When does FAFSA generate SAI number after IRS data retrieval?

Your SAI (Student Aid Index) number typically appears 3-5 business days after the IRS data retrieval process completes successfully. FAFSA doesn't send an email notification when your SAI is calculated - you need to log into your studentaid.gov account and check the status. With the recent system changes for the 2025-2026 application cycle, some people are experiencing delays up to 2-3 weeks. I recommend checking your account every few days.

I filed mine March 20th and JUST got my SAI yesterday!!!! The whole process took almost 3 weeks and they never sent me any emails about it. I had to keep logging in every day to check. So frustrating that they don't tell us anything about whats happening with our applications!

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) can take 5-7 business days to complete in the backend, even if it seemed to work instantly when you submitted. After that, FAFSA typically needs another 3-5 business days to calculate your SAI. Unfortunately, they don't send notification emails when your SAI is ready - this is a common complaint. A few troubleshooting tips: 1. Make sure your tax information matches exactly what's on your return 2. Verify your application shows "Processing" not "Action Required" 3. If it's been more than 2 weeks, there might be a verification hold You can call Federal Student Aid at 1-800-433-3243 to check your status, but expect very long wait times this time of year.

I'm in the same boat but ive been waiting since MARCH 15th!!! They really need to fix their system. My friend applied on the same day and got her SAI in like 5 days but mine is still processing. Makes NO sense.

I had the same issue last month and was getting really frustrated with the wait times trying to call FSA. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual FAFSA agent without the crazy wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent told me my application had a flag for verification which was causing the delay, but they fixed it right away. Worth checking if you're stuck waiting for more than 2 weeks like I was.

The entire FAFSA system is broken this year. They completely revamped everything and clearly weren't ready. No one gets notifications, the website crashes constantly, and half the time the IRS data retrieval just doesn't work properly. My daughter's SAI took TWENTY THREE DAYS to appear. No email, no notification, nothing. Just keep checking and pray you don't get selected for verification because that adds another month to the process.

Quick update on processing times - I'm a financial aid counselor, and we're seeing SAI calculations taking longer for several specific scenarios: 1. Students with divorced/separated parents (extra verification) 2. First-time FAFSA filers (additional security checks) 3. Applications with manual income adjustments 4. Applications submitted during high-volume periods (end of month) If you don't get your SAI within 10 business days, I recommend contacting your school's financial aid office - they often have back-channel access to see what's happening with your application.

Good news - after your SAI appears, the rest of the process moves much faster. Schools typically receive your FAFSA data within 3-5 days after SAI calculation, and most begin preparing aid packages shortly after. If you have scholarships with upcoming deadlines, many will accept screenshots of your SAI from your studentaid.gov account as preliminary documentation.