I'm experiencing this exact same issue! My spouse is from New Zealand and doesn't have an SSN, and we've been stuck for over two weeks with the contributor invitation not appearing in their FAFSA account. We've verified everything multiple times - email addresses, names, birthdates - and it's all correct. This thread has been a lifesaver! I had no idea this was such a widespread technical issue. I'm definitely going to call FSA tomorrow using that specific technical issue number "Technical Issue #FSA-2025-03: International Contributor Account Linking Failure" that Chloe mentioned. If that doesn't work, I'll try Claimyr based on Diego's success story. It's incredibly frustrating that such a critical system has these bugs when we're all under deadline pressure. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - knowing there are actual solutions gives me hope we can get this resolved!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare - my husband is from Sweden and doesn't have an SSN, and his contributor invitation has been missing for over three weeks now. We've checked and double-checked everything (email, name, birthdate) and it's all perfect, but nothing shows up in his "My Activity" page. Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to think we were completely incompetent! I'm definitely going to try calling FSA tomorrow with that specific technical issue number that Chloe shared. If that doesn't work, I'll give Claimyr a try based on Diego's amazing success story. It's ridiculous that such an important system has these kinds of bugs when we're all stressed about deadlines, but at least now I know there ARE solutions. Thank you all for sharing your stories and advice - this community has been a lifesaver!

One last piece of advice - make sure all the personal information in your FSA ID matches your tax return EXACTLY (spelling, address, etc). The new FAFSA is automatically pulling tax data from the IRS, and even small discrepancies can cause delays in processing.

As someone who just went through this process with my youngest, I can confirm what others have said - definitely wait for the invitation! One thing I'd add is to make sure you have all your tax documents ready before you start the contributor section. The new FAFSA will try to automatically import your tax data, but it doesn't always work perfectly. Having your 2023 tax return, W-2s, and any 1099s handy will save you time if you need to enter anything manually. Also, set aside at least 45 minutes to complete your section in one sitting - the system can be temperamental about saving partial progress.

Just to add - merit aid can be weird because some schools have specific allocations for different departments or programs too. What major did your son select? Sometimes certain programs have more scholarship money than others.

As someone new to navigating financial aid, this thread is both eye-opening and concerning! I had no idea that schools could be so inconsistent with their published merit criteria. Joshua, your situation really highlights how confusing the whole process can be - we're also dealing with a 529 plan and worried about how it might affect our daughter's aid packages. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key takeaway is to not take the initial offer as final and to be prepared to advocate strongly for what the published criteria suggest you should receive. The fact that multiple people have had success with appeals at Western State gives me hope that persistence really does pay off. Good luck with your appeal process - please keep us updated on how it goes! Your experience could help other families in similar situations.

Hey StarStrider! As someone who just went through this process, I wanted to share that an SAI of 5908 is actually really good news for you. You'll definitely qualify for a substantial Pell Grant - probably around $3,800-$4,000 for the full year based on the current tables. One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure you apply to both schools you're considering and compare the FULL financial aid packages, not just the Pell amount. Some schools have better institutional aid or work-study programs that can make a huge difference in your total cost. Also, don't forget to check if your state has additional grant programs - many have income cutoffs that you'd easily qualify for with your SAI. The verification process can be stressful, but as long as your FAFSA info matches your tax documents exactly, you should be fine. Good luck with your decision!

Your SAI of 5908 is actually in a good spot for financial aid! Based on the 2025-2026 Pell tables, you should receive approximately $3,845 in Pell Grant funding for the year (split between semesters). One thing I'd recommend is creating accounts on both schools' financial aid portals if you haven't already - sometimes they show estimated aid packages earlier than they send official letters. Also, don't panic about the verification process if you're selected. Just gather your tax documents, W-2s, and any other requested paperwork and submit them as soon as possible. The sooner you complete verification, the sooner your aid will be finalized. Since you're deciding between two schools, definitely wait to see both complete aid offers before making your choice. Schools often have different amounts of institutional aid available, and some are more generous with work-study or merit scholarships that can supplement your federal aid. Your SAI puts you in a good position for additional need-based aid at many institutions!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this thread has been! I'm in almost the exact same situation - household income around $98k with one child heading to college next year. Like many others here, I was told by our school's guidance counselor that we shouldn't bother with the FAFSA because we "make too much money." Reading everyone's real experiences has completely changed my perspective. I had no idea that there wasn't an actual income cutoff, or that the FAFSA was required for merit scholarships at many schools. The examples of families making $110k, $120k, and even higher still receiving various forms of aid really opened my eyes. I'm particularly grateful for the practical advice about timing (submitting early after October 1st), the explanation of SAI vs EFC changes, and the reminder that federal student loans through FAFSA have better terms than private alternatives. It's shocking how much misinformation is being spread by school counselors who should know better. Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and correct these harmful misconceptions. I'll definitely be filling out the FAFSA and encouraging other parents in my situation to do the same!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - our family income is around $88k and my daughter's school counselor told us the same thing about "making too much" for financial aid. I was actually ready to give up on the FAFSA until I read all these responses. It's really reassuring to see so many real examples of families with similar or even higher incomes still receiving aid. I had no idea about work-study programs, the better loan terms, or that merit scholarships often require FAFSA completion. The point about state aid programs having different thresholds is something I never considered either. I'm definitely going to fill out the FAFSA now, and I'm also going to share this information with other parents I know who might be in the same boat. It's concerning how many families are probably missing out on legitimate aid opportunities because of this widespread misinformation from school counselors. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and setting the record straight!