Skip to Navigation

Verification

This document only pertains to the 2012-2013 FAFSA and school year. If you need verification instructions for the 2011-2012 FAFSA and school year, see the 2011-2012 Verification page.

Every year, federal regulation requires all post-secondary institutions awarding federal financial aid to complete verification on a select number of their FAFSA applicants. The students are selected by either the US Department of Education or the institution. Students chosen for verification must provide required supporting documentation as well as complete an Institutional Verification Form (IVF). These documents will be compared to what was submitted in the student's FAFSA, and any necessary corrections will be made to the FAFSA by the institution.

2012-2013 Forms

Only students notified of the request for verification documents, through AccessPlus, email, or postal mail, are required to submit the following verification documents. Students should not submit the following documents if they were not notified by Iowa State University of their selection for verification.

Procedure

PLEASE NOTE:

  • All tax documents submitted should be from 2011 for the 12-13 FAFSA

  • Tax Filers

    Accepted tax documents include copies of:

  • Non-Tax Filers

    • If the student (or student’s spouse) was not required to file taxes under federal regulations, provide;
      • all W-2 forms, and/or
      • earning/income statements (taxed and untaxed, including disability statements, Social Security benefits statements, etc.) and/or
      • a completed Student IVF
      • Signed Foreign Tax Return (Translated to English)
    • If the parent was not required to file taxes under federal regulations, provide;
      • all W-2 forms, and/or
      • earning/income statements (taxed and untaxed, including disability statements, Social Security benefits statements, etc.) and/or
      • Tax Account Transcript from the IRS indicating no return is on file for 2011 (required if W-2’s, and/or earning statements are not available)
      • Signed Foreign Tax Return (Translated to English)

Checklist

  • All information is legible, signed, and fully completed
  • Federal tax documents and/or income statements are from 2011 for the 12-13 FAFSA
  • Both pages of the student and/or parent IVF are fully completed
  • All items in Section E of the IVF have a value entered or indicate N/A (not applicable)

If the forms contain incomplete, missing or non-legible information, there will be a delay of 3-4 weeks in processing the student's financial aid.

Submission of Verification

When completed, the verification documents should be sent to ISU Office of Student Financial Aid in one of the following ways:

  • Mail to:
    Office of Student Financial Aid
    0210 Beardshear Hall
    Ames, IA 50011-2028
  • Fax to:
    (515) 294-3622
  • Deliver to:
    Room 0210 Beardshear Hall

Follow-Up

Check the FAFSA Status page on AccessPlus to confirm receipt of any documentation submitted.

  • Students and those with third party access can view current document and verification status on AccessPlus under;
    • Student tab, Financial Aid, FAFSA Status.

During peak season; March 1 - June 15, it may take up to 2+ weeks upon receipt of a document(s) for status to change on AccessPlus.

Courtesy Reminders will be sent to the student on a monthly basis beginning in April if any documents are needed or unable to be processed

  • Check your ISU student email, the email address listed on your FAFSA, or a letter will be sent to your mailing address as provided to ISU or on the FAFSA

Child Support Paid

If it was indicated on the FAFSA that either the student, and/or the student’s parent paid child support, AND you received an email from the Office of Student Financial Aid requesting confirmation of child support paid, complete the Child Support Paid Verification Form and submit to our office.

Independent due to Support of Child

If it was indicated on the FAFSA (question 50) that the sole reason for claiming independent status is providing majority support for a child, AND you reeived an email from the Office of Student Financial Aid requesting confirmation of majority support provided, complete the FAFSA Independent due to Child Only Form and submit to our office.