Gemini API blocked because AI Studio identity verification is pending (Hackathon Deadline)

Google AI Studio
1

Hello Google AI Team,

I urgently need help.

I am participating in a hackathon and my entire project depends on the Gemini API.

Current situation:

• Google Cloud Billing account is active.
• Payment method has been added successfully.
• AI Studio automatically switched my account to Prepay.
• Credit balance shows ₹0.
• Identity verification is still in progress.
• Every Gemini API request now fails with:

429 Too Many Requests

Your prepayment credits are depleted.

The API worked previously before this billing transition.

Could someone please confirm:

  1. Is identity verification blocking API usage?
  2. Can the verification be expedited?
  3. Is there any temporary workaround while verification completes?

This project has a launch deadline today.

Thank you very much.

2

Hello @Prepmind_AI ,

1. Identity Verification & Billing Status: Yes. While identity verification is pending on a Google Cloud Billing account, prepaid credits cannot be applied to your project, returning a 429 prepayment credits depleted error.

2. Account Verification: Verification reviews are processed automatically once required identity documents are submitted. Once verification completes on your billing account, credit access will sync to your project.

3. Immediate Workarounds:

  • a. Vertex AI: Route requests through the Vertex AI API (aiplatform.googleapis.com) using your active GCP project.
  • b. Unlinked Free Tier Key: Generate a new API key on a Google Cloud Project that is not linked to a Prepay billing account to use Free Tier rate limits.
  • c. Secondary Billing Account: Link your project to an already verified Google Cloud Billing account to access paid tier limits.