So my FAFSA indicated that I was selected for verification. But completing it isn’t through FAFSA, but the financial aid offices of the colleges, correct? Does that mean I need to send the forms and such to all the colleges? Is there no way for me to complete verification once and it automatically verifies me for all the other schools? Or am I supposed to complete it just for the college I decide to attend? I can’t see my awards until I complete it so I wouldn’t think the latter.
I guess it’s still early since acceptances are barely coming out but I’d just like to get it done with. Thanks
I believe the colleges will tell you IF they want any verification materials…and if so…what they are requiring. You will send whatever is requested to the college (s) that make the requests.
You can’t do it once And have it count for all of your colleges. Has to be sent to each school.
the return has to process before you can run DRT (you can google ‘where’s my refund’ to see if/when it’ll be processed).
verification usually requires this DRT and/or return transcripts and a form for the schools. but the school’s will request them individually, not a once-and-done for all of them. they’ll ask you for them if they need them (my translation: if you are or will be admitted)
We had two of four schools request verification. It is the schools that choose you for verification so you only need to send the information requested to those schools which request it.
@lz57c4 We came to that conclusion too, but I just thought that since our taxes were filed at the same time and theirs was already processed, mine would have been too.
@lvvcsf I was confused since it was FAFSA that indicated that I was chosen for verification, meaning I’d have to verify for all schools (that accepted me).
How long ago did you file your taxes? It can take 2-3 weeks for them to be able to be linked to the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and that is if you filed electronically and paid any owed taxes when you filed.
Then you are coming up on three weeks now, right? Last year, my DD’s processed much more quickly than ours…and we Bost filed electronically with no payment needed…on the same day.
Just keep checking. There is a question you answer…“have you filed your taxes within the last three weeks?” If yes…you might not be able to link…so wait until you can answer NO.
You also need to change your status to “taxes completed” on the FAFSA…so do that too.
You will be required to complete verification before your awards will be considered actual. You should log into any online portals and watch for any emails - make sure to watch your school email account, if they have assigned you one.
Don’t send anything until it is requested. There are several verification groups now, and each group requires different info: https://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN1511.html . You should wait until it is requested, but make sure you are on top of all student portals and email accounts to be sure you don’t miss a request.