If you're using Facebook Ads in Databox and don't see SubmitApplication events, even though they're tracked in Ads Manager and Pixel data, the issue likely stems from how Facebook's Ads Insights API makes data available.
Why this happens
While SubmitApplication is a standard event in Meta’s documentation (including variations like submit_application_total, submit_application_website, and submit_application_mobile_app), these events are not always returned via the Ads Insights API. Availability depends on:
Whether the event is actively attributed to ad sets in your account.
How Facebook maps and returns the event via the action_type field.
API limitations for specific ad accounts or campaign structures.
So even though the event is tracked, Facebook may not expose it through the API, which means Databox can’t access or visualize it.
What to check in Databox
If you're building a custom metric:
Make sure you're using the Actions metric with Action Type = SubmitApplication.
Confirm that the event appears in Facebook Ads Manager and is being attributed to ads.
Check if any other SubmitApplication variants (like mobile or website-specific ones) are returned.
If you're still not seeing the event, it's likely not available via the Ads Insights API for your account setup.
What to do next
You can consider tracking conversions through a custom event or assigning a different, API-supported action type.
Understanding how the Facebook Ads API structures event data helps troubleshoot gaps and build more accurate campaign reports in Databox.