The QSL cards arriving from DX QSL bureaus are sorted by VE call area bureaus, and sent every 3-4 months to provincial bureaus. Typically several thousand QSL cards are sent at once. Arriving at the provincial QSL bureau, the cards are further sorted by volunteers by the first letter in the suffix. This may typically take another week or two. Finally, cards arrive to letter sorters, who wait until some minimal number of cards for the VE client station is accumulated before sending them out.
Sorters keep the cards for several years.
If the cards are not claimed, they are returned to the DX Bureaus. If you still think this is too slow see some alternatives We hope you find this information useful, and that it will help you to send and receive cards more efficiently.