Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through a similar situation last year. My advice would be to absolutely get that executor documentation ASAP - it was the key to getting my financial aid office to adjust my SAI. Also, when you contact your school's financial aid office, ask to speak specifically with someone who handles "professional judgment" cases rather than general staff. They'll be more familiar with these complex situations and can walk you through exactly what documentation they need. Don't let this stress you out too much - most schools deal with estate account situations more often than you'd think and they do want to help students in legitimate circumstances like yours!

I'm dealing with something similar right now! My grandfather passed last year and left an account with both my name and my sister's on it, but we can't touch the money until some legal stuff gets sorted out. From what I've learned lurking in this community, it sounds like you're on the right track with getting that executor documentation. One thing I wanted to add that I don't think anyone mentioned yet - make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING. Like scan or photo every document before you send it to your school's financial aid office. I've heard horror stories of people having to re-request paperwork because the school "lost" it or it got buried in someone's email. Also, if you're comfortable sharing, what school are you attending? Some people here might have experience with how your specific school's financial aid office handles these situations. Every school seems to have their own quirks when it comes to professional judgment appeals. Hang in there - it sounds like you're doing all the right things and most of the advice here has been really solid!

This thread is absolutely amazing! As a current international student from Kenya who went through a similar verification nightmare last year, I wish I had found resources like this when I was dealing with my own foreign diploma issues. What I want to add is that persistence really is key - I ended up having to call FSA six different times before I got an agent who actually understood international credential verification. Each time I called, I made sure to document the date, time, and what the agent told me. This record-keeping actually helped a lot when I finally reached someone knowledgeable who could see the pattern of confusion in previous calls. Also, for anyone still struggling with phone wait times, I found that calling right when they open (8am EST) gave me the shortest hold times. And @StarStrider's tip about immigrant advocacy organizations is spot-on - the one near my campus had a specialist who knew exactly which FSA forms to request and how to phrase the verification request to get faster results. The biggest lesson I learned: don't let anyone tell you that your foreign diploma "isn't valid" for FAFSA purposes. It absolutely is, as long as it's equivalent to a US high school diploma (which yours clearly is if you got into college!). Sometimes you just need to find the right person who knows how to process international credentials properly. Thanks everyone for building such an incredible knowledge base here - future international students are going to be so grateful to find this thread!

This entire thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm a newcomer to this community and stumbled upon this discussion while researching FAFSA issues for international students. The wealth of knowledge shared here is absolutely amazing - from the initial panic about foreign diploma verification to all the practical solutions everyone contributed. What really impresses me is how this evolved from one person's urgent question into a comprehensive guide that covers everything: contacting FSA directly, working with university international offices, using credential evaluation services, finding community college workshops, and even tips about optimal calling times and documentation strategies. As someone who helps students navigate financial aid processes, I'm definitely bookmarking this thread to share with future international students facing similar challenges. The collective wisdom here - especially the emphasis on persistence across multiple channels and the reassurance that foreign diplomas ARE valid for FAFSA purposes - is exactly what panicked students need to hear. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where real experiences and practical solutions are shared so generously. This kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is invaluable for the international student community!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this incredibly thorough discussion! My family is currently facing almost the exact same situation - my father's workers' compensation case is nearing settlement and we're terrified about how it will impact my financial aid eligibility. Reading through all the expert advice and real-world experiences shared here has been a lifesaver. I'm particularly grateful for the specific guidance about contacting Professional Judgment coordinators, creating detailed documentation breakdowns, and the importance of being proactive rather than reactive. The timeline approach and organizational strategies mentioned by several people sound like exactly what we need to present our case effectively. I'm planning to start immediately with gathering medical records, wage loss documentation, and requesting that detailed breakdown letter from my dad's attorney that so many people mentioned. It's incredibly reassuring to see that with proper preparation, documentation, and persistence, families have successfully navigated this challenge. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative resource - this thread is going to be invaluable as we work through this process!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by how comprehensive and helpful this discussion has been! I'm currently a high school senior whose parent is also expecting a workers' comp settlement soon, and I was feeling completely overwhelmed about how this would affect my college financial aid. Reading through all the expert advice from financial aid professionals and the real experiences from families who've successfully navigated this situation has given me so much hope and direction. I'm especially grateful for the specific actionable steps like contacting Professional Judgment coordinators, creating detailed documentation with attorney breakdown letters, and the timeline/organizational strategies mentioned throughout. It's clear that while this situation is stressful, it's definitely manageable with the right preparation and persistence. I'm going to start immediately with gathering all medical records, wage loss documentation, and creating that organized filing system several people recommended. Thank you all for sharing such valuable insights - this thread is going to be my guide through what initially seemed like an impossible situation!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now with my son's FAFSA account! It's so frustrating that the website doesn't give any clear error messages. Reading through all these solutions is super helpful - I had no idea about the browser extension conflicts or the existing account possibility. Going to try the Chrome + hotspot + simple password combination first. Has anyone found that certain times of day work better than others? I'm wondering if server load during peak hours might be making the problem worse.

Just wanted to add another potential solution that worked for my daughter last month! We had the exact same issue - getting stuck on the final confirmation page with no error message. After trying all the browser fixes mentioned here, what finally worked was completely logging out of ALL Google accounts in the browser first, then starting fresh. Apparently having multiple Google accounts signed in simultaneously can interfere with the FAFSA authentication process. Also make sure you're not using any password managers or auto-fill extensions - they can cause conflicts too. The whole process is incredibly frustrating but don't give up! The combination of using Chrome, clearing everything, disabling extensions, and making sure no other accounts are logged in seems to be the magic formula for most people.

I'm a college counselor who works specifically with undocumented students, and I wanted to add a few critical points that could make a huge difference for your student. First, make sure he applies for AB 540 status at EVERY community college he's considering - some schools process this faster than others, and having it approved early will streamline everything else. Second, given his SIJS status and the fact that reunification with parents isn't viable, he should definitely pursue a dependency override. The key documents he'll need are: his SIJS court order, a personal statement explaining his circumstances, and letters from third parties (teachers, counselors, social workers, even you as his mentor) who can verify his situation. Financial aid offices are generally very understanding with SIJS cases. Third, encourage him to apply for emergency aid once he's enrolled - most California community colleges have funds specifically for students facing housing or food insecurity, which sounds relevant to his situation. Finally, connect him with United We Dream's scholarship database and TheDream.US - they maintain the most comprehensive lists of scholarships available to undocumented students. With his 4.5 GPA, he'd be competitive for many of these. You're being an incredible advocate for him during a crucial time in his life!

As someone who went through a similar process with my younger brother who had SIJS status, I want to emphasize how important it is to stay organized and keep multiple backup plans. Here's what really helped us: 1. Create a shared Google Drive folder with all documents - SIJS court orders, school transcripts, any correspondence with immigration attorneys, etc. This makes it easy to access everything when filling out applications or meeting with counselors. 2. Apply to 3-4 community colleges in your area, not just one. Each has slightly different processes and timelines for AB 540 approval, and some have better support systems than others. 3. Connect with the Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) at each college BEFORE he enrolls. They often have emergency funds, priority registration, and counselors who really understand complex immigration situations. 4. Document his current living situation carefully - if he's not with legal guardians, this actually strengthens his case for dependency override and may qualify him for additional emergency housing assistance. 5. Look into local community foundations - many have scholarships specifically for immigrant students that aren't widely advertised. His 4.5 GPA is incredible given everything he's navigating. With the right support system (which it sounds like you're providing!), he's going to succeed. The path might be more complex, but there are definitely resources available once you know where to look.