I'm a new member here and just went through this exact same experience! I submitted my 2025-26 FAFSA yesterday and had that identical moment of panic when I couldn't find the document upload section anywhere. After hearing so many stories about the complexity of uploading tax documents in previous years, it felt almost too simple to just complete the application and submit without any file uploads. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that the automatic IRS data sharing is working as designed and we didn't miss anything important! The new process definitely feels strange when you're expecting the traditional upload requirements, but it sounds like it should eliminate so many of the frustrations from the old system with unreadable documents and multiple resubmissions. I made sure to consent to the IRS data access during my application, and since my tax situation is straightforward (just standard W-2 income from my work-study job), I'm cautiously optimistic that processing will go smoothly. Now I'm in that anxious waiting period, checking my StudentAid.gov account daily for my SAI to appear! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's such a comfort to know we're all learning this new streamlined system together and that the missing upload section is completely normal now. Fingers crossed the 1-3 week processing timeline works out for everyone!

I'm a new member here and just went through this exact same experience! I submitted my 2025-26 FAFSA a few days ago and had that identical moment of confusion when I couldn't find the document upload section. After years of hearing about how complicated the FAFSA process was with all the tax document uploads, it felt almost anticlimactic to just complete the application and submit without any file attachments. Reading through everyone's responses here has been so helpful and reassuring. It's amazing how literally every single person seems to have had that same panic moment about the missing uploads! The automatic IRS data sharing definitely feels strange at first when you're expecting the traditional process, but it sounds like it should solve so many of the issues from previous years with document rejections and resubmissions. I made sure to consent to the IRS data access during my application, and my tax situation is pretty straightforward (just basic income from my campus work-study job), so I'm optimistically hoping everything will process without any hiccups. Now I'm in that nerve-wracking waiting phase, checking my StudentAid.gov account probably more times per day than I'd like to admit! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and insights here - it's such a relief to know we're all navigating this new streamlined system together and that the missing upload section is completely normal. Here's hoping the promised 1-3 week processing timeline holds true for all of us recent submitters!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences! I'm a US citizen living in France with my French husband, and our daughter is a junior in high school, so we're right in the thick of college planning. Reading through everyone's stories has been both sobering and encouraging. What strikes me most is how everyone emphasizes that the initial FAFSA calculation isn't the end of the story - there's real hope through professional judgment appeals. I'm definitely going to start gathering documentation now: our separate tax returns, bank statements, a letter from my husband about not contributing to education costs, and cost of living comparisons between France and potential US college locations. The tip about calling schools proactively to gauge their experience with international families is genius. I'd rather invest time upfront to identify schools that are more likely to be understanding than waste energy on institutions that aren't equipped to handle our situation. One question for those who've been through this - did any of you find it helpful to work with educational consultants who specialize in international family situations, or were you able to navigate the professional judgment process entirely on your own? I'm wondering if it's worth investing in professional help given how complex this all seems, or if the financial aid offices are generally equipped to walk families through the appeals process once you have your documentation in order. Thanks again for creating such a comprehensive resource - this community support is exactly what international families need!

As someone who just went through this exact process as a US citizen living in South Korea with my Korean husband, I can't emphasize enough how helpful this thread would have been a year ago! Everything everyone has said is spot-on - yes, you must report your spouse's income regardless of citizenship, but don't panic because professional judgment can make a huge difference. A few additional tips from my recent experience: 1) Keep detailed records of ALL your interactions with financial aid offices - dates, names, what was discussed. Some schools took months to respond and I had to follow up multiple times. 2) When explaining cost of living differences, I found it helpful to use specific examples (like rent costs, grocery prices, etc.) rather than just general statistics. 3) Consider the timing of when you submit appeals - I had better luck reaching financial aid officers in late spring/early summer when they weren't swamped with initial applications. Also, don't be discouraged if some schools say no initially. I appealed to 6 schools and got meaningful adjustments from 4 of them. The two that didn't adjust were actually schools I thought would be more understanding, so you really never know until you try. The whole process was stressful but absolutely worth it - we saved thousands per year in out-of-pocket costs. One last thing - if your daughter is considering schools with large international populations or study abroad programs, definitely prioritize those. They tend to have more experience with complex family financial situations and seemed much more willing to work with us.

