FAFSA stuck on 'Still In Review' status for weeks - timeline changed but no processing updates?
I submitted my FAFSA about 3 weeks ago and it's been showing 'Still In Review' the entire time. Yesterday I logged in and noticed the date had changed, but the status is exactly the same. No explanation, no timeline, nothing. I was expecting to at least get my SAI calculation by now so I could start planning for next semester. Anyone know how long processing typically takes in 2025-2026 cycle? Starting to get anxious since my school's priority deadline is coming up in a few weeks...
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Hannah White
mine took 5 weeks last month... the date change probably means someone looked at it but didnt finish processing it. happens all the time with fafsa lol
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Nick Kravitz
•5 weeks?! That's insane. Did your school give you any trouble for submitting aid info late because of the FAFSA delay?
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Michael Green
The FAFSA processing times this year are ridiculous! I've been working in financial aid for 7 years, and I've never seen delays like the 2025-2026 cycle. The date change likely means your application was pulled for additional review - possibly for verification, but they haven't officially flagged it yet. If you're approaching your school's priority deadline, I would suggest contacting your school's financial aid office ASAP. Many institutions are adjusting their internal deadlines because of these widespread FAFSA delays.
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Nick Kravitz
•Thank you! That's really helpful. I'll email my financial aid office tomorrow. Do you think I should mention the date change specifically or just ask about accommodations for FAFSA delays?
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Michael Green
•Definitely mention the date change and how long it's been processing. Ask them three things: 1) if they're extending priority deadlines due to FAFSA processing delays, 2) if there's any provisional aid packaging they can do while waiting for your official SAI, and 3) if they can note in your file that you submitted your FAFSA well before their deadline. Screenshot your FAFSA dashboard showing the submission date as evidence.
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Mateo Silva
I SPENT 4 HOURS ON HOLD with federal student aid trying to get an answer about this exact same problem!!!! The system is completely broken this year. When I finally got through, they just told me "it's still processing" with ZERO explanation about why or how much longer. Complete waste of time. The whole thing is a joke.
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Nick Kravitz
•That's exactly what I'm worried about - waiting on hold forever just to get a non-answer. Did they at least tell you if the date change means anything?
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Mateo Silva
•Nope! The person I finally talked to had NO IDEA what the date change meant. Said they "don't have visibility into that level of detail" whatever that means. Just told me to keep waiting. Beyond frustrated.
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Victoria Jones
Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to Federal Student Aid directly? I was stuck on hold forever trying to reach someone about my "Still In Review" status, then I found this service that gets you to the front of the phone queue. Got through in about 15 minutes instead of hours. The agent was able to tell me exactly why my application was delayed (missing tax info) that wasn't showing up on the website. Check out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ or the website at claimyr.com. Totally worth it for peace of mind!
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Nick Kravitz
•I've never heard of this before. Did they actually give you useful information beyond what the website shows? I'm desperate at this point but skeptical of paying for something that should be free.
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Victoria Jones
•Yes! The FSA rep I got connected to was able to see notes on my account that weren't visible to me online. They confirmed my application was flagged for a specific issue that I could fix rather than just waiting. From what they told me, even applications that show "Still In Review" often have internal notes about what's causing the delay.
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Cameron Black
just an fyi but the date change actually does mean something - my financial aid advisor told me it means your app moved to a different processing queue. sometimez this is good (moving forward) and sometimes it means they need more info. u should call your schools fin aid office cuz they can see more details than u can on your account
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Jessica Nguyen
•This is incorrect information. The date change on the FAFSA dashboard merely indicates when your record was last accessed or updated in their system. It does NOT necessarily mean it's moving through different queues or that processing is progressing. I work in financial aid administration, and we've received official guidance about this from Federal Student Aid. Please don't spread misinformation.
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Isaiah Thompson
My son's FAFSA was stuck on "Still In Review" for 7 weeks before finally processing. The date changed 3 times during that period. We were panicking because his university's housing deposit was due and we needed to know his aid package first. I ended up calling the Federal Student Aid helpline 12 TIMES before getting through. Turns out there was a mismatch between his Social Security number and name that was causing the delay, but nothing on the dashboard indicated this problem. The whole system needs to be more transparent.
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Nick Kravitz
•7 weeks is terrifying. Did your son's school make any accommodations while you were waiting? I'm worried about missing housing deadlines too.
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Isaiah Thompson
•Yes, fortunately his school was understanding. They let him place a partial housing deposit to hold his spot and extended his financial aid paperwork deadline. Many schools are being flexible this year because the FAFSA delays are affecting everyone. Just be proactive about communicating with your school's financial aid office - don't wait until the last minute to ask for accommodations.
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Jessica Nguyen
Financial aid administrator here. The 2025-2026 FAFSA processing timeline is significantly longer than previous years. Current average processing time is 4-6 weeks, with some applications taking up to 8 weeks if selected for verification. The date change you're seeing is typically just a system update and doesn't necessarily indicate progress. I recommend three actions: 1. Contact your school's financial aid office immediately to alert them to the delay 2. Ask about provisional aid packaging based on estimated information 3. Request documentation that you submitted your FAFSA prior to priority deadlines Most institutions are implementing flexible deadlines this cycle due to the nationwide processing delays.
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Nick Kravitz
•Thank you so much for this detailed information! This is really helpful. Is there anything specific I should be watching for that would indicate my application is stuck rather than just slow? Any red flags I should be aware of?
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Jessica Nguyen
•Good question. Watch for status changes to "Action Required" or "More Information Needed" - these indicate your application is stuck rather than processing. Also check your email (including spam folder) daily for communications from Federal Student Aid. If your FAFSA status remains unchanged for more than 6 weeks, that's when I'd recommend attempting to contact FSA directly for a status update as it may indicate a hidden issue with your application.
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