I know the cert arrives shortly after you pay the annual fee (in subsequent years) but for the first go-around I think it took several weeks to get it as I remember. You cannot make the reservation before it arrives as you will be directed to mail it in right away and you have to quote the code number when you make the reservation. I believe an advance (~14 day) purchase is required. There should be no phone fee; once I was charged one but I called and they reversed it.