FAFSA parent signature missing - can I still make corrections in mid-April?

you can add the missing signature anytime, its actually not a correction but completing the app. just have ur parent login with their FSA ID and sign. should process within a few days after that

The good news is that adding a missing signature isn't considered a correction - it's just completing your application. Your parent needs to log in with their FSA ID and electronically sign. Once they do that, your FAFSA should fully process within 3-5 days. As for actual corrections to income information, yes, you can make those in mid-April. The 2025-2026 FAFSA has a correction period that extends throughout the application cycle. However, keep in mind that every time you make changes, your application will need to be reprocessed (which takes another 3-5 days) and will generate a new SAI. I recommend getting the signature issue resolved immediately, and then make your income corrections right after that processes. This gives you the best chance of meeting your May 1st priority deadline.

Let me clarify something important: there's a difference between adding a missing signature and making corrections to your FAFSA. Adding a signature: This isn't a correction - it's completing your application. Your parent needs to log in with their own FSA ID and password on studentaid.gov to sign. Once they do, your application will begin processing. Actual corrections: You can only make corrections AFTER your application is fully processed (when you have your SAI). At that point, you can edit income information, add/remove schools, etc. The most important thing right now is getting that parent signature ASAP. With your May 1st deadline, you need to have your parent sign immediately so the FAFSA can process and generate your SAI. Only then can you make any income corrections.

I had this EXACT same thing happen to me back in February. The whole new FAFSA system is such a mess! I couldn't figure out why my parent needed to sign AGAIN when they already signed the paper form we submitted. Turns out electronic signatures are required even if you mailed in a paper form (which makes NO sense). When I finally got my dad to sign electronically, it still took almost THREE WEEKS for my application to process! By then I had missed my school's priority deadline and lost out on $5000 in grants. They told me "too bad, you should have submitted earlier" even though it wasn't my fault the system is broken!!!! Sorry for the rant but I'm still mad about it lol. Get your parent to sign ASAP and maybe contact your financial aid office to let them know you're trying to fix the issue.

After spending HOURS waiting to talk to someone about my FAFSA verification issues, I finally found a service that saved me so much time. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a Federal Student Aid agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a good video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. Way better than dealing with the constant busy signals and disconnects when trying to get FAFSA help directly. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me exactly what was wrong with my application and how to fix it.

Financial Aid Administrator here. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, here's what you need to know: 1. A missing parent signature means your FAFSA is incomplete, not just waiting for corrections. The FSA system won't calculate your SAI until all required signatures are submitted. 2. Your parent needs to create their own FSA ID (if they haven't already) and sign electronically on studentaid.gov. 3. Mid-April is still plenty of time to complete your FAFSA for most schools' priority deadlines, including your May 1st deadline. 4. For the income corrections you mentioned: these can only be made AFTER your FAFSA is fully processed with all signatures. The correction process is available year-round. 5. Contact your school's financial aid office immediately to explain the situation. Many schools will hold your place in line for priority aid if you've submitted by their deadline but are dealing with FAFSA processing issues. Remember that this year's FAFSA has experienced significant delays due to the FAFSA Simplification Act implementation. Most schools are being more flexible with deadlines as a result.

My kid's FAFSA had this same issue! We thought both parents had signed but apparently my husband's signature didn't go through properly. We fixed it in early March and it took about 4 days to process after that. Then we were able to make income corrections the following week. So yes, mid-April is fine to make corrections, but get that signature issue fixed ASAP!