Worried about 'Provide Signature' button in FAFSA parent portal - will it submit incomplete application?

Omg I had this EXACT problem last week! That button is super misleading. It doesn't actually submit the final application - it just takes you back to where you left off in the parent contribution section. You won't be able to sign until you actually complete all the required sections first. The new portal is terrible with these confusing labels.

The "Provide Signature" button is just poorly labeled. It should say "Continue Application" instead. The system won't let you actually provide a signature until all required sections are complete. You'll know you're at the actual signature page when you reach the submission checklist that shows green checkmarks for all completed sections. At that point, you'll need to create an FSA ID signature (if you don't already have one) or use your existing FSA ID to sign. Don't worry about accidentally submitting prematurely - there are several confirmation steps before final submission.

The new FAFSA system is a NIGHTMARE. I spent 3 weeks trying to complete my son's application and kept getting stuck in weird loops like this. The "Provide Signature" button is just one of many poorly designed elements. Even after you finish everything correctly, be prepared for random errors during final submission. My advice: SCREENSHOT EVERYTHING as you go, because when it inevitably glitches, you'll need proof of what you entered.

If you're having trouble reaching someone at Federal Student Aid to resolve these portal issues, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was stuck in a similar situation and tried calling FSA directly but kept getting disconnected. Claimyr helped me get through to an actual person who walked me through the signature process. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent explained that the "Provide Signature" button is intentionally designed to prevent accidental submissions - it will only allow you to sign after all sections are complete. So it's actually safer than it appears!

lol the FAFSA is such a joke now. the old system worked fine but they had to "fix" it and now nobody can figure anything out 😂

I'm a financial aid counselor at a community college, and we're seeing this confusion constantly with the new portal. Here's what's happening: The "Provide Signature" button is misleading. It should say "Continue Application" or "Return to Application." When you click it, it will take you back to where you left off in completing your parent contribution. You cannot actually provide a legal signature until: 1. All required sections are completed (income, assets, household info) 2. You reach the actual signature page (which requires FSA ID verification) 3. You confirm you want to sign Also important to know: for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, you can work on multiple students' applications simultaneously without issues. The system tracks them separately.

UPDATE: I finally got the courage to click the button and you were all right! It just took me back to where I left off in the application. I was able to finish entering our tax information and household details. One thing I discovered that might help others: if you have multiple children applying simultaneously, the system actually pre-fills a lot of your parent information from the first application to the second one! Saved me tons of time on my son's application. Thanks everyone for your help! The new portal is still confusing, but at least I got through it.

As someone who just went through this exact nightmare with my daughter's FAFSA last month, I can confirm what others have said - that "Provide Signature" button is terribly misleading! It really should just say "Continue" because that's all it does. The system actually has multiple safeguards to prevent accidental submission. You'll go through several confirmation screens and see a clear checklist before you can actually submit anything. One tip I wish I'd known earlier: keep a simple notepad file open while you work and jot down what sections you've completed for each kid - it helps you keep track of where you are in the process when you're juggling multiple applications!