I'm a newcomer to this community and unfortunately dealing with this exact same issue! I submitted my FAFSA on December 19th and it's been stuck "in review" for over 9 weeks now. Reading through all of your experiences has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the Data Field Flags or that the notification system was completely broken this year. Like so many others here, I've been checking my studentaid.gov account daily expecting some kind of update or request for additional information, but there's absolutely nothing indicating any problems. I've been passively waiting this whole time thinking these delays were just the new normal, but after seeing how many people discovered hidden errors that were never communicated, I realize I need to be much more proactive. The early morning Tuesday call strategy that multiple people have mentioned sounds like my best bet - I'm definitely going to try calling at 7:30 AM EST this Tuesday. It's honestly absurd that a community forum like this is providing more useful guidance than any official FSA communication. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and specific tips - I'll make sure to update everyone on how my call goes. Hopefully I can finally get some answers about what's been holding up my application all this time!

I'm a newcomer to this community and going through the exact same frustrating experience! I submitted my FAFSA on January 15th and it's been stuck "in review" for 7+ weeks now with absolutely no communication from FSA. Reading through this entire thread has been both a huge relief and incredibly eye-opening - relief because I now know I'm not alone in this nightmare, and eye-opening because I had no idea about Data Field Flags or how completely broken the notification system is this year. Like so many others here, I've been obsessively checking my studentaid.gov account every single day expecting some kind of update, flag, or request for additional information, but there's literally nothing there indicating any problems whatsoever. I've been passively waiting this whole time thinking these massive delays were just the "new normal" for the 2025-2026 cycle, but after reading all your stories about hidden errors that were never communicated, I realize I need to stop waiting and be way more proactive. The early morning Tuesday call strategy at 7:30 AM EST that multiple people have mentioned seems to be the most consistent advice from those who actually managed to get through and resolve their issues. I'm definitely going to try calling this Tuesday morning using that approach. It's honestly mind-blowing that this community forum has provided more practical, actionable guidance than any official FSA resource or communication I've received (which is basically zero). Thank you all for sharing your specific experiences, timing tips, and what to expect when calling - this thread has been more informative than months of trying to navigate the official channels. I'll make sure to report back on how my call goes to help others who might be reading this later. Hopefully I can finally get some answers about what mystery issue has been holding up my application for almost two months!

Hi Rachel! I'm new to this community but had to jump in because I went through almost the identical situation just two semesters ago - verification documents submitted with a looming housing deadline. The panic is so real! After reading through all these amazing responses, I wanted to add one more thing that saved me: when you visit the financial aid office (definitely do this in person!), ask if they have a "financial aid liaison" or "student advocate" specifically for urgent cases. My school had this role and that person became my single point of contact throughout the entire process. They could bypass some of the normal wait times and actually escalated my case when my housing deadline was approaching. Also, if your school uses a third-party verification service (like NSLDS or ClearPoint), ask your financial aid office to give you the direct contact info for that service too. Sometimes there can be delays on their end that your school isn't even aware of. The action plans and checklists others have shared here are gold! You're being so proactive about this - most students just wait and hope for the best. The combination of in-person visits, emergency aid options, and regular follow-ups that everyone has suggested will definitely get you through this. Can't wait to hear your success story!

Hi Rachel! I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in because I went through verification last year and the timeline stress is absolutely nerve-wracking! Reading through all these responses, you're getting incredible advice. I especially agree with visiting the financial aid office in person - it made such a difference for me compared to just calling. When I went in person, they actually discovered that one of my documents hadn't uploaded properly through their online portal, which would have delayed everything even more if I hadn't checked. One small thing I'd add to all the great suggestions here: when you visit, ask if they can email you a confirmation that shows exactly which documents they have on file for your verification. That way you have proof of what was submitted and when, plus it gives you peace of mind that everything actually made it into their system. Also, don't be afraid to mention your housing deadline multiple times during your visit - I found that the staff really do want to help when they understand the urgency of your situation. They deal with these timing crunches every semester and often have solutions they don't advertise but will offer when students ask directly. You're being so proactive about this whole situation - that's exactly the right approach. Keep us updated on how your visit goes! Your experience will definitely help other students who find themselves in similar situations.

I went through the exact same confusion with my daughter's FAFSA this year! It's definitely counterintuitive that they moved parent assets to the student section. One tip that helped us: I created a simple document with all our asset information (account balances, investment values, etc.) beforehand so my daughter could reference it easily during her portion. Also, make sure you're both sitting together when he completes it - some of those asset questions can be tricky to interpret correctly. The whole process feels backwards compared to previous years, but once you know what to expect, it goes smoothly. Good luck getting your SAI!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My daughter hasn't completed her section yet and I was getting so frustrated thinking I missed something obvious. It's really reassuring to read all these responses confirming that the asset questions are now in the student portion. I have to say, this seems like a poor design choice - as parents, we're much more familiar with our own financial information and account balances than our kids are. I'm definitely going to prepare a summary sheet with all our asset information before we sit down together to complete her section. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - a 68% SAI is absolutely unreasonable! As someone new to navigating FAFSA, I've been reading through all these responses and they're incredibly helpful. That $42k inheritance you mentioned is likely the main culprit here. The FAFSA formula hits liquid assets (cash/savings) much harder than most people realize - I think it's around 5.64% of assets vs about 22-47% of income above certain thresholds. So that inheritance could be adding over $2,000 to your SAI right there, on top of the income calculation. Definitely pursue the Professional Judgment review that others mentioned - financial aid officers can often work with families when the standard formula produces unrealistic results like yours. Keep us posted on how the meetings with the colleges go!

That $42,000 inheritance is definitely a major factor in your high SAI calculation. The FAFSA formula assesses parent assets at 5.64% after an asset protection allowance (which varies by parent age), so that inheritance alone could be adding $2,000+ to your SAI annually. Combined with the elimination of the sibling discount in the new FAFSA formula, this explains why your calculation seems so extreme compared to what families experienced in previous years. One strategy to consider: if any of that inheritance money could be used to pay down high-interest debt (credit cards, etc.) before next year's FAFSA, it would reduce your reportable assets. Just make sure to document everything properly. Also, some families find it beneficial to move assets into retirement accounts if they're eligible to contribute, since 401(k)s and IRAs aren't counted on FAFSA. Definitely push hard for those Professional Judgment reviews - with twins in college and such an unrealistic SAI, you have a strong case for adjustment.

Just wanted to add another troubleshooting tip for future students who might find this thread - if you're still stuck after checking all the suggestions above, try logging out completely and logging back in with your FSA ID. Sometimes there's a session timeout issue that isn't obvious, and a fresh login can resolve signature problems. Also, if you're using a school computer or public WiFi, try switching to your home internet or mobile data - some networks have security settings that interfere with the FAFSA submission process. Good luck to everyone dealing with these technical issues!

As someone who just went through this exact nightmare last semester, I feel your pain! One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're a dependent student, make sure your parent also has their own verified FSA ID and that THEY can log in successfully. Even if your sections show complete, the signature section won't work if there's any issue with the parent contributor's FSA ID status. I spent hours troubleshooting my own account when the real problem was my mom's FSA ID had expired and needed to be renewed. Also, try submitting during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) - the system definitely gets overloaded during busy times and can cause weird glitches like this. Hope you get it sorted before your deadline!