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Kyle Wallace

FAFSA parent invitation 'Continue' button not working - stuck at acceptance screen

I'm at my wits' end trying to help my son with his FAFSA. He sent me the parent invitation, but when I get to the screen that says 'Jadden Joseph wants Your Help on a FAFSA Form' and try to accept, the Continue button does NOTHING. I've clicked it like 50 times, tried logging out and back in, switched from my phone to laptop, cleared cache, used different browsers... still nothing happens when I click Continue. The button doesn't even react! Has anyone else encountered this? Is there a workaround? My son's financial aid deadline is in 2 weeks and I'm getting really stressed about this.

omg same!!! my daughters invitation has been sitting there for 3 days and everytime i try to click continue it just sits there. i thought it was just my old laptop but glad to no its not just me!!

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At least it's not just me! Have you found any solution yet? I've tried calling the FSA number but can't get through to anyone.

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This is a known technical issue with the new StudentAid.gov portal. The system is having trouble processing parent invitations when there's high traffic volume. Three possible solutions: 1. Try accessing between 11pm-5am EST when traffic is lower 2. Clear your browser cache completely (not just regular clearing - you need to delete all StudentAid.gov cookies specifically) 3. Try using Microsoft Edge browser in InPrivate mode - some users report this works better If none of these work, you'll need to contact FSA directly to have them manually approve your parent access.

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Thank you! I'll try the late night access tonight. I've already cleared cookies multiple times but maybe the specific StudentAid ones are still there somewhere.

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I had the exact same problem last week! It's so frustrating when nothing happens and you keep clicking like a crazy person. I eventually got it to work by using my daughter's laptop instead of my own devices. For some reason it worked first try on her computer. Maybe try using your son's device?

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That's an interesting solution! I'll ask my son if I can borrow his laptop tonight. Did you use his FSA ID or still logged in with your own when you used his computer?

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This is actually a browser compatibility issue with certain versions of the StudentAid.gov portal. It's affecting many parents trying to contribute to their student's FAFSA forms. The technical problem stems from a JavaScript error that prevents the button action from firing. Here's what worked for me and other parents: 1. Use Chrome browser specifically (updated to latest version) 2. Disable all browser extensions before accessing the site 3. Make sure JavaScript is enabled 4. Try using incognito/private browsing mode 5. If still not working, try a completely different device on a different network The FSA is aware of this issue and working on a fix, but many families can't wait for that with deadlines approaching.

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Thank you for the detailed explanation! I'm going to try Chrome in incognito mode right now. I didn't think about browser extensions possibly causing the issue - I have quite a few installed.

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have u tried turning off yur popup blocker? i had the same issue and someone in my sons school parents group said it was because of popup blockers. i turned mine off and it worked but now i get like a million adds lol

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I hadn't thought of that! I do have a pretty aggressive pop-up blocker. I'll give that a try, thanks!

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If you're still having trouble reaching someone at Federal Student Aid after trying the technical fixes, I'd recommend using Claimyr. It helped me get through to a real person at FSA within minutes when I had a similar issue with my daughter's FAFSA. They basically hold your place in line so you don't have to wait on hold for hours. Check out their demo video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ or visit claimyr.com. The agent I spoke with was able to manually process my parent invitation when the button wasn't working.

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does this actually work? i've been calling FSA for days and just get the busy signal or it hangs up on me after 30 mins

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UPDATE: The FSA just posted about this issue on their social media. They're asking parents experiencing the "dead Continue button" problem to try these steps: 1. Clear browser cache and cookies 2. Restart your device completely (not just refresh) 3. Try again during off-peak hours 4. If still experiencing issues, the student should cancel the current invitation and send a new one They estimate a permanent fix will be deployed by next Tuesday, but that might be too late for those with upcoming deadlines.

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Thanks for the update! I tried all those steps except having my son cancel and resend the invitation. We'll try that tonight if the other suggestions don't work.

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UPDATE: I got it working! For anyone else facing this issue, here's what finally worked for me: 1. Had my son cancel the original invitation and send a new one 2. Used Chrome Incognito with extensions disabled 3. Turned off pop-up blocker 4. Logged in at 11:30pm when traffic was lower The Continue button finally worked and I was able to complete my portion of his FAFSA. Thanks everyone for your help!

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Great news! Thanks for sharing your solution. This will definitely help other parents facing the same issue.

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OMG THANK U!!! just tried ur exact steps and it worked for me too!!!! you just saved my daughters financial aid lololol

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I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! My daughter sent me the parent invitation three days ago and I've been clicking that Continue button over and over with no response. It's so frustrating when you're trying to help your kid and the system just won't cooperate. I'm definitely going to try the Chrome incognito method with extensions disabled that Kyle mentioned - seems like that combination worked for multiple people here. Has anyone had success with the mobile app instead of the browser, or is it having the same problems?

