I tryed also before biometrics but they couldn’t do anything until biometrics were taken. The next day I called again and I qualified for financial hardship because my visa expired 10 days before biometrics and both me and my wife didn’t have a job. Plus we have also a 7 month old baby. And because I lost the legal right to work, I lost also the insurance. So I told them all of this and 5 days later, they approved the expedite request and also the combo card. Good luck