Overview
What is Verification? The federal government requires schools to collect documentation to check the accuracy of the FAFSA information. If selected, the verification process must be completed before financial aid can be awarded.
You may be selected for verification because:
- Your FAFSA was randomly selected by The Department of Education
- The FAFSA you submitted was incomplete
- The FAFSA submitted contains estimated information
- The data you provided on the FAFSA is inconsistent
Federal law requires completion of verification. If selected, the verification process must be completed in order for a student to receive federal, state and institutional aid, including student student loans.
How will I know if have been selected for verification?
If your FAFSA is selected for verification you will be notified through your eSantaFe portal.
If your FAFSA is selected for verification after you have been awarded, you have 45 days to complete verification. If the process is not complete within the 45 day window, your aid may be cancelled which may result in a balance owed to Santa Fe College.
The verification process can be lengthy. Review the Financial Aid Dates and Deadlines page and plan to complete your FAFSA and the verification process early.
What do I have to submit to complete verification?
To see the documents you need to submit:
- Login to eSantaFe.
- On the left-hand side select the "Finances" menu.
- Select "My FA Status".
- In the My FA Status page, click on Documents.
- View the list of required verification documents.
Additional documentation may be requested by the Financial Aid Office to complete federal verification. It is the student's responsibility to check requirements and submit all documentation to the Financial Aid Office in a timely manner. Do not wait to submit your documents as it can delay your financial aid awards.
How do I submit my verification documents?
Documents for the verification process are submitted through the ProVerifier Portal. See instructions in the video below.
Other requested documents are submitted on your My FA Status page in eSantaFe. Instructions for submitting these documents can be found on the Financial Aid documents page.
What happens after I submit my verification documents?
Once you submit your documents, it is important to check your verification status on your My FA Status page in the eSantaFe portal. If a document you submitted is incomplete or incorrect, you will receive an email to your Santa Fe College email account, explaining the action that needs to be taken.
It is possible that the financial aid office may ask you to submit additional documentation. It is important to continue to monitor your My FA Status page until the financial aid process is complete.
It is also important to submit your documents as early as possible. The entire verification process can take up to 2 weeks to complete. This process may take longer during peak processing times. Review the Financial Aid Dates and Deadlines page and plan to complete your FAFSA and the verification early.
Important Tips for Verification
Begin the process early
Submit your documents as soon as possible. The verification process can be lengthy for some students. Completing verification is required before aid can be awarded.
Avoid providing conflicting information
Reporting conflicting information on your FAFSA may increase your chances of being selected for verification. Make sure you provide complete and correct information on your FAFSA.
- Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool within the FAFSA to transfer your and your parent’s tax info directly into the FAFSA .
- Double-check your or your parent's (if dependent) social security numbers
- If you, your spouse (if married), or parents (if dependent) worked in the year being requested, make sure you list all income, earnings, and wages.
- Include any untaxed income and additional financial information. This is especially important when you list zero income.
- Make sure your parent signs the FAFSA (if dependent).
- Once you submit your FAFSA minimize making changes, as this could cause your application to be selected for verification.
Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
If you qualify to transfer your tax information directly into the FAFSA you may not need to provide tax documents to the college.