(a)  Service of process shall be made by delivering to and leaving with the insurance commissioner, or some person in apparent charge of the commissioner’s office, two (2) copies of the process and the payment to the commissioner of any fees prescribed by law. The insurance commissioner shall mail by registered mail one of the copies of the process to the defendant at its last known principal place of business, and shall keep a record of all process served upon the defendant.

(b)  The service of process is sufficient, provided notice of the service and a copy of the process are sent within ten (10) days thereafter by registered mail by the plaintiff or the plaintiff ‘s attorney to the defendant at its last known principal place of business, and the defendant’s receipt, or the receipt issued by the post office with which the letter is registered, showing the name of the sender of the letter and the name and address of the person to whom the letter is addressed, and the affidavit of the plaintiff or plaintiff ‘s attorney showing compliance with this section, are filed with the clerk of the court in which the action is pending on or before the date the defendant is required to appear, or within any further time as the court may allow.