First app stuck in “Waiting for Review” for almost 30 days despite expedited review

Question

joeyjoplin OP

Created 1w

Replies 4

Boosts 0

Participants 3

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for guidance regarding an unusually long App Review delay.

My first iOS app, EmpowerFI, has been in “Waiting for Review” for almost 30 days. In two days, it will reach a full month without moving to “In Review.”

During this period, I have contacted Apple Developer Support several times.

After my initial contact, Apple submitted an expedited review request as a one-time exception for my app. However, the status did not change.

I contacted support again and received the following response:

“We have confirmed that your app review is proceeding normally, and there is no further action you need to take.”

I have followed up multiple times since then, explaining that I am not asking Apple to guarantee a review or approval date. I am simply trying to understand why this particular submission has remained in “Waiting for Review” for almost a month.

Unfortunately, I continue to receive essentially the same standard response.

There are no pending actions visible in App Store Connect, and Apple Support has explicitly confirmed that there is nothing further required from me.

I fully understand that review times vary and that some apps may require additional scrutiny. However, almost 30 days without even moving from “Waiting for Review” to “In Review” seems exceptionally long, particularly after an expedited review request was submitted.

I also know developers who submitted apps during this period and received a review response within approximately two days, so I am trying to understand whether there could be something specific affecting my submission.

Has anyone recently experienced a similar delay with a first app submission?

More importantly, is there any other appropriate escalation path when Developer Support confirms that everything is normal but the app remains in “Waiting for Review” for almost a month?

I am not looking to bypass App Review or request guaranteed approval. I would simply like someone to investigate whether there is an issue affecting this submission or explain why it has remained in the queue for such an exceptional amount of time.

Any guidance from Apple staff or developers who have experienced this recently would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Answered by SonLe1106 in 904574022

Same situation here https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/843411

Answer 1

SonLe1106 OP

1w

Accepted Answer

Same situation here https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/843411

Answer 2

moykin OP

1w

what kind application do you try to upload ?

Answer 3

joeyjoplin OP

1w

Thanks @moykin it just a simple app. I built a marketplace but there is no financial transaction there, it's more to connect people

Answer 4

joeyjoplin OP

3d

Update – September 14

Unfortunately, my situation has still not been resolved.

My app, EmpowerFI, has now been in “Waiting for Review” for more than 30 days without ever moving to “In Review.”

Apple previously granted an expedited review request, but the status did not change. I have contacted Developer Support several times and was repeatedly told that the review was “proceeding normally” and that there was no further action required from me.

After finding another thread here in the Developer Forums where a developer reported a very similar situation — and later reported that Apple had escalated the case internally and identified a technical issue with the review queue — I contacted Developer Support again and specifically requested a technical escalation to investigate whether my submission could be affected by a similar issue.

That email was sent almost seven days ago, and I have not received any response.

I also tried to follow the suggestion of contacting Apple Developer Support by phone. However, when I sign in and follow the support flow, email is the only contact option available to me. There is no option to request a phone call or callback.

At this point:

30+ days in “Waiting for Review”
The app has never entered “In Review”
Expedited review was granted but did not change the status
Apple has confirmed multiple times that no action is required from me
I requested a technical escalation almost seven days ago and received no response
The Developer Support portal only offers email as a contact method for my account

I understand that Apple cannot guarantee review timelines. I am no longer asking for an estimated review date.

I am trying to find out how I can get this case technically investigated or escalated, considering that email is the only support channel available to me.

Has anyone found another way to request a technical escalation when the Developer Support portal does not offer a phone/callback option?

If someone from Apple sees this, I would especially appreciate guidance on how to request an internal technical investigation of the submission queue status, rather than another expedited review request.

I do not want to cancel and resubmit the app, particularly after seeing reports here that doing so may not resolve this type of issue.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Daniele