FAFSA showing 'in progress' status for weeks - how to complete submission?
I finally managed to fill out my entire FAFSA for the 2025-2026 school year last weekend, but it's still showing as 'in progress' on my dashboard five days later. I've triple-checked that I completed all the sections (demographics, school selection, financial info, etc.), but there's no clear 'submit' button anywhere I can find! The progress bar shows 100% but the status remains 'in progress.' I'm getting really anxious because my college's priority deadline is coming up in two weeks. Has anyone else experienced this? What am I missing to actually get this thing SUBMITTED? Do I need to call someone?
20 comments
Join the conversation
Mateo Martinez
This happened to me too! You need to check the signature section - even though it shows 100% progress, you still need to sign with your FSA ID. Go back into your FAFSA and look for the 'Sign & Submit' section on the left menu. Both you and your parent (if you're a dependent student) need to provide electronic signatures with your FSA IDs before it's actually submitted. The system won't tell you this very clearly, which is super frustrating.
0 coins
Nia Davis
•Omg thank you! I just checked and you're right - the signature part isn't complete. I thought since I logged in with my FSA ID it would automatically sign it. So annoying they don't make this clearer. My mom already created her FSA ID when we were gathering documents, so hopefully we can finish this tonight.
0 coins
QuantumQueen
mine was stuck 4 like 3 weeks bc i didnt do the signature thing either lol. they really need to fix that on the website its so confusing
0 coins
Aisha Rahman
Just to add some clarity here - the FAFSA submission process has two distinct steps that often confuse applicants: 1. Completing all information sections (demographics, school selection, financial information, etc.) 2. Signing the application with your FSA ID (and parent's FSA ID if you're a dependent student) Even when your progress shows 100%, you're not done until you've completed the electronic signature process. Look for the 'Sign & Submit' section in the left navigation menu. Once all required signatures are completed, you'll receive a confirmation page with your confirmation number and the date of submission. I recommend taking a screenshot of this confirmation page for your records. If you're having trouble with the signature process, make sure: - You're using the correct FSA ID and password - Your parent is using their own separate FSA ID (not yours) - Both FSA IDs are properly linked to the respective Social Security Numbers - Your browser cookies and cache are cleared if you're experiencing technical issues
0 coins
Nia Davis
•Thank you for the detailed explanation! We got it figured out last night and received the confirmation number. Such a relief! Do you know how long it typically takes to get the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation after submission? That's what my school is asking for.
0 coins
Aisha Rahman
•Great to hear you got it submitted! Regarding your SAI calculation, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within 3-5 business days if you provided an email address on your FAFSA. The SAR will contain your SAI (formerly known as EFC). If you don't receive it, you can log back into StudentAid.gov and view your SAR there once it's processed. The schools you listed will automatically receive your SAI information, typically within a week after submission.
0 coins
Ethan Wilson
Not to hijack this thread but does anyone know if we can still make changes after signing? I just realized I forgot to add one of my scholarships and now I'm panicking.
0 coins
Mateo Martinez
•Yes, you can! After your FAFSA is processed, you can make corrections by logging back into StudentAid.gov, selecting the appropriate application year, and clicking on 'Make FAFSA Corrections.' Just note that you'll need to re-sign the form after making changes.
0 coins
Yuki Sato
I had the EXACT SAME ISSUE and it drove me crazy!!! The system is so broken. I spent HOURS trying to figure out why it wouldn't submit even tho it said 100% complete. Called the Federal Student Aid number like 5 times and kept getting disconnected which made me even more frustrated. EVENTUALLY someone told me about the signature thing. Why don't they make this clearer???? So annoying.
0 coins
Carmen Flores
•If you're having trouble reaching Federal Student Aid by phone, I'd recommend checking out Claimyr. I discovered it after spending days trying to get through about my SAI calculation issues. They basically hold your place in line and call you back when a real agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration! You can see how it works at claimyr.com or watch their demo video https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - definitely worth it during busy FAFSA season when everyone's calling.
0 coins
Andre Dubois
FAFSA IS THE WORST. It literally took me 3 tries to submit mine because of the stupid signature thing. Then after I finally submitted it they selected me for verification and I had to submit like 10 more documents!!! Make sure you watch your email after submission because if they need more info and you don't respond fast enough they'll just cancel your whole application.
0 coins
Nia Davis
•Oh no, now I'm worried about verification too! Is that random or is there something that triggers it?
0 coins
Aisha Rahman
•Verification selection can happen for several reasons. Some applications are randomly selected, while others might be flagged due to inconsistent information, missing data, or specific financial situations. Around 25% of FAFSA applicants are selected for verification annually. If selected, your school's financial aid office will contact you about the specific documents needed. The best approach is to submit accurate information initially and respond promptly if selected.
0 coins
Nia Davis
UPDATE: We got it submitted successfully last night! Such a relief. Thanks everyone for your help. The signature section was definitely the issue - I can't believe they don't make that more obvious in the system. Now fingers crossed we don't get selected for verification!
0 coins
QuantumQueen
•congrats!! the waiting game begins lol
0 coins
Lydia Santiago
Congratulations on getting it submitted! This thread is so helpful - I'm a junior starting to research the FAFSA process for next year and had no idea about the signature step being separate from completing all the sections. It's crazy how many people seem to get stuck on this exact same issue. I'll definitely bookmark this discussion for when I start my application. Quick question - for those who have been through this, do you recommend having your parent create their FSA ID well in advance, or is it something that can be done quickly when you're ready to submit?
0 coins
Gabrielle Dubois
•Great question! I'd definitely recommend having your parent create their FSA ID well in advance - like at least a week or two before you plan to submit. Sometimes there can be verification delays if their identity information doesn't match up perfectly with Social Security records, and you don't want to be stuck waiting when you're trying to meet a deadline. Plus it gives them time to practice logging in and make sure they remember their username/password. The FSA ID creation process itself only takes a few minutes, but the verification can take 1-3 days. Better to get it done early and avoid the stress!
0 coins
Carmen Ruiz
•Definitely create the FSA ID early! I learned this the hard way - my dad created his FSA ID the same night we were trying to submit and it got flagged for manual verification. We had to wait 3 days before he could use it, which put us right up against our deadline. The FSA ID system is pretty strict about matching names and SSNs exactly as they appear on official records, so any small discrepancy can cause delays. Also pro tip: make sure your parent writes down their FSA ID info somewhere safe - my mom forgot her password like 2 weeks after creating it and had to go through the whole reset process. Starting early takes all that stress away!
0 coins
Philip Cowan
This is such a helpful thread! I'm a parent going through this process with my daughter for the first time and I had no idea about the separate signature step either. We spent hours last month thinking something was broken with the website when it showed 100% complete but wouldn't submit. Thankfully we figured it out before her deadline, but I wish they made this clearer in the interface. For other parents reading this - definitely create your FSA ID early like others mentioned, and make sure you write down your login info somewhere secure. Also, don't panic if the system seems slow or glitchy during peak times (like right before deadlines) - just keep trying and give yourself extra time. The whole process is more confusing than it needs to be, but you'll get through it!
0 coins
Anna Kerber
•Thanks for sharing the parent perspective! As someone just starting to navigate this process, it's really reassuring to hear from parents who've been through it. The fact that even experienced adults find the interface confusing makes me feel better about being overwhelmed by it all. I'm definitely going to have my mom create her FSA ID this weekend so we're not scrambling later. One follow-up question - when you mention the system being slow during peak times, are there certain times of day or days of the week that tend to work better? I want to plan our submission timing strategically to avoid any last-minute technical issues.
0 coins