just fyi my sister moved to texas and said she had to do like a phone interview with esd about why she moved and stuff. they wanted to make sure she wasnt just going on vacation or something i guess

I went through this exact situation when I moved from Washington to California last year. The key thing is to be proactive and transparent with ESD. I called them before my move (yes, the wait times are terrible but it's worth it) and they walked me through the process. They actually appreciated that I was being upfront about the move rather than just updating my address without explanation. Make sure you have a legitimate reason for the move (which you do - family reasons) and can document it if asked. Also, don't be surprised if they ask for additional verification of your identity after you move - it's standard procedure for interstate claims. The process is definitely manageable if you follow all the steps mentioned above!

UPDATE: My payment just went through this morning! Looks like it was just a system delay after all. Thanks everyone for the reassurance and advice. I'm going to keep documenting all my job search activities carefully just in case I get selected for one of those random reviews mentioned above.

Congrats on getting it resolved! This is exactly why I try not to panic too early when payments get delayed. The ESD system has its quirks but usually works itself out within a few days. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation - patience is key, but definitely keep those job search records organized like you mentioned. I use a simple spreadsheet with dates, company names, job titles, and application methods. Takes 2 minutes to update after each application but could save weeks of headaches if you ever get audited.

One other thing to try while you're waiting to get through on the phone - check if there's a WorkSource office near you. Sometimes they can help troubleshoot basic ESD issues or at least give you information about what might be causing the delay. They won't be able to fix complex issues, but they might be able to see notes on your account that aren't visible to you.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at ESD this morning! Turns out there was an issue with my identity verification that needed to be resolved. They never notified me about it! The agent was able to clear it up right on the call, and she said my payments should start processing within 3-5 business days. What a relief! For anyone else stuck in pending status - keep trying to reach them. There's almost always something specific holding up your claim that can only be resolved by talking to a rep.

Just wanted to add - make sure you're ready to start filing weekly claims as soon as you're approved. The weekly claim system opens Sunday morning and you need to file by the deadline each week to maintain your benefits.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 8 days ago and still showing pending status. Reading through all these responses is really helpful! It sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty normal, which gives me some peace of mind. I was starting to worry that something was wrong with my application. The advice about keeping detailed job search records even before approval is smart - I'll start doing that today. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines!

my cousin works at esd and says they're doing a new thing where they start everyone at 13 weeks and then add more later if you keep doing your weekly claims without any issues. might be that

UPDATE: Finally got through to ESD today! The agent confirmed it was because of my work in Oregon. She's processing a combined wage claim that will include both states, and said my benefit duration should increase to the full 26 weeks once that's complete. She said it typically takes 2-3 weeks for the interstate verification. Thanks everyone for your help!