Should I create my parent FSA ID now or wait for my child's FAFSA invitation?

Go ahead and create your FSA ID now! There's no invitation system for parents - you just need to create your own FSA ID separately from your student's. It's actually better to do it ASAP because sometimes the SSN verification can take 1-3 days, and you don't want that to delay your FAFSA submission once your daughter is ready to start the application.

create urs now!! my kid did hers and i waited and the verification took forever and we missed priority deadline at her top school. huge mistake!!!!

Hi there! You should absolutely create your FSA ID now. The process works like this: 1. Student creates FSA ID (which your daughter has done) 2. Parent creates their own separate FSA ID (what you need to do) 3. When your daughter actually starts the FAFSA application, she'll enter your information and you'll be able to log in with your FSA ID to complete your portion There's no formal invitation system. In fact, creating your FSA ID now gives time for any verification issues to be resolved before you're actually working on the application. The 2025-2026 FAFSA still requires parent authentication through their own FSA ID, so you'll definitely need one.

Ugh the WHOLE SYSTEM is such a disaster! I created my FSA ID 2 months before my son started his application and when we finally went to link them, the system kept crashing and we had to call FSA support like 6 times!! And every time you call it's 2+ hour wait times. They honestly need to completely redesign this disaster of a system. I'd say just wait until your daughter gets her verification complete first, THEN create yours.

Just to build on what others have said - not only can you create your FSA ID now, it's actually recommended. Here's why: 1. The verification process sometimes takes longer for parents than students (especially if you've had name changes, address changes, etc.) 2. You'll need a fully verified FSA ID when it comes time to sign the FAFSA electronically 3. Having both FSA IDs ready means you can complete the application in one sitting if you want The new FAFSA has changed many things, but the need for separate parent and student FSA IDs remains the same. Each FSA ID is tied to a unique Social Security Number.

I'm going through this right now too! My twins are both applying and I was told by their college counselor to create my FSA ID right away. I did it last week and got verified within 24 hours, but I've heard some parents wait longer. Definitely do it now rather than waiting until you're trying to finish the application and running into a verification delay. Also make sure you use an email that's different from your daughter's - that confused me at first!

btw keep ALL ur login info written somewhere safe!! we had 2 reset everything last yr bc my husband forgot which email he used 🤦‍♀️

One more tip - when creating your FSA ID, use a personal email address you check regularly, not a work email. You'll be getting important notifications, and sometimes FSA ID recovery information needs to go to that email. Also, double-check your Social Security Number and name match exactly what's on your Social Security card - even a small mismatch can cause verification problems and delays.

Welcome to the FAFSA journey! As someone who just went through this last year, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - definitely create your FSA ID now. The verification process can be unpredictable, and you don't want to be stuck waiting when your daughter is ready to submit her application. I made the mistake of waiting until the last minute and ended up scrambling to get everything verified before our state deadline. Also, once you both have your FSA IDs ready, make sure to bookmark the official studentaid.gov site - there are a lot of fake FAFSA sites out there that charge fees for what should be a free process. Good luck!

As someone new to this process, I really appreciate all the detailed advice here! I was in the same boat wondering about timing. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like creating the FSA ID early is definitely the way to go. The verification delays seem to be the biggest risk, and I'd rather deal with any issues now rather than when we're trying to meet deadlines. I'm also going to write down all my login info like someone suggested - that's such a practical tip that I wouldn't have thought of. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences, both good and bad. It's making this whole process feel much less intimidating!

This is such a timely question! I'm going through the exact same thing with my son right now. After reading all these responses, I'm convinced that creating your FSA ID now is definitely the right move. What really stood out to me is how unpredictable the verification timing can be - some people get verified in 24 hours, others wait days or even weeks. I'd much rather deal with any potential hiccups now rather than when we're rushing to meet college deadlines. Plus, it sounds like having both FSA IDs ready means you can power through the actual FAFSA application without interruptions. Thanks for asking this question - the answers have been incredibly helpful for those of us navigating this process for the first time!