Wow, this thread is incredibly thorough and helpful! I'm also a US citizen living abroad (in Canada) with a non-citizen spouse, and my daughter will be starting the college application process soon. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both eye-opening and reassuring. I'm particularly struck by how consistent the advice is - report the spouse's income as required, but don't despair because the professional judgment process can really make a difference. The specific tips about documentation (separate tax returns, bank statements, cost of living comparisons, currency conversion records) are invaluable. One thing I'm taking away is that this really requires a two-pronged approach: completing the FAFSA accurately according to the rules, then immediately pivoting to advocacy mode with individual schools. It sounds like the key is being proactive, organized, and persistent while remaining respectful throughout the process. For those still going through this - it's clear that while the system isn't designed for our international family situations, there are real success stories here of families getting meaningful adjustments. The amount of detailed, practical advice in this thread gives me hope that with proper preparation and documentation, we can navigate this process successfully. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! As a US citizen living in Brazil with my Brazilian husband, I was feeling completely lost about the FAFSA requirements for our daughter's college applications next year. Reading everyone's experiences has given me both the reality check I needed (yes, we have to report his income) and the hope that professional judgment can make a real difference. I'm taking notes on all the practical advice here - documenting our separate finances, preparing cost of living comparisons, getting that letter from my husband about not contributing to education expenses, and being prepared for currency conversion questions. The tip about calling schools ahead of time to gauge their experience with international families is brilliant and something I'll definitely do. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who had success with professional judgment appeals, did you find it helpful to submit the appeal documentation along with your initial financial aid application, or is it better to wait until after you receive the initial aid package? I'm trying to figure out the optimal timing to present our case without seeming presumptuous. Thanks again to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this community support is exactly what international families need when navigating this complex system!

As a newcomer to both this community and the FAFSA process, I can't express how helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation - we have about $3,900 temporarily set aside for my daughter's graduation party and some senior year expenses, and I was genuinely panicking that this would ruin her chances for financial aid. Reading through everyone's detailed explanations about the Asset Protection Allowance and how only 5.64% of parent assets above the threshold actually count has been incredibly eye-opening. Understanding that my $3,900 would only potentially increase our SAI by around $220 at most - rather than the thousands in lost aid I was imagining - has been such a huge relief. The strategic timing approach that multiple people have shared is so smart and practical. Instead of stressing endlessly about something with minimal impact, I can simply plan our FAFSA filing for after we've made some of those graduation payments. It's such a straightforward solution that gives me peace of mind without requiring any complex maneuvering. Thank you to everyone who took the time to break down the real math and share their experiences. This kind of concrete, practical guidance is exactly what parents like me need to navigate this intimidating process with confidence rather than constant anxiety!

As a complete newcomer to the FAFSA process, this discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I'm facing a very similar situation with about $4,100 temporarily saved for my son's graduation expenses and some college prep costs, and I was honestly losing sleep over how this might tank his financial aid eligibility. Reading through all the detailed explanations about the Asset Protection Allowance and the 5.64% calculation has been such an eye-opener. Understanding that my temporary savings would only impact our SAI by roughly $230 at most - instead of the catastrophic aid loss I was envisioning - has completely calmed my nerves about this whole situation. The strategic timing approach that so many experienced members have shared is brilliant and so achievable. Rather than agonizing over something with relatively minimal impact, I can simply plan to file our FAFSA after we've made some of those planned graduation purchases. It's such an elegant solution that I never would have thought of on my own. What I love most about this community is how everyone has provided real numbers, concrete calculations, and practical solutions based on actual experience. This kind of detailed, actionable guidance is exactly what newcomers like me need to approach such a daunting process with confidence instead of pure panic. Thank you all for making the FAFSA feel so much more manageable!

Based on your responses to other comments, it sounds like you're dealing with two separate issues: 1. Schools that require additional institutional forms (which you found on two portals) 2. Schools with confusing portals where requirements aren't clear For the confusing portals, look specifically for sections labeled: - "Financial Aid Requirements" - "To-Do List" - "Outstanding Documents" - "Required Documents" Also, check if any are requesting verification documents. Common verification requests include: - Income verification forms - Tax return transcripts - W-2 statements - Family size verification If you truly can't figure it out through the portals, calling is unfortunately your best option. Financial aid offices are swamped this time of year, but this is too important to leave to chance.

So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always tell families to expect the unexpected with financial aid - even when you think you've done everything right, there's often some additional step or form that schools require. The CSS Profile is such a common "gotcha" because not all schools are clear about requiring it alongside FAFSA. Your experience will definitely help other families going through the same panic! Congrats on securing those scholarships - that's amazing that 3 out of 4 schools offered her aid!

Great advice everyone! Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I went through this with my twins last year - create a simple document or spreadsheet with all your financial information (AGI, taxes paid, assets, etc.) before you start either FAFSA. This way you have one master reference that ensures you enter identical information for both children. I also included the dates I completed each section so I could track my progress. Made the whole process much smoother and eliminated any worry about inconsistent data entry!

As a parent who just went through this process, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - definitely submit your daughter's FAFSA parent portion now! Don't wait for your son. I made that mistake with my older two kids a few years back and almost missed priority deadlines. One thing I'll add that I learned the hard way: when you're filling out the household information, make absolutely sure you count your son as being "in college" for the 2025-26 academic year, even though he's currently just a sophomore in high school. The FAFSA is asking about the upcoming academic year (2025-26), not the current year. This is a common mistake that can cost families thousands in aid eligibility. Also, keep detailed notes of every number you enter - bank account balances, investment values, the exact date you're using for asset reporting, etc. When you do your son's FAFSA later, you'll want those figures to match exactly to avoid verification headaches.

One more tip - make sure you're filling out the 2025-2026 FAFSA if your daughter is starting college next fall. The application periods changed recently and some people are still filling out the wrong year's form!

I went through this exact same confusion when I filled out my son's FAFSA two years ago! The interface could definitely be clearer about this. Just to add to what everyone else has said - yes, it's the parent's birthdate in the parent section. One thing that helped me was to think of each section as literally being filled out BY that person. So the student section is as if your daughter is filling it out herself (her info), and the parent section is as if you're filling it out about yourself (your info). Also, if you're married and filing jointly, you'll need both parents' birthdates. Good luck with the application - you're doing great by being careful and asking questions!