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im having the exact same problem but mine started after i needed to make a correction to my parents tax info. it keeps saying submitted in emails but shows incomplete on the site. so frustrating!!!
UPDATE: It worked!!! I followed the advice from @profile1 exactly (logged out, cleared cache, waited 30 mins, then tried again without changing anything) and it FINALLY submitted properly! Now studentaid.gov shows my application as complete and I got a different confirmation email that looks more official than the previous ones. Thank you all so much for your help! For anyone else facing this issue, definitely try those steps before starting over.
Just to clarify some confusion I'm seeing in the comments: The FAFSA form is updated every year, but the 2025-2026 application will use the same streamlined system that was introduced last year. The changes aren't drastic year-to-year, so if you've done research on the current simplified FAFSA process, most of that information will still be relevant. The main things that change annually are: 1. The specific income protection allowances (which affect your SAI calculation) 2. Some of the exact questions and their order 3. Occasionally the verification requirements But the core process, the SAI formula structure, and the general approach remain consistent. So don't panic about massive changes - it's more of an annual refresh than a complete overhaul.
btw when october hits submit ASAP!! some schools have priority deadlines & some aid is first come first serve
idk why everyone's so worked up about this. filling out the fafsa took me like 30 min this year. way easier than before. just have your tax stuff ready and it's pretty straightforward
You must have been one of the lucky ones. Our FAFSA was stuck in "processing" for WEEKS and then got flagged for verification. We had to submit additional documentation THREE TIMES because they kept saying they couldn't read the documents even though we uploaded clear PDFs exactly as requested. The whole process took almost 3 months!
Important tip: The 2025-2026 FAFSA will use your 2023 tax information, but if your financial situation has changed significantly since then (job loss, major income decrease, etc.), you'll need to complete the FAFSA with the 2023 info first, then contact each school's financial aid office to request a professional judgment review. Also, don't pay anyone to fill out the FAFSA for you. There are plenty of free resources: - Your daughter's high school probably has FAFSA completion events - Many states have free FAFSA help hotlines - The Federal Student Aid Information Center: 1-800-433-3243 The only thing worth paying for might be something to help you actually reach a human at the FSA office if you run into problems, since their phone lines get overwhelmingly busy during peak season.
Jibriel Kohn
I work in a college financial aid office, and I can tell you this happens frequently. The good news is that once the signature issue is resolved, these applications are usually processed within 3-5 days. Most colleges understand these FAFSA processing delays and will work with you if you document your attempts to resolve the issue. I recommend: 1. Call FSA directly at 1-800-433-3243 2. Ask for the "signature resolution department" 3. Take notes during your call (get the rep's ID number) 4. Request they send you an email confirmation once the issue is resolved 5. Forward that confirmation to your son's college financial aid office Many schools have contingency plans for these FAFSA delays and may still consider him for priority aid if you document the signature issue was beyond your control.
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Malia Ponder
•Thank you so much for this insider perspective! That's really reassuring. I'll call first thing tomorrow morning and make sure to get documentation. Should I also reach out to the college financial aid office proactively to let them know about this issue?
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Jibriel Kohn
Yes, I would definitely recommend contacting the financial aid office at each school your son applied to. Send them a brief email explaining the signature issue, that you're actively working with FSA to resolve it, and ask if this will affect his priority deadline consideration. Many schools will make a note in his file and may extend the deadline for his specific situation. Just be sure to follow up once the signature issue is actually resolved with proof from FSA.
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Malia Ponder
•Perfect, I'll do that. You've all been so helpful. I'll update once I get this resolved in case it helps someone else!
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