I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in because I'm in almost the exact same situation as you, Lucas! Working part-time retail and trying to figure out how to make college affordable without massive debt. After reading through all these amazing responses, I'm feeling so much more hopeful. The real numbers people shared really put the FAFSA impact in perspective - like even losing $800-1200 in Pell Grant but gaining $4000-6000 in employer coverage is clearly a huge win. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned much - has anyone dealt with employers that offer tuition benefits but have restrictions on class scheduling? Like, do they require you to take evening or weekend classes, or are most of these programs flexible about when you take your courses as long as you meet the work hour requirements? Also, for those working in retail currently - have you found that having tuition assistance as a goal helped motivate you during the job search, or did it make the process more stressful? I'm wondering if I should cast a wide net and apply everywhere with benefits, or focus on just a few companies where I think I'd be a really strong candidate. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this thread has been absolutely invaluable for someone just starting to navigate this process!

Hey Samantha! I'm so glad you're feeling more hopeful after reading through everyone's experiences - I know I certainly am! This thread has completely changed my perspective on what's possible. Regarding class scheduling flexibility, from what I've gathered reading everyone's responses, most of the employer tuition programs people mentioned seem to be pretty flexible about when you take classes as long as you meet the minimum work hour requirements. Several people specifically mentioned that companies like Starbucks, Target, and even healthcare systems and financial institutions tend to be understanding about student scheduling needs. Emma mentioned having a proactive conversation with her manager about her academic schedule and potential conflicts, which seemed to work really well. I think the key is being upfront about your school commitments rather than trying to hide them. For the job search approach, I'm planning to cast a wider net initially but then focus my energy on the opportunities that seem like the best fit. Based on what everyone has shared here, I'm going to prioritize: 1. Local healthcare systems and financial institutions (better pay + direct payment + fewer restrictions) 2. Community college employer partnerships (often less competitive than big corporate programs) 3. My current employer (easy transition if they have any benefits) 4. The major retail/corporate programs as stretch goals The math is just so compelling - even with FAFSA impact, we're looking at potentially graduating debt-free or with minimal loans. That's life-changing compared to the alternative of $30k+ in student debt. Good luck with your search! This community has been incredible for helping us figure out a real path forward.

I'm also new to this community and just encountered this exact same issue! Submitted my FAFSA last week and have been unable to add 4 additional schools for my son's applications due to that frustrating "College selection unavailable" error. I was getting really worried that I had somehow corrupted my submission. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's such a relief to learn this is a widespread system maintenance issue rather than user error! Based on everyone's success stories, I'm planning to try the Claimyr callback service tomorrow morning since multiple people have reported getting through to FSA agents in 20-30 minutes versus the hours I've spent on hold with no results. I'll also be checking each school's website tonight for those direct FAFSA request forms that Giovanni and others mentioned - what a brilliant workaround I never would have considered! It's really disappointing that Federal Student Aid didn't provide clear advance notice about this maintenance period when so many families are dealing with critical deadlines, but this community has provided more practical solutions than any official source. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made such a difference for newcomers like me who were feeling overwhelmed by this system outage!

I'm also new to this community and just hit this exact same frustrating wall! Submitted my FAFSA for my daughter last Tuesday and have been trying to add 5 additional schools ever since, but keep getting that "College selection unavailable" error. I was honestly starting to think I had somehow broken the system or missed a critical step. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I can't believe how much more practical information I've found here than on any official FSA communication! Learning that this is a system-wide maintenance issue affecting everyone (not something I did wrong) is an enormous relief. The fact that Federal Student Aid didn't send clear notifications about this outage when families are dealing with such time-sensitive deadlines is really disappointing. Based on all the detailed success stories shared here, I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr callback service first thing tomorrow morning - hearing that so many people got through to FSA agents in 20-30 minutes instead of the hours I've wasted on endless hold is incredibly encouraging. I'm also going to spend tonight systematically checking each of my daughter's target schools' websites for those direct FAFSA request forms that Giovanni discovered and others have confirmed actually work. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences and working solutions. This community has provided more helpful guidance and reassurance than any official source, and it's comforting to know that schools are being flexible with deadlines given this widespread system problem!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Just to make sure I'm totally clear: 1. Income = 2023 tax year (for 2025-2026 FAFSA) 2. Assets = Current values as of today 3. Rental property = Current market value minus remaining mortgage 4. Retirement accounts = NOT included 5. Primary home = NOT included I think I've got it now. Going to work on getting my asset documentation together so I can submit an accurate application.

One more tip that might help - if you're unsure about the exact current value of assets like your rental property, it's better to use a reasonable estimate based on recent comparable sales or property tax assessments rather than delay your application. You can always provide documentation during verification if needed. The key is being consistent and honest about your reporting method. Also, don't forget that if you have any business or farm assets, there are special rules for those too depending on the size of the business. Good luck with your application!