Any updates on paper FAFSA forms mailed in January? Still waiting after 6 weeks

paper fafsa?? why would u even do that when the online one is right there lol

I mailed mine on January 16th and just got my SAI score last week, so about 7 weeks total. They never sent any confirmation that they received it - just suddenly my studentaid.gov account updated with the processed application. I'd give it another week or two before panicking, but you might want to try calling again to at least confirm they received it.

MY SON IS GOING THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING!!!! He mailed his paper FAFSA on January 22 and NOTHING YET!!!! I've been trying to call FSA every single day for the past two weeks and either get disconnected or sit on hold for 2+ hours before giving up. This is RIDICULOUS!!! What happens if they process it after his school's deadline??? Will he lose out on financial aid??? This system is BROKEN!!!

I submitted my paper FAFSA back in early January (don't remember the exact date) and got my SAI about 8 weeks later. My friend who did the online version got hers processed in like 3 weeks tho. Paper is definitely slower this year, but I think the 6-8 week timeframe is pretty normal for paper submissions. Did you make a copy of your form before sending it? If not, might be worth resubmitting online if you're worried about the deadline.

I had the same problem trying to reach someone at FSA about my paper form (sent Jan 25). After getting disconnected three times, I tried using Claimyr.com and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes! They confirmed they received my application and it was in the processing queue. Saved me so much stress. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent told me paper forms are taking 7-9 weeks right now because of the new FAFSA rollout issues. At least I know it's being processed now.

my roomate did the paper fafsa too because he doesn't have a social security number (DACA student) and he waited like two months for it to process last year. paper is just super slow for some reason.

Financial aid advisor here. For the 2025-2026 application cycle, paper FAFSA forms are indeed experiencing significant delays. The Department of Education is prioritizing the online system, and paper forms are being processed in batches rather than continuously. Here's what you should do: 1. Contact your school's financial aid office immediately to explain your situation. They may have a provisional process or can note your account. 2. If you need verification of receipt, call FSA at 1-800-433-3243. Be prepared for long wait times or try early morning (8am ET). 3. If you have access to a computer now, consider submitting the online FAFSA as well. The system will recognize if you have a paper form in process and will treat the online submission as a correction rather than a duplicate. 4. Keep documentation of when you mailed your form (receipt, etc.) in case you need to prove your timely submission. This year has been especially challenging with the new FAFSA simplification initiative. Rest assured that most schools are aware of these delays and making accommodations.

Quick update for anyone following this thread - I just called my school's financial aid office as suggested above, and they told me they've extended their priority deadline to May 1st because of all the FAFSA delays this year. Might be worth checking if your school has done something similar!