Approval processes are becoming necessary to cut down fraud and chargebacks. I agree that they shouldn't take longer than 24 hours, but this is going to be something done by all Sponsors, eventually.
I do not think you should get auto approval because you can send a load of fraudulent signups to a program before they can delete your account. By that time, their chargeback ratios are through the roof. They can't afford to take that risk now.
If a webmaster is really worth his/her salt, they should expect and be willing to go the approval process. Like Juicy said, you can always hit them up to speed things along.
My view is if you're too lazy to contact the sponsor, what says you'll actually work to promote them. This is work, people, not a picnic. You can't sit on your ass and expect people to hand you everything you need or want.
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