FAFSA parent section completed - how does my son access and complete his required portion?

Your son absolutely needs his own FSA ID to complete his section. The FAFSA has two separate portions - the parent contribution (which you completed) and the student section. He won't automatically get an email. He needs to: 1. Create his own FSA ID at studentaid.gov 2. Log into the FAFSA application with HIS FSA ID 3. The system should recognize that you've started an application that includes him 4. He'll need to complete his section, including signing electronically Both parts must be completed and signed for the application to be processed and get your SAI calculation.

my daughter had same problem last month!! she made her id thing but couldnt find my application anywhere. ended up having to start all over and it was SO frustrating. the whole system is confusing

we went thru this last week! make sure when ur son makes his FSA ID he uses EXACTLY the same spelling of his name that you used when you filled out your part. my son's legal name is Christopher but i put Chris and it caused a whole mess with the system not connecting our applications

The most important thing to note is that both you AND your son must complete your sections of the FAFSA for it to be processed. There's no automatic notification system in place currently. Here's the exact process that should work: 1. Your son creates his own FSA ID at studentaid.gov 2. He logs into the FAFSA application using his FSA ID 3. The system should show that there's a partially completed application waiting for him 4. He completes his portion and electronically signs 5. Only after both signatures are in place will the FAFSA be processed for an SAI calculation If your son doesn't see the application when he logs in, check that: - You correctly entered his SSN in your portion - The name spelling matches his legal documents - You accurately entered his date of birth Any discrepancies can prevent the system from connecting the applications.

Try calling Federal Student Aid directly at 1-800-433-3243 to confirm everything is set up correctly. I spent 3 hours on hold last week trying to sort out a similar issue where my daughter couldn't access the application I started. I eventually found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an agent in about 15 minutes instead of hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. The agent was able to confirm both our applications were linked correctly in their system and my daughter just needed to use the "I am a returning user" option when logging in. Saved us from giving up after all that waiting!

does anyone know if the student section is easier than the parent section?? my daughter is freaking out about doing her part and im trying to tell her its not as bad as she thinks

also make sure your son knows his section has a DEADLINE!! our son waited too long and missed priority deadlines for some schools because he thought "whenever" was fine

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! My son created his FSA ID last night and was able to see and access the application I started. He's working on completing his section now. We double-checked all his personal information in my section first to make sure everything matched his legal documents exactly. I really appreciate all the guidance - this process is so confusing the first time through!

Congratulations on getting through the process successfully! Just wanted to add one more tip for other parents reading this thread - save a PDF copy of your completed FAFSA once both sections are done and submitted. You can do this from either the parent or student login. Having that backup has been a lifesaver when schools ask for verification documents or if you need to reference information later. Also, bookmark your FSA ID accounts because you'll need them again next year for renewal! The whole process gets much easier the second time around.