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I tried the mobile app first when I was having this issue and it had the same problem - the Continue button was completely unresponsive there too. The browser solutions definitely seem to be the way to go. I'd recommend trying Kyle's exact steps since they worked for both him and Ryder. Also, if you're still having trouble after trying those, you might want to have your daughter cancel and resend the invitation like Kyle did - that seemed to be a key step in getting it to work!

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This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a parent who just went through this exact same nightmare last month. The frustration is real when you're trying to help your child and the system just won't cooperate. I wanted to add one more tip that worked for me after trying everything else - I actually had to delete my entire browser history going back 30 days, not just clear cache and cookies. Apparently some stored data from previous FAFSA sessions was causing conflicts. After doing that deep clean plus using Chrome incognito mode during off-peak hours, it finally worked. Also, make sure your student doesn't have multiple pending invitations sent out - that can cause the system to get confused. Have them check their FAFSA dashboard and cancel any duplicate invitations before sending a fresh one. Hope this helps other parents still struggling with this issue!

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Thank you so much for this additional tip about deleting the entire browser history! I never would have thought that old FAFSA session data could be causing conflicts. I'm bookmarking this thread because there are so many good solutions here. It's such a relief to know that this isn't just a problem on my end - the system really does have these issues. I'm going to try your deep browser clean method tonight along with the other steps people have shared. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share what worked for them!

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I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been dealing with this exact same issue for the past week and was starting to think I was losing my mind. My son's FAFSA deadline is coming up fast and I was getting really panicked about not being able to access the parent portion. Reading through all the solutions you've shared gives me hope that I can get this resolved. I'm going to start with Kyle's method tonight - Chrome incognito, extensions disabled, pop-up blocker off, and during off-peak hours. If that doesn't work, I'll try Kingston's suggestion about the deep browser history deletion. It's honestly such a relief to know this is a widespread technical issue and not something I'm doing wrong. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is a lifesaver for stressed parents trying to navigate this process!

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I completely understand that panic feeling! I went through the same thing just a few weeks ago when my daughter's deadline was approaching. The good news is that multiple people here have gotten it working, so there's definitely hope. I'd also suggest trying the solution during really late hours like Kyle did - around 11pm or later when fewer people are using the system. And don't hesitate to have your son cancel and resend the invitation if the first attempts don't work - that seemed to be a crucial step for several people. You've got this! The technical issue is frustrating but it's definitely solvable with the right combination of these workarounds.

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I'm experiencing this exact same issue right now! My daughter sent me the parent invitation yesterday and I've been trying to click that Continue button for hours with absolutely no response. It's so frustrating when you're trying to help your child meet their financial aid deadline and the system just won't cooperate. Reading through all these solutions is really reassuring - at least I know it's not just me! I'm going to try the combination approach tonight: Chrome incognito mode, all extensions disabled, pop-up blocker turned off, and accessing during off-peak hours like Kyle suggested. If that doesn't work, I'll have her cancel and resend the invitation. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread is incredibly helpful for parents dealing with this technical nightmare!

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I feel your frustration completely! I just went through this same nightmare two weeks ago with my son's FAFSA. The combination approach really does seem to work - I ended up having success with Chrome incognito + disabled extensions + late night access around midnight. One thing I'd add is to make sure you completely restart your computer before trying, not just close the browser. Sometimes there are background processes that can interfere. Also, if you have any antivirus software running, try temporarily disabling it during the attempt - mine was blocking some of the JavaScript needed for the button to work. Don't give up! Multiple people here have gotten through this, so you will too. The system is definitely broken but these workarounds are solid.

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I'm running into this same exact problem! My son sent me the parent invitation two days ago and I've been clicking that Continue button endlessly with zero response. It's so maddening when you're trying to meet deadlines and the system just won't work. I've already tried different browsers and clearing my cache but nothing has helped so far. Reading through all these solutions gives me hope though - I'm definitely going to try the Chrome incognito method with extensions disabled during off-peak hours tonight. Has anyone had luck with Safari browser, or is Chrome really the way to go? Also wondering if using a VPN might help or if that would make things worse. Thanks to everyone who's shared their workarounds - this thread is a godsend for frustrated parents!

