Verification happens to about 25% of FAFSA filers, chosen either randomly or due to discrepancies in your application. It's not necessarily bad luck - just part of the process for some. If selected, you'll need to provide additional documentation to verify your financial information. Just keep all your tax documents organized so you can easily upload them if needed. The most important thing right now is getting the application started correctly with your daughter as the applicant.

Just wanted to add a helpful tip for when you're filling it out - have your 2023 tax returns ready along with bank statements and investment account info. The new FAFSA can auto-populate some tax info using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, but you'll still need other financial documents handy. Also, don't panic if the system seems slow or kicks you out - it's been having issues this year. Just save frequently and be patient. Good luck with your daughter's application!

YES!!! happens to me all the time. try using a different browser, that fixed it for me. chrome seems to work better than safari for the studentaid site.

I'm in the exact same situation! Submitted mine on January 18th and still stuck in review. This is so stressful with all the scholarship deadlines approaching. I've been checking my status obsessively every day hoping something will change. It's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this but also concerning that so many of us are experiencing these delays. Really hoping the system catches up soon because I can't afford to miss out on aid opportunities due to processing delays that are completely out of our control.

That's great news! Just as an FYI for your niece - make sure she completes the 2025-2026 FAFSA (not the 2024-2025 version). I've seen students accidentally fill out the wrong year's form, especially during this transition period with the new FAFSA rollout.

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This is such a helpful thread - I'm bookmarking it for future reference. As someone who volunteers with college-bound students, I see this issue come up ALL the time. The school counselor creating FSA IDs without telling students is becoming more common as schools try to increase FAFSA completion rates. It's well-intentioned but definitely causes confusion! For anyone else facing this issue, definitely check with your school counselor first before assuming the worst. And yes, double-check you're on the right year's FAFSA - the new simplified version can be confusing to navigate at first.

You all have been SO helpful! I'm going to: 1. Complete the FAFSA with our current information 2. Have my son request a reduced schedule at his current job if possible 3. File for Professional Judgment reviews at each school 4. Use that Claimyr service to speak with someone directly about our options It's still frustrating that the system doesn't automatically account for these situations, but at least there's a path forward. Thank you everyone!

As someone who just went through this process with my own child, I want to add that timing is really important with the Professional Judgment appeals. Don't wait until the last minute to submit them! Some schools have deadlines for these requests, and processing can take several weeks. Also, be prepared to provide documentation like a resignation letter, last pay stub, and a statement explaining the circumstances. The more thorough your documentation, the better your chances of getting the adjustment approved. Your son is lucky to have such a supportive parent advocating for him!

A quick update on the most recent FAFSA rules - if you haven't received an SAI email within 7-10 days of submission, there might be an issue with your application. The most common reasons are: 1. Signature problems (both student and parent need to sign) 2. Mismatched information that triggered a verification flag 3. Technical processing delays (which have been happening a lot this application cycle) You can check application status on studentaid.gov - even from your parent account, you should see if there's a "More Information Needed" status or if it still shows as "Processing.

I just went through this exact same situation with my daughter's FAFSA last month! The SAI visibility issue is so frustrating, especially when you're the one handling all the financial aspects. Here's what worked for me: I called the financial aid office at her college and explained that she was studying abroad with limited internet access. They were actually really understanding and said this happens more often than you'd think. They allowed me to provide other FAFSA information (like our EFC from the Student Aid Report summary) as temporary documentation while we waited for the official SAI. Some schools will accept the FAFSA submission confirmation number and work with you on deadlines if you explain the circumstances. It's worth calling each financial aid office directly rather than trying to navigate the federal system - they tend to be much more flexible and helpful!