Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein for processing approval requests using application-independent processing system. The processing system provides a configuration file that may be used to define a process. Each application, or each process in an application, may define its own process parameters in the configuration file. The use of this architecture allows for the processing system to be used with multiple applications. When an approval request is received, the processing system obtains the configuration file of the process to which the approval request corresponds and executes the process accordingly. The processing system also facilitates automatic approval of an approval request using pre-authorized approval information that is provided by an approver independent of the approval request. If an approval request satisfies conditions defined in the pre-authorized approval information, the approval request is automatically approved without user intervention.