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I'm interning at a federal agency this summer (unpaid). Our stipend deadline is today at 5 p.m. I checked in with HR yesterday to see what the status of my employer commitment form is, and got a response today saying they've never seen a form like this before and they are still waiting to find out whether they're "allowed" to fill it out.

This is a super-short standard form - check 3 boxes verifying that I've accepted their offer, will work the requisite weeks/hours, and am unpaid, and a sentence or two on what the agency's mission is and what my duties are. Have they seriously never had an intern apply for a stipend or class credit?

Has anyone had a problem like this before or have any suggestions? My school will absolutely not extend deadlines, ever (trust me). I've been in touch with my hiring contact, and she says there's nothing she can do to expedite this, it must come from HR.

It's the government - they need to go through several layers of supervisors and management to fill out any form that is not in the usual course of their routine. That's just the way the feds work.

I work in gov't right now, and going outside the chain of command is so stressful for some people, they'll even hyperventilate if they watch someone else do it.

Keep calling, ask to be put in touch with supervisors or managers, and you'll eventually find someone who can help.