You've obviously never filed any kind of DOHC/USCIS applications, or you'd know that:
1. the 45 days is the EXPECTED time between receipt of filing and notice of scheduled biometrics/interview, assuming they are on the same date, which they most often are not.
2. more often than not, unless you had an immigration lawyer, and even then, additional information will be requested. That usually doesn't extend the process, unless they have chosen to disallow any translated documents you furnished. DOHC will not translate any documents, but they will scrutinize them and return anything they aren't satisfied with.
3. assuming you get through those hurdles and they accept your application, unless you can provide incredibly strong evidence that you face political or religious persecution, you will likely be forwarded on to additional immigration hearings.
4. assuming you were able to prove you qualify for temporary asylum, you then have up to 90 days after receipt of approval before you actually get your conditional green card.
During all this time, you cannot work, and many of them are detained while their case is pending.
Edit for clarification: Work permits are granted immediately upon receiving approval of residency, you don't need to wait for the greencard to arrive, and conditional work permits can be applied for and issued 150 days after receipt of application for residency if your case is still pending.
Keep in mind, all of this assumes you have already entered the USA legally or otherwise, foreign asylum application are handled much less swiftly, and the majority of people seeking to gain legal residency in the US don't qualify as refugees, and would be required to file i-485 as a non-refugee immigrant, pay filing fees and biometric fees ($1070), more than likely have to get all your vaccinations again (it cost us ~$170 with insurance), a civil surgeon's medical examination ($325), translations of all relevant documents, etc. And those applications are subject to a yearly quota of non-refugee resident statuses, meaning only a certain number will get them regardless of how many are eligible. If you aren't granted a green card in a given year, you are required to refile (and pay again) and get at least a new civil surgeons' exam (only good for 1 year).
I've been down this road with a cousin (refugee) and my wife. You obviously have either never dealt with DOHS/USCIS or if you did, it was either as a minor or before 9/11, because you're so out of touch with how the process actually works.