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I haven't seen anyone mention Safari specifically, but from what I've read here, Chrome seems to be the most reliable option for this issue. I'd stick with Chrome incognito mode since multiple people have had success with that combination. As for VPNs, I'd actually avoid using one - it might make the system think you're accessing from a suspicious location and could create additional verification steps or blocks. The FSA portal can be pretty sensitive about that kind of thing. I'd recommend trying the proven method first: Chrome incognito, extensions disabled, pop-up blocker off, and late night access (11pm or later). If that doesn't work, have your son cancel and resend the invitation. That combination worked for Kyle and several others here, so it's your best bet!

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I'm having this exact same issue right now! My daughter sent me the parent invitation 4 days ago and I've been stuck at that acceptance screen where nothing happens when I click Continue. I've tried everything - different devices, browsers, clearing cache - and I was starting to think something was seriously wrong with my computer. This thread is such a relief because now I know it's a widespread technical problem and not just me! I'm definitely going to try the Chrome incognito method with all extensions disabled tonight during off-peak hours like Kyle and others suggested. My daughter's financial aid deadline is coming up in 10 days so I really need to get this resolved soon. Thank you everyone for sharing your solutions - it's amazing how this community comes together to help each other navigate these technical nightmares!

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I completely understand your frustration! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now with my child's FAFSA invitation. It's such a relief to find this thread and realize we're not alone in this struggle. The combination method that Kyle and others have shared seems to be the most successful approach - I'm planning to try Chrome incognito mode with extensions disabled during late night hours tonight as well. With your 10-day deadline, you should definitely also consider having your daughter cancel and resend the invitation if the browser fixes don't work on the first try. That step seemed crucial for several people here. We can get through this technical nightmare together! Keep us posted on what works for you.

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I'm experiencing this exact same frustrating issue! My son sent me the parent invitation 5 days ago and I've been stuck at that "Continue" button that absolutely refuses to work. I've tried everything I can think of - multiple browsers, clearing cache, restarting my computer, even borrowing my neighbor's laptop - nothing! Reading through all these solutions is giving me so much hope though. I'm definitely going to try the proven combination tonight: Chrome incognito mode, all extensions disabled, pop-up blocker turned off, and accessing around midnight when traffic is lower. If that doesn't work, I'll have my son cancel and resend the invitation like Kyle did. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread technical issue and not something I'm doing wrong. This community is incredible - thank you all for sharing your workarounds and keeping each other sane during this stressful process! I'll report back if I get it working.

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You're definitely not alone in this struggle! I just went through the exact same thing last week with my daughter's FAFSA invitation and felt like I was going crazy clicking that unresponsive Continue button. The combination approach really does work - I had success using Chrome incognito with extensions disabled around 11:30pm just like Kyle did. One additional tip that helped me: make sure to completely close all other browser windows and tabs before attempting, as having multiple StudentAid.gov sessions can sometimes cause conflicts. Also, if you have any password managers or auto-fill extensions, those can interfere too even in incognito mode, so double-check they're fully disabled. Don't give up - with your son's help canceling and resending if needed, you'll get through this! Looking forward to hearing your success story!

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I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! My daughter sent me the parent invitation 3 days ago and that Continue button is completely dead - I've probably clicked it 100 times at this point. I was starting to think my computer was broken or I was doing something fundamentally wrong, so finding this thread is such a huge relief. It's incredibly frustrating when you're trying to help your kid meet their financial aid deadline and the system just refuses to cooperate. I'm definitely going to try Kyle's proven method tonight - Chrome incognito mode, all extensions disabled, pop-up blocker off, and accessing during late night hours when traffic is lower. If that doesn't work, I'll have my daughter cancel and resend the invitation like several people here have suggested. Thank you all so much for sharing your solutions and experiences - it's amazing how this community comes together to help stressed parents navigate these technical disasters. I'll update everyone once I (hopefully) get it working!

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I totally feel your pain! I'm actually dealing with this exact same issue right now with my son's FAFSA invitation. That unresponsive Continue button is driving me absolutely crazy too! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - at least we know it's not just us going insane clicking a broken button. I'm planning to try the same approach you mentioned tonight: Chrome incognito, extensions disabled, pop-up blocker off, and late night access. One thing I noticed from reading through all the solutions is that having the student cancel and resend the invitation seems to be a really important step if the browser fixes don't work initially. Fingers crossed we both get this resolved soon! This community has been such a lifesaver for figuring out these technical workarounds.

