If I wasn't in a hurry then I wouldn't have bothered witha courier either. However, I have read that some people on here have been waiting for over a month to get their approval by sending it regular. I applied to the LA consulate - I'm not sure what the Chicoago consulate is like at the moment. There is another thread about the couriers. As it is, they don't have any guidelines they have to go by. Some of the people associated with this board are trying to get that changed. So it could be a good or bad thing that they *may* look through your folder (often they offer advice as well, which they shouldn't really be allowed to do either) as they could argue your case for you if the consulate has questions, make it more presentable to how they know the consulate will want it, or mess up your presentation. I was kind of irked about all that, but like I said mine was approved so it worked in my favor. I think if you present yourself well (which it sounds like you are giving them more than enough documentation) and you're not in a rush, then probably best to send it in yourself. Just my opinion though. Do you what you feel best about in your gut.
