Quick update on my earlier comment - I just called FSA again about my application (I also mailed mine in), and they said they're now prioritizing paper applications where the student indicates there's an approaching school deadline. Make sure you specifically mention your April 15th deadline when you call them.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at FSA! For anyone else in this situation, I used that Claimyr service that @user3 suggested and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They confirmed they received my paper application two weeks ago (even though it's not showing online), and they're expediting it because of my school deadline. They gave me a confirmation number to provide to my school as proof of submission. What a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

Just a quick update on FAFSA signatures for 2025-2026: The Department of Education has made some improvements to the signature process in the latest system update. If you continue having issues after trying the correction route, request the financial aid office to check if there's a "signature hold" specifically on your application. Sometimes they can see issues on their end that aren't visible to applicants. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar signature issue right now! My mom's FSA ID keeps getting rejected even though we've verified all her information multiple times. One thing that helped us was clearing the browser cache completely and trying again in an incognito/private browsing window. Also, make sure you're not copying and pasting the FSA ID - type it manually. Sometimes there are hidden characters that cause problems. If your school's financial aid office can't help, definitely try calling FSA early in the morning (like 8 AM EST) when the hold times are usually shorter. Don't give up - you've got this!

Yes, definitely talk to your high school counselor! Many high schools have FAFSA completion events specifically to help with these situations. They often have direct contacts at the Federal Student Aid office too. Also - very important - when completing the FAFSA (paper or online), make absolutely sure you're entering the correct Alien Registration Numbers (A-Numbers) if your parents have them, even if they don't have SSNs. This can make a huge difference in processing time.

I went through this exact same situation two years ago! My parents are permanent residents but didn't have SSNs at the time. Here's what worked for me: First, try the online FAFSA one more time with the A-Numbers like Oliver mentioned - that's KEY! When you get to the parent section, look for "My parent does not have an SSN" checkbox rather than trying to enter zeros. If online still doesn't work, the paper route is totally legitimate. I actually did mine on paper and it took about 4 weeks to process, but I got all my aid. Just make sure to: - Use the current 2025-26 FAFSA form - Enter 000-00-0000 for parent SSNs - Include A-Numbers if they have them - Double-check all income information - Send certified mail with tracking Don't panic about the 3-week deadline - most state aid programs have some flexibility if you can show proof of submission. Call your state's student aid office to let them know your situation. They deal with this all the time and are usually understanding about processing delays for mixed-status families. You've got this! The system is confusing but thousands of students in your situation get their aid every year.

For everyone who helped resolve this issue - thank you for sharing your solutions. For those still struggling, please remember that this technical problem has been officially acknowledged by the Department of Education. They've issued guidance to colleges that students facing this specific issue should not be penalized for late submission. I recommend every affected student: 1. Keep detailed records of all submission attempts 2. Email their intended colleges' financial aid offices with documentation 3. Follow up weekly until resolution 4. Consider filing a complaint through the FSA Feedback System This situation is frustrating but solvable. Don't let a technical glitch stand between you and your college education!

As someone who just went through this nightmare process last month, I want to add that if you're still having issues, try clearing your browser cache and cookies completely before attempting the FAFSA again. I know it sounds basic, but the new system has serious session management problems that cause weird errors. Also, try using a different browser entirely - I had to switch from Chrome to Firefox to get past the contributor section. One more tip: if your school has a financial aid workshop or drop-in hours tomorrow, GO! Even though the deadline passed, most aid offices are extending deadlines for students who can prove they attempted submission due to technical issues. Bring printed screenshots of every error message you encountered. You've got this - don't let a broken website system keep you from your education!

Update: I followed the advice here and wanted to share what worked for me. I used Claimyr to get through to FSA (worth it just to avoid the endless hold times). When connected, I specifically asked for a verification specialist who could perform a "manual SSA override" as suggested by the financial aid officer in this thread. The first representative tried to redirect me to SSA, but I politely insisted on speaking with a verification specialist. After a 10-minute hold, I got connected to someone who immediately understood the issue. She confirmed that my hyphenated last name was causing the system error - it had a space after the hyphen in FSA's system but not in SSA's system! She performed the manual override, gave me a confirmation number, and told me to check back in 3-5 business days. Just checked today and my application is FINALLY processing correctly! Thank you all for your help - especially the detailed advice about asking for the right specialist and using the correct terminology!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar verification issue where my FAFSA has been stuck for 2 weeks. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is getting to a verification specialist who can do a manual override rather than just regular customer service reps. I have a Jr. suffix in my name which might be causing the formatting mismatch between systems. Going to try the Claimyr service to get through the phone queue and then specifically request a verification specialist using the exact terminology mentioned here. Really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions - this kind of peer support makes dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares so much more manageable!