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I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and it's driving me absolutely insane! My son sent me the parent invitation yesterday and I've been stuck at that acceptance screen for hours. The Continue button just sits there doing absolutely nothing no matter how many times I click it. I've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, restarting my computer, even tried on my phone - nothing works! Reading through all these solutions is giving me so much hope though. I'm definitely going to try the Chrome incognito method with extensions disabled during off-peak hours tonight like Kyle and others have suggested. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread technical issue and not just me being technologically incompetent. My son's deadline is in less than 2 weeks so I really need to get this sorted out ASAP. Thank you everyone for sharing your workarounds - this thread is a godsend for frustrated parents trying to navigate this broken system!

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I'm so sorry you're going through this frustrating experience too! I just started having this exact same problem with my daughter's FAFSA invitation today and found this thread while desperately searching for solutions. It's honestly such a relief to see that so many parents have faced this and found ways to get it working. The Chrome incognito method that Kyle shared seems to be the most successful approach based on all the positive responses here. I'm planning to try it tonight too - Chrome incognito mode, all extensions disabled, pop-up blocker turned off, and accessing around 11pm when there's less traffic on the system. If that doesn't work, I'll definitely have my daughter cancel and resend the invitation since that seems to be a crucial step for many people. We're all in this together and will get through this technical nightmare! Please keep us updated on whether the late-night Chrome method works for you - your success story could help other parents still struggling with this issue.

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I'm experiencing this exact same issue right now and I'm so frustrated! My daughter sent me the parent invitation 6 days ago and I've been clicking that Continue button countless times with absolutely zero response. I was starting to think there was something wrong with my internet or computer, but reading through all these experiences is such a relief - at least I know it's not just me! The combination method that Kyle and others have shared seems to be the most reliable solution. I'm definitely going to try Chrome incognito mode with all extensions disabled tonight during off-peak hours like everyone suggests. My daughter's financial aid deadline is coming up in just over a week, so I really need to get this resolved quickly. If the browser method doesn't work, I'll have her cancel and resend the invitation since that step seems crucial for many people here. Thank you all so much for sharing your solutions and keeping your fellow parents sane during this technical disaster - this community support is incredible!

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I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! My son sent me his parent invitation 4 days ago and I've been stuck at that dead Continue button ever since. It's so reassuring to find this thread and realize we're all going through the same technical nightmare. I'm definitely going to try Kyle's proven method tonight - Chrome incognito, extensions disabled, pop-up blocker off, and late night access around midnight. From reading everyone's experiences, it really seems like that combination plus having your child cancel and resend the invitation if needed is the most reliable solution. With your deadline coming up so soon, I'd also suggest maybe trying multiple attempts over the next few nights if the first try doesn't work - sometimes persistence with the right setup eventually breaks through. We're all rooting for each other to get past this broken system! Please update us if you get it working - every success story helps other parents know there's hope.

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Val Rossi

I'm having this exact same issue and I'm so relieved to find this thread! My son sent me the parent invitation 2 days ago and that Continue button is completely unresponsive - I've been clicking it over and over thinking something was wrong with my computer. Reading through everyone's solutions gives me so much hope. I'm definitely going to try the Chrome incognito method with extensions disabled during late night hours like Kyle and others have suggested. It's amazing how this community comes together to help each other navigate these technical disasters. My son's deadline is in 12 days so I really need to get this sorted out soon. Has anyone tried using a wired internet connection instead of WiFi to see if that makes a difference? I'm willing to try anything at this point! Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - knowing it's not just me makes this so much less stressful.

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Mei Zhang

I haven't seen anyone specifically mention trying a wired connection, but it's definitely worth a shot! From what I've read through all these solutions, the issue seems more related to browser settings and system traffic than connection speed, but every little bit might help. I'd still prioritize the proven Chrome incognito method first - that combination has worked for so many people here. You could try the wired connection along with Chrome incognito, extensions disabled, and pop-up blocker off during those late night hours around 11pm-midnight when traffic is lower. With 12 days left, you have some time to try multiple approaches if needed. Don't forget that having your son cancel and resend the invitation can also be a game-changer if the first attempts don't work. Keep us posted on your progress - we're all cheering each other on through this technical nightmare!

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I'm having this exact same problem with my daughter's FAFSA invitation! She sent it to me 3 days ago and I've been stuck at that acceptance screen where the Continue button does absolutely nothing. I've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, using my phone, my laptop, even tried my work computer - nothing! It's so frustrating when you're trying to help your kid meet their deadline and the system just won't cooperate. Reading through all these solutions is giving me hope though. I'm definitely going to try the Chrome incognito method with extensions disabled tonight during off-peak hours like Kyle suggested. Also going to try the wired internet connection idea that Val mentioned - can't hurt to cover all bases! My daughter's deadline is in 2 weeks so I have a little time to work through these solutions. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's such a relief to know this is a widespread issue and not just me going crazy clicking a broken button!

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