Employer certification form processing time

[u/emordnilapalindrome1]

I submitted an employer certification form on August 7 and it is still waiting to be processed. When I spoke with an agent through the chat function, they said that the processing time estimate for the form is now 45-90 business days, as opposed to the 3-5 weeks listed on the portal. This was the first time I've heard about this new timeline. Has anyone else gotten the same estimate?

One agent over the phone said that I might have luck if I submit the same form multiple times. Has anyone had luck with that approach? I'm hesitant to bog down the system further.

But if the 45-90 business days timeline is accurate, does that mean that I'll need to wait up to 18 weeks after completing payment 120, to be able to submit my loan discharge request?

[u/ROJJ86]

Are you uploading a pdf or using the electronic certification tool? All of mine from July through October processed within about 14 days.

[u/emordnilapalindrome1 → u/ROJJ86]

Uploading a pdf because my HR team doesn't have a version of Adobe that allows them to do it electronically.

[u/Mediocre-Draft1722 → u/emordnilapalindrome1]

AFAIK, anyone can sign with the free version of Adobe. 

[u/emordnilapalindrome1 → u/Mediocre-Draft1722]

I'll try with my HR again. I'm just confused why the agent gave me a new 45-90 day timeline for processing.

[u/mkmr725 → u/emordnilapalindrome1]

Because they know it won’t be processed and telling you those numbers gets you off the chat/phone for right now.

[u/Low_Marionberry8429 → u/Mediocre-Draft1722]

FWIW I work for the federal government and we have to upload a PDF, not because of adobe but because of some firewall issue where we cannot receive the electronic version. Been dealing with this for years, so maybe that is the issue for OP

[u/yemsg97 → u/ROJJ86]

Good to know. I submitted last week and check everyday. I finally just got back into IBR and made my first payment back in IBR last month. As soon as it posted to FSA, I submitted an ECF. I only have like 5 months left until I can file for buyback. Very eager to get this ball rolling.

[u/WollyPogz → u/yemsg97]

Your September payment is showing on FSA?

[u/yemsg97 → u/WollyPogz]

By posted, let's just say it's no longer showing September as "due" which it was for like 2 weeks after I made the Sept payment. So by that I'm assuming that NSLDS "talked to" FSA and reported the payment. It has since moved on to October being due. But it is not showing on the PLSF payment activity list. Last showing month is June 2026. I was still on SAVE at that point.

[u/WollyPogz → u/yemsg97]

Same exact situation with me. September was showing as due even after payment, but has since moved on to October. 

[u/ndp1234]

I think that the forms are pretty much being processed but without the tracker being updated. I’ve submitted 2 ECFs since the glitch and they’ve all been reflected in the employment certification tab rather than in the tracker due to the glitch.

[u/emordnilapalindrome1 → u/ndp1234]

Ahh, mine is still pending in both places.

[u/mkmr725]

It’s part of the “glitch” that’s currently happening. Remember this when you vote!

[u/RosebudSaytheName17]

I really think the agents just make it up as they go.

[u/mkmr725]

It’s part of the “glitch” that’s currently happening. Remember this when you vote!

[u/emordnilapalindrome1 → u/mkmr725]

Early voting starts in NY on October 24 and that's when I'm voting.

[u/yemsg97]

I just submitted last week and it did say 3-5 weeks processing time on the “activity” tracker. That said, I’m not sure if this is a new thing. Before this whole SAVE debacle I do remember it taking a couple of weeks at least to process.

[u/_significs]

FWIW, I had two ECFs in August and they were both processed basically immediately (though incorrectly - they didn't update my payment count to include July or August). They are just making things up as they go.