FAFSA says processed but school needs my US passport - where do I submit it?

this happend to my roomate last semester. the skool doesnt submit ur passport, YOU do. go back 2 ur fafsa dashboard and look for identity verification section. u need to take pic of passport and upload it there

This is actually a common misunderstanding. Schools don't submit your passport - they verify your citizenship status through FAFSA's system. What's likely happening is that your FAFSA has an identity verification flag on it. When your application shows as 'processed' but the school says they haven't received it, it usually means the Department of Education is holding your FAFSA for verification before releasing it to your school. Here's what you should do: 1. Log into studentaid.gov and check your SAR (Student Aid Report) for any comments about verification 2. Look for a section called "Verification" or messages about documentation needed 3. Call Federal Student Aid again and specifically ask if your application has a C-code for citizenship verification

I had the EXACT same problem last year! FSA kept saying one thing and my school said another. My application was stuck in limbo for WEEKS. The verification stuff is so confusing because nobody tells you exactly where to send documents.

@OP - You've found the issue. C-code 146 indicates that the Department of Homeland Security couldn't electronically verify your citizenship status. This happens sometimes even to citizens born in the US. For this specific C-code, you need to bring your original passport (not a copy) to your school's financial aid office. They need to physically verify it and then update your status in the system. The confusion likely happened because some schools have different processes for handling citizenship verification. Print out your SAR showing the C-code 146 and bring it with your passport. Make sure to get a receipt or confirmation when they verify your documents.

I went through this exact situation when applying for my 2024-25 FAFSA. The FAFSA system flagged my citizenship for verification despite being a US citizen my whole life. The key is understanding that citizenship verification happens at your school, not directly with FAFSA. When you see your application is "processed" but your school hasn't received it, it means FAFSA has calculated your SAI but is waiting for verification to be completed before releasing funds. Something worth noting - if your financial aid office seems confused, ask specifically to speak with someone who handles FAFSA citizenship verification. Sometimes the front desk staff aren't familiar with all verification codes.

I spent DAYS trying to get through to Federal Student Aid to resolve my verification issues. Always busy signals or disconnects after waiting for hours.

THE WHOLE VERIFICATION SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! Schools blame FAFSA, FAFSA blames DHS, and students get SCREWED while waiting! My sister lost her scholarship because her verification took so long the funds were given to someone else. The Department of Education needs to fix this disaster of a system.

Update us after you visit your financial aid office! For me, once they verified my passport, it took about 5-7 business days for my FAFSA to fully process and for my aid package to be finalized. Make sure you follow up if you don't see movement in a week. Also, check if your school has an emergency aid fund or short-term loans available if your financial aid isn't processed by the time tuition is due. Many schools have these resources but don't advertise them well.

btw make sure u bring ur ACTUAL passport not a copy they wont accept photos or copies for the verification

UPDATE: You guys were right! I went to the financial aid office with my passport and SAR printout showing the C-code. They had a specific form for citizenship verification that I had to fill out. They made a copy of my passport and said they would update my status in the system within 3-5 business days. The financial aid advisor I spoke with (asked for someone experienced with verification like you suggested) said this happens quite frequently and that I should be all set once they process the verification. Thank you all for your help!

Great outcome! This is exactly why I always recommend students print out their SAR and look for those comment codes - they contain crucial information that explains delays. The C-code system isn't well explained to students, which creates so much unnecessary stress. For anyone else reading this thread in the future: if your FAFSA shows "processed" but your school says they haven't received it, always check your SAR for C-codes first. Common ones include C-146 (citizenship verification), C-133 (conflicting SSN info), and C-20 (selective service registration). Each one has a specific resolution process, and knowing the exact code saves you from getting bounced between offices. Ryder, keep checking your student portal over the next week - once the verification clears, your aid should disburse pretty quickly!