How long after FAFSA submission until we get our SAI results?

Wow, that's only 6 days! Did you do anything special to get such a quick turnaround? We submitted on the 12th and it's still processing...

Wait, I thought colleges couldn't see your FAFSA info until after you get your SAI? And don't they start making decisions right after the deadline? My daughter's still waiting for her SAI from early January and I'm freaking out that she's going to miss scholarship opportunities!

You're partially right - schools can't access your complete FAFSA information until your SAI is calculated. However, most colleges don't finalize financial aid packages immediately after priority deadlines. They typically allow a 2-3 week grace period for FAFSA processing delays. If your daughter submitted in early January and still hasn't received her SAI, I'd definitely recommend contacting Federal Student Aid directly. This is longer than the typical processing time, even during high-volume periods.

I was in the same position last week - super frustrated with the wait times. Someone recommended I use Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a FAFSA agent without the ridiculous wait. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. I was skeptical but checked out their demo video (https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ) and decided to try it. Actually worked - got through to someone who explained my application had a verification flag that was causing the delay. They helped clear it up and we got our SAI three days later.

Seriously?? I've never heard of that before. I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. Did they actually resolve your issue or just tell you what was wrong?

They actually resolved it! The agent saw that there was a mismatch between what we reported for income and what the IRS data showed (turned out I accidentally transposed two numbers). She cleared the flag after verifying my identity and the correct info. Without getting through to someone, we would have been waiting indefinitely with no idea what was wrong.

Thank you for this detailed information! It's really helpful to understand the expected timeframes. If we submitted on January 12th, would you recommend waiting until the end of this week before contacting Federal Student Aid? And is there any way to check if our application has been flagged for verification, or will we only find that out when we finally get results?

Yes, I'd wait until you've hit the 10 business day mark (which would be around January 26th) before contacting FSA. Unfortunately, there's no way to check if your application has been flagged for verification until you either receive your SAI or contact FSA directly. The studentaid.gov portal simply shows "processing" regardless of status. If you're concerned about meeting school deadlines, I'd recommend proactively emailing the financial aid offices at your twins' priority schools to notify them you've submitted the FAFSA and are awaiting processing. Most schools are understanding of these delays, especially if you communicate with them in advance of their deadlines.

That's reassuring to hear! Did your daughter's colleges have any issues with her FAFSA arriving closer to their deadlines? I'm worried about our twins missing out on merit scholarships if their SAI doesn't come through soon enough.

no problems at all. the schools told her they know fafsa is running slow this year. one financial aid office actually told her they dont even start putting together aid packages until late february even tho their deadline was feb 1. as long as you submitted before the deadline your fine. they just want to know your committed to going through the process.

There's actually a logical explanation for those timing differences. Applications go through an automated review process that flags certain applications for manual verification. Common triggers include: - Discrepancies between reported income and IRS data - Changes in financial situation from previous years - Random selection (yes, some are just randomly selected) - Unusual household situations Applications with no verification flags can process in 2-3 days, while those requiring verification will take much longer. If your nephew has been waiting a month, he should definitely contact FSA directly as that's beyond the normal timeline even for verification.

They're supposed to email you if there's an issue requiring your attention, but those notifications aren't always reliable. If you've been waiting more than 2 weeks, I'd recommend being proactive and contacting FSA directly. One common issue this year is verification flags not triggering proper notifications. Some applicants only discover they're selected for verification after calling to check on their delayed application status. Another tip: Check your spam/junk folders regularly. I've had many students discover their FAFSA notifications were filtered out of their primary inbox.