti ACX2.0 that we get doesnt come with a backplate right?

Nope; guess it makes the card to heavy, anyways, for a vertical case.

As a heads up, here's the final review of my Step Up Process
Initiated: 6/14/15
In Queue: 7/14/15
The rest of the information is below.  The card should be in hand 8/5/15.  Thanks everyone!

Muezick
So the step up for this card doesn't take a month in queue any more?

I think it is still at a month or more. I've been in queue since 7/19th. I have been following this 980ti step up rush and there seems to be a very distinct pattern. 

When the 980ti was first added to the step up list the demand was so high that the entire queue list was filled up. Folks who were signing up within the first few weeks were not even added to the queue, they were placed in "pending" status for the queue. Now it seems as if the queue has lightened up enough to where when I started my step ups I was instantly added to the queue. Which is great! 
 
Then if you read through the posts you will see that everyone's queue was up around the same day depending on when they signed up more or less. It seems to be in waives that are most likely related to their shipments coming in from the factory. It also seems as if your location can determine your time frame since the shipments would of course vary to the different headquarters. 

The most recent shipment was 7/19 in the US as that was the last waive I saw on here. Before that it seems there was a 6/1 shipment overseas. I would put my money on my place in queue coming up with the next US shipment somewhere between 8/15 - 8/20 plus the delay for shipping etc..I'm estimating to have my new cards in hand by 8/29.
Fingers crossed*

If you are stateside I i feel like right now is the perfect time to jump in queue and there may be a chance to fall within that shipment and have your card in less than a month. Of course this is hardly scientific and more like the ramblings of a mad man...or a guy with too much time at work. :p 

Yeah and I think the grace period is like 14 days to pay from the time you hit the front of the line. I think you would be okay if you signed up now.

Muezick
I think its 7 days, but yeah. If what you say is right, I should still be fine.

14 days. http://forums.evga.com/EVGA-StepUp-Program-Start-Here-m240.aspx 
 
 

representtexas

Muezick
I think its 7 days, but yeah. If what you say is right, I should still be fine.

14 days. http://forums.evga.com/EVGA-StepUp-Program-Start-Here-m240.aspx 
 
 

I just completed queue today and it says that I have 7 days to pay for the Step-Up... That is after they approve my uploaded invoice. 

alberthwang83

representtexas

Muezick
I think its 7 days, but yeah. If what you say is right, I should still be fine.

14 days. http://forums.evga.com/EVGA-StepUp-Program-Start-Here-m240.aspx 
 
 

I just completed queue today and it says that I have 7 days to pay for the Step-Up... That is after they approve my uploaded invoice. 

Interesting. They must have changed it and forgot to change the info in the email notification or vise versa cause the official step up page shows 14 days.
 
Great news as this must mean another waive is coming through!! Congrats!

That's normal, they are getting ready to ship it. You paid for UPS shipping when you initiated the step up.

If you selected ground, congrats you should have your card in a week or so

Wow that's crazy. 
 
I didn't realize you were in Europe. I am not shocked they are shipping it from the United states. The Cards are in such high demand, they are probably shipping it directly from their home main central office just so you can get it sooner, rather than wait for the European office to restock.

I got mine a week or so ago , took 2 months for them to even approve me for the step up

I just received the shipping email from EVGA 9pm est. Depending on UPS, my end result should look something like this;

Step-Up Initiation : 6/13/2015
Step-Up Queue : 7/20/2015
Processed Payment : 7/24/2015
Mailed Out : 7/25/2015
Received : 7/31/2015
Shipped Out : 8/4/2015
3 Day Delivery : 8/7/2015

I just got into the queue on 8/3 with the initiation on 6/29.  
 
I'm sorry if this has been answered already, are we qualified for the MGSV promo at all? 

 
Hopefully it should be here by the weekend. This step up program is fantastic, I spent about 4 weeks in the queue (I don't mind, I'm British) and it will end up being about a 2 week turn around, so 6 weeks in all.
 
My other 980 didn't qualify so I'm going to have to sell it and take a hit so I can have glorious SLI 980ti.

Almost a month now and still @ 2nd stage.