Like my mama used to say “The App Store review process is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you are going to get.”
Truer words were never spoken.  Don’t be surprised to be waiting a while once you’ve submitted your app to be reviewed.

Here is the timeline for my first app uploaded, my Photography Assignment Generator

September 29th Waiting for Review
October 8th 1:50pm In Review
October 8th 11:47pm Processing for App Store
October 8th 11:49pm READY FOR SALE

ACTUAL REVIEW TIME: 10 HRS
TOTAL TIME-9 days

Next up….Photography Assignment Generator FREE

October 8th Waiting for Review
October 17th 7:53pm In Review
October 17th 9:04pm Processing for App Store
October 17th 10:17pm READY FOR SALE

ACTUAL REVIEW TIME: 1 HR
TOTAL TIME-9 days

Third! iPhotography Assignment Generator

October 19th Waiting for Review
October 29th 3:44pm In Review

alright, shouldn’t be too long….right…..right?

1 DAY later….”Umm…..hello? Anybody home?”

Shit, did I do something wrong?
Will Apple reject it because it’s too similar to the full SLR version?
Is it because I used iPhotography? Is that not allowed?
Is the review team in New York, and are they down because of the hurricane?
I’ve tried emailing the app review contact email just to confirm there wasn’t an issue with the app….but I didn’t get any reply, even the automated “we’ve gotten your email” response.  I sent a follow up, and again no response. Every other time I’ve emailed them they have been super fast getting back to me.
Oh no….I’ve done something really horrible…

Then they got back to me  at 12:52pm with a nice polite email.  Nothing wrong, just busy!

October 31st 3:43pm Processing for App Store
October 31st 3:45pm READY FOR SALE
TOTAL TIME: 12 days

Next up….Photography Assignment Generator for iPad FREE

January 6th Waiting for Review
January 10th 8:03pm In Review
January 11th 1:16pmProcessing for App Store
January 11th 5:35pm READY FOR SALE

ACTUAL REVIEW TIME: 17 HRS
TOTAL TIME-5 days

Which I thought was pretty sweet considering they had a shutdown for Christmas!

Hey wait Noel!  What about your Photography Assignment Generator for Ipad full paid version Noel?
Well, that one is getting a full blogpost…as it’s another huge NEWB APP MISTAKE…

BE PATIENT!

So you are looking at a minimum of 4 days to a week to go from Waiting For Review to In Review, and from there, it really just depends on your app.
Just remember, my app was very simple with not a whole lot of features that need to be tested.

So,  if you want your app to be released for a certain time period…leave yourself lots of room. There is no guarantee of any time frame for review.  It will take however long it takes.

Don’t be like this guy sending this plea for help on the Apple Developer Forums on Dec 23rd…
“Can anyone help me launch my app before Christmas? I am desperate! I know that they are closed over Christmas, but I was hoping there might be an office somewhere else that can help?”

Um…no.

Noel Chenier
———————-
Photographer and teacher
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