Thank you everyone for the input. This has been really helpful. I think I'll gather documentation showing my daughter lived with her father more last year, just in case they request verification. I'm also going to make sure my ex knows to anticipate possible questions from the financial aid office. Better to be prepared than caught off guard!

Just wanted to add that if you do get selected for verification, don't panic! I went through this with my son two years ago (similar divorced parent situation). The school's financial aid office was actually really helpful once I explained our custody arrangement. They just needed to see our divorce decree and a simple signed statement about where he lived most of the time. The whole process took about 2 weeks once I submitted the documents. The key is responding quickly to any verification requests - delays happen when families don't provide the requested documentation promptly.

After thinking about your situation more, I wanted to add: many art students find that networking and portfolio quality ultimately matter more than which school they attended. I've worked with successful illustrators who went to prestigious art schools AND ones who went to state schools or even community colleges. What matters most is developing a distinctive style, building a strong portfolio, and making industry connections. Your daughter can do all of these things at a more affordable school, through online courses, workshops, and internships. The prestige of the school name might feel important now, but in 5-10 years, clients will care about her work quality, not where she got her degree.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now with my son who wants to study animation. The financial reality of art school is really hitting home for a lot of families this year. One thing that's helped me is connecting with current students and recent graduates from the school on LinkedIn - many are surprisingly open about sharing their experiences with debt vs. career outcomes. Some told me they wished they'd gone the community college + transfer route, while others said the networking at their expensive art school was worth it. Have you considered looking into online programs or hybrid options? Schools like SCAD Online or even platforms like Gnomon Workshop offer high-quality instruction at a fraction of traditional art school costs. The industry is becoming more accepting of non-traditional educational paths, especially if the portfolio is strong. Also, if your daughter is set on illustration specifically, consider reaching out to working illustrators in your area (try local art centers, design firms, or even social media). Many are willing to mentor or provide informational interviews, and some might offer portfolio reviews that could help her stand out for additional scholarships. Hang in there - this is such a tough decision but there are definitely paths forward that won't break the bank.

Update: I used the Claimyr service that someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked! Got through to a FAFSA agent in about 40 minutes (without me having to sit on hold). They verified my identity, asked for my passport information and ITIN, and sent me a secure upload link for my documents. Now just waiting for the verification to process. Thanks everyone for your help!

I'm so glad this worked out for you! As someone who's been through the FAFSA nightmare with international documentation, I just wanted to add that once your identity is verified, make sure to save/bookmark that verification confirmation page if they give you one. Sometimes the system glitches and asks you to verify again later, and having that confirmation number can save you from going through this whole process again. Also, if your daughter's school uses their own financial aid forms in addition to FAFSA, get those submitted ASAP while this is all fresh in your mind. Good luck with the rest of the process!

This is such great timing! I'm having the exact same issue with my mom right now - she got the invitation yesterday and the link just shows a blank page. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to have her create her FSA ID first at studentaid.gov and then I'll resend the invitation once it's verified. It's frustrating that the system doesn't make this requirement clear upfront, but at least now I know what to do instead of wasting more time clicking the same broken link. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful!

This is such a comprehensive thread on the parent contributor link issue! I'm dealing with this right now with my stepmom and was getting so frustrated - the blank page thing is exactly what's happening to us. Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like the FSA ID creation step is crucial and needs to be done separately first. I'm definitely going to have her go to studentaid.gov tonight to set up her FSA ID before we try the invitation link again. It's really disappointing that the new FAFSA system has so many bugs, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can troubleshoot together. The tip about using Chrome instead of Firefox is also good to know - we've been trying in Safari with no luck. Fingers crossed this works for us too!

One more thing to consider - while your SAI might be too high for need-based aid, make sure your son applies for every scholarship he qualifies for. There are specific scholarships for children of disabled veterans that don't consider your income at all. The American Legion, VFW, AMVETS, and Disabled American Veterans organizations all offer scholarships. Also check with your state's veterans affairs department and your son's prospective schools for veteran-dependent scholarships.

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and seeing all these responses gives me hope! My husband is also a disabled veteran (80% rating) and we're just starting to look at colleges for our daughter. Our household income is similar to yours around $135k, so I'm expecting our SAI to be high too. Reading about all these veteran-specific benefits like Chapter 35 and state programs makes me realize there's a lot more to research beyond just the FAFSA. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really helpful to see what options are actually available for military families!