I'm new to this community and experiencing the exact same frustrating situation! Filed my FAFSA in early March, received my SAI confirmation about 2 weeks ago, but my NJFAMS portal is completely empty regarding my TAG grant status. I was really starting to worry that I had made some mistake in my application, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief! It's clear that these 4-6 week processing delays are unfortunately the new normal this year due to the FAFSA Simplification Act implementation. I really appreciate all the practical advice shared here - especially the tip about checking NJFAMS on weekends (thanks Jade!), waiting until the 30-day processed mark before calling HESAA, and using that Claimyr service to potentially get through phone queues faster. It's so helpful to have realistic timelines from people who've actually been through this process. Caleb's update about his data finally appearing after 34 days gives me hope that mine will show up soon too. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space - it makes this stressful waiting period so much more manageable knowing we're all in this together!

I'm a new member here and facing the exact same issue! Submitted my FAFSA in mid-February, got my SAI processed about 3.5 weeks ago, but my NJFAMS portal is still completely blank for TAG status. I was really starting to panic thinking I'd messed something up, but this entire thread has been so incredibly reassuring! It's amazing to see that these 4-6 week delays are apparently the norm this year due to the FAFSA Simplification Act changes. I had no idea that was even a factor. All the advice here is so practical - I'm definitely going to start checking NJFAMS on weekends (great tip, Jade!), wait until I hit that 30-day processed mark before calling HESAA, and I might even try that Claimyr service if I need to get through to them. Seeing Caleb's update about his data finally appearing after 34 days gives me real hope that mine will show up soon too. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive environment - it makes this stressful waiting game so much more bearable knowing we're all going through this together!

glad u fixed it! reminds me of when my cousins grant got delayed for 3 months because his middle name was William on SS card but he put Bill on FAFSA lol

So glad you got it resolved! This is such a common issue that trips up so many families. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar problems - the key takeaways are: 1) Make sure EVERY character of the name matches the SS card exactly (hyphens, spaces, middle names), 2) Double-check citizenship status selection, and 3) Verify the birthdate is correct down to the day. These seemingly minor details can completely block your FAFSA processing. It's definitely frustrating that the system doesn't give clearer error messages about what specifically is wrong!

Update: My confirmation email finally came through yesterday! It took 9 days total. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance - especially the tip about checking if I could log in to studentaid.gov even without the confirmation (I could!). We should be all set for the December FAFSA now!

As a newcomer to this community, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually dealing with the exact same issue right now - created my FSA ID last week and still waiting for the confirmation email while my spouse got theirs immediately. Reading through everyone's experiences really puts my mind at ease. The tip about testing the login at studentaid.gov even without the confirmation email is brilliant - I'm going to try that right now. It's frustrating that the system has these inconsistencies, but knowing that 7-10 days (or even longer) can be normal makes me feel much better about waiting it out. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice!

UPDATE: I found it! That direct link (studentaid.gov/plus-app) worked perfectly. I completed the application today using my FSA ID and was instantly approved. The whole process took about 15 minutes once I had the right link. Thanks everyone for your help! For anyone else looking - make sure you're logged in as the PARENT, not the student, and have the student's school code and requested loan amount ready.

Congrats on getting it sorted out! Just wanted to add for other parents who might find this thread - if you get denied for the Parent PLUS loan due to credit issues, don't panic. Your student can usually get additional unsubsidized federal loans (up to $4,000-5,000 more per year) to help cover the gap. You can also reapply for the PLUS loan with a cosigner if needed. The financial aid office at your son's school should be able to explain these options if the situation comes up.

Hey Omar! As someone who also went through this confusion as a first-gen student, I totally get the stress. Everyone here is spot on - you definitely don't need a new FAFSA for spring semester. Your June 2024-2025 FAFSA covers the entire academic year. What might help is printing out the confirmation page from your original FAFSA submission (you can log back into studentaid.gov to access it) and bringing it with you when you talk to your advisor. Sometimes having the official documentation helps clear up miscommunications. Also, many community colleges have a separate "continuing student" form or enrollment verification that's due before each semester - this is probably what your advisor meant. It's usually just confirming your course load and making sure you're still eligible for the aid amount you were originally awarded. Don't stress too much - you did everything right the first time!

Omar, you're absolutely right to be confused - your advisor is definitely mistaken! As everyone else has confirmed, FAFSA is submitted once per academic year. Your June 2024-2025 FAFSA covers fall, spring, and potentially summer semesters. I went through something very similar at my community college. What I discovered was that many schools have internal processes that advisors sometimes confuse with FAFSA requirements. Common things they might actually need: - Enrollment verification for spring (confirming you're registered) - SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) review - Updated direct deposit information - Confirmation that your credit load still qualifies for aid When you go back, try asking: "Can you show me the specific form or system where I need to complete this?" If they pull up the federal studentaid.gov website, then you know there's definitely confusion on their end. If it's your school's student portal or a school-specific form, then you'll know it's just internal paperwork. Don't let this stress you out too much - you did everything correctly with your original FAFSA submission!