FAFSA sign and submit button missing - stuck in 'in progress' limbo for weeks

same thing hapened to me last week!! so frustrating. have you tried logging out completely and then back in? sometimes the system glitches and doesnt show all the buttons. also check if you missed any sections that look complete but arent really complete

This is a known issue with the new FAFSA system that several families are experiencing. The problem is usually related to one of three things: 1. Browser cache/cookies interfering with the final submission process 2. A specific section that appears complete but has a hidden validation error 3. A synchronization issue between the parent and student contributions Here's what I recommend: - Try using a completely different device (not just browser) that has never accessed the FAFSA before - Review the parent contribution section carefully - particularly the asset information - Check if both parent and student have completed the identity verification steps - Look for any yellow warning icons (not just green checkmarks) that might indicate issues The submission button should appear once all validation checks pass. If none of this works, you may need to contact FSA directly for a manual review of your application status.

I had this EXACT problem with my son's application about three weeks ago and literally called FSA six times before finally getting through to someone who knew what was happening. Turns out there was a bug affecting accounts where the parent and student completed their sections at different times (more than 48 hours apart). The agent had to manually "reset" something on their end to allow the final submission. Unfortunately, you can't fix this yourself through the website - you NEED to speak with an actual FSA representative who can see your account status. Pro tip: I wasted HOURS trying to get through on their phone system before I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me from the endless hold music! They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ showing how it works. After using their service, I finally got connected to an agent who fixed the issue in about 10 minutes.

Based on my experience as a financial aid advisor, this is unfortunately common with the new FAFSA system. One critical thing to check: make sure the student and parent contribution sections were completed using the EXACT same student information (name spelling, SSN, DOB, etc). Even tiny discrepancies between what parent and student entered can cause the system to not recognize them as properly linked. Also, go to the "Documents" section for both accounts and verify that all required forms show as "Received" not "Awaiting" or "Processing." One technical fix that worked for several of my advisees: try accessing the FAFSA website directly rather than through any email links or bookmarks. Go to studentaid.gov and navigate from scratch to your application - sometimes cached links contain session information that prevents the final submission page from loading properly.

LOL WHY IS THE FAFSA SYSTEM SO TERRIBLE EVERY SINGLE YEAR!?!? I swear they make it harder on purpose. My daughter had to submit her application THREE TIMES last year because of stupid glitches like this. The whole system is a joke. When you finally get it submitted, expect to wait another 2-3 weeks for processing because they're so backlogged. What a nightmare.

Have you verified both you and your daughter have valid FSA IDs that are properly linked to the application? This was the issue with my son's application. Even though we both had FSA IDs and thought they were connected to the application, there was some kind of verification problem that prevented the final submission. When we finally got through to someone at FSA, they explained that both FSA IDs needed to be fully verified through the email confirmation process AND linked to the specific application. In our case, I had created a new FSA ID (forgot my old one) but the system was still trying to use my old one for verification purposes. I would recommend checking both FSA ID accounts separately to confirm verification status before trying anything else. The sign and submit button won't appear if either account has verification issues.

Just following up to see if any of these suggestions helped resolve your issue? The deadline for many schools' priority financial aid is approaching, so I wanted to check if you were able to make progress.