Appeal got deferred

Hello.

Best practices for requesting production access for SES are outlined in the following document.
How about proceeding with the application using this as a reference?
https://repost.aws/ja/articles/ARiPfzfFD3RbGzRPjn-2YdEg/client-vetting-best-practices-for-amazon-ses-customers-managing-multiple-client-accounts

Based on your situation, improving trust signals on your website is important, but it's only one part of what you should focus on before appealing. Here's what typically matters most:

What to prioritize:

1. Technical implementation details - Be very specific about your bounce and complaint handling mechanisms. Don't just mention that you'll handle them; explain exactly how you'll use SNS topics for bounce and complaint notifications, how you'll automatically add addresses to your suppression list, and what CloudWatch alarms you'll configure to monitor your sending metrics.

2. Clear use case documentation - Your transactional email use case is strong, but make it crystal clear that these are system-generated notifications triggered by specific user actions within your application. Emphasize that user invitations are sent only by authorized administrators to known employees within their organization, not as prospecting or marketing.

3. Domain authentication - Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are fully configured and verified. This is a fundamental trust signal that demonstrates you're serious about email authentication and deliverability.

4. Sandbox metrics - If you have any sending history in the sandbox, include those metrics. Even a small amount of clean sending history (low bounce rates, zero complaints) can help demonstrate responsible sending practices.

5. Sample templates - Providing actual email templates helps reviewers understand exactly what you're sending and verify it matches your stated transactional use case.

Regarding your website:

Yes, adding Privacy Policy and Terms of Service is helpful, but also ensure your website clearly explains:

• What your product does (B2B timesheet management)
• How email fits into your service (notifications, invitations, alerts)
• That you're a legitimate business with a real product

About regions:

The region itself (eu-north-1 vs eu-west-1) typically isn't the deciding factor. Focus on strengthening your application rather than switching regions.

What usually makes the difference:

Appeals that succeed typically demonstrate:

• A legitimate business need with a clear, compliant use case
• Technical competence in handling email properly
• Understanding of email best practices and AWS policies
• Concrete evidence of responsible sending practices

Your planned improvements are on the right track. The key is being thorough and specific in your appeal, showing that you understand email deliverability best practices and have the technical infrastructure to maintain good sending reputation. Make sure every claim you make is backed up with specific implementation details.

When you submit your appeal through the AWS Support Center, be comprehensive but concise, and focus on demonstrating that you're a responsible sender with a legitimate transactional use case.