Congratulations!  If you are reading this guide, it's most likely you are thinking of submitting at least one of your etopps in-hand cards to be professionally graded.  It's very likely that the etopps card you want graded is encased and has an etopps hologram seal.

So the question you may be asking is: should I break the seal and open the case?

Do Not Do This. 

Let the grading company open the case of the card.

If you use PSA, they will contact you after they receive your submission to get your authorization to open the card(s).

With BGS, you can ask them to grade the card in the case and ask them to keep the card in the case if the grade falls below the minimum grade you will accept.  In other words, if you're lowest grade you want is a 9 and the grade is an 8.5 you will have your card returned in tact in the original case. 

Besides, you're better off shipping the card in the case because the case will protect the card.