UPDATE: I finally got through to FSA today using the Claimyr service that someone recommended here. The agent confirmed they received my application but it's still in the paper-to-digital conversion queue. She added a priority flag to my application after I explained my school's deadline situation. They said I should see movement within 10 business days. The agent also emailed me a confirmation letter I can show my school as proof that I applied on time. Just wanted to share in case it helps anyone else in the same situation!

This is exactly what I'm going through! Mailed my FAFSA in early April and my college keeps sending me emails about missing aid documents. Reading through these comments has been super helpful - I had no idea about the Claimyr service or that I could request provisional aid from my school. Going to call my financial aid office tomorrow with proof of my submission date and ask about getting a temporary aid package. It's frustrating that paper applications get treated like second-class citizens when some of us literally have no other option due to internet issues. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

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!

UPDATE: Just want to let everyone know that the Federal Student Aid office just announced they're extending priority deadlines by 3 weeks for students experiencing verification issues like this. The announcement came out yesterday. Your daughter's school should be aware of this, but it might be worth mentioning when you contact them.

I went through something similar with my son's FAFSA last year. One thing that really helped was documenting every attempt to call - keep a log with dates, times, and how long you waited before getting disconnected. The financial aid office at his college was much more understanding when I could show them I'd made 12+ documented attempts over several days. Also, if you have a local Social Security Administration office, you might want to visit in person to get a verification letter confirming your daughter's correct SSN and name spelling. Sometimes having that official documentation speeds up the process when you finally do get through to FSA. The whole system is frustrating but you're definitely not alone in dealing with 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.