FAFSA appears submitted before parent signature - can't edit now during review

THE EXACT SAME THING JUST HAPPENED TO ME YESTERDAY!!! We started the parent section, then my son did his part, and somehow the form got submitted without all signatures. Called the FSA helpline 3 times and kept getting disconnected after 45+ min holds. This system is BROKEN! I'm freaking out because we need to correct our income info or his SAI will be totally wrong.

Don't panic - this happens more often than you might think. What you're seeing is a system status that doesn't accurately reflect where your application is in the process. The FAFSA isn't actually fully submitted until ALL required signatures are provided. What you need to do is: 1. Give it 24-48 hours - the system often shows "in review" when it's actually waiting for signatures 2. Try logging back in after that time period with your FSA ID 3. You should see a prompt to complete the missing signatures If that doesn't work, you'll need to contact Federal Student Aid directly. Unfortunately, their phone lines are extremely busy this time of year.

sum1 told me this is a glitch with the new FAFSA. ur app isnt really submitted its just stuck in a weird state. my cousins friend had to call FSA to get it unlocked but took like 4 calls b4 some1 helped

I experienced this exact issue back in February. The FAFSA system has a technical limitation where it can sometimes show as "in review" when it's actually in a pending signature state. Here's what worked for me: 1. Clear your browser cache completely 2. Use a different browser than you normally use 3. Log in with the FSA ID of the person whose signature is missing 4. Go to the "Tasks" section rather than just looking at the main dashboard There should be a pending signature task that's hidden from the main view. If that doesn't work, unfortunately you'll need to call FSA directly at 1-800-433-3243, but be prepared for very long wait times.

I had to deal with this frustrating issue last week and wasted hours trying to get through to FSA on the phone. After multiple disconnections and hour-long waits, I tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They have this service that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me so much time and the agent was able to unlock my application so I could finish the signatures. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent explained that this is a known issue with the new FAFSA system where applications can appear submitted when they're actually in a signature-pending state.

Your school's financial aid office might be able to help too! My daughter had a similar issue and I called her university's financial aid department. They couldn't fix it directly but had a special contact at FSA they used to get it resolved within 48 hours. Worth trying if you've got a particular school in mind.

i think i fixed this problem last month by deleting the fafsa app and reinstalling it on my phone then logging back in with my fsa id. something about refreshing the cache. might not work for evryone tho

Update: I checked the Federal Student Aid technical support bulletin and this is officially recognized as a known issue with the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The current recommendation is to wait 72 hours for the system to correctly recognize the signature status. If it doesn't resolve after that time period, you'll need to contact FSA directly. One important thing to note: even though it appears "submitted," your FAFSA isn't being processed without the signatures. Your SAI calculation won't begin until all signatures are properly recorded. So while frustrating, this shouldn't impact your final aid outcome.

Update on my situation - I finally got through to someone at FSA after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. The agent confirmed it's a display glitch and unlocked my FAFSA so we could add the missing signatures. It's officially submitted properly now. Such a relief!