Verizon has tried to remove the SIm lock from my iphone but says it's an apple factory lock they cannot remove. How can I unlock it?

See -> How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier

How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier - Apple Support

• Apple can't unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier. Only your carrier can unlock your iPhone.

You need to contact your Carrier.

Apple doesn’t lock phones. The carriers do.

Only the carrier it’s locked to can unlock it.

Where did you get the phone? Do you believe it’s locked to Verizon or a different carrier. it’s not entirely clear from your post.

I am trying to move my carrier from Xfinity but cannot because Apple has not unlocked my phone. Xfinity keeps telling me they have requested it an should only take 24-48 hours. It has been over 72 hours and counting. Xfinity said my initial request to apple was cancelled because I checked with Xfinity about it and they had to start another ticket/request. COME ON GUYS! How can I get Apple to unlock my phone or is Xfinity lying to me about apple holding it up or can they really do it themselves? help!

Yes, Xfinity is lying to you, there was no ticket/request to Apple as Apple can't unlock the phone. As already stated, only the carrier can unlock the phone. And it shouldn't take 24-48 hours, when AT&T unlocked my phone, it literally took less then a minute.

Call Xfinity back and escalate the call to a manager or someone higher up who can help you.

I see that Comcast (who I believe is the company that owns the Xfinity brand) is a general member of the CTIA.

According to the FCC and the CTIA, CTIA members have agreed to follow certain guidelines with respect to unlocking. (I'm not sure if this is with respect to "Carrier & Industry" members only, or with respect all of their members, including the "General" ones like Comcast.)

https://www.fcc.gov/general/cell-phone-unlocking

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/cell-phone-unlocking-faqs

https://www.ctia.org/the-wireless-industry/industry-commitments/consumer-code-for-wireless-service

https://www.ctia.org/about-ctia/our-members

Item #12 on the "Consumer Code for Wireless Service" page concerns mobile wireless device unlocking.