Signatures Required

Federal Student Aid is required to collect signatures from you and your parents (if applicable) when you file a FAFSA.

There are three ways to sign:

• Electronically with a PIN
• By printing, signing and mailing a signature page after you submit a FAFSA
  
• By signing your Student Aid Report (SAR) and returning it in the mail

TIP: The application process is faster if you use your PIN to sign your application electronically.

How the electronic signature process works is slightly different, depending on whether you are filing a FAFSA for 2007-2008 or for 2008-2009.

2008-2009 Electronic Signature Process
If you already have a PIN you can use it to sign your FAFSA from one year to the next.

If you have not previously received a PIN, you have several options to apply for a PIN and have it delivered to you.

1. Access Federal Student Aid's PIN Web site at www.pin.ed.gov and select Apply For A PIN. You may select one of the following PIN delivery methods:
   1. Instantly select or view your PIN online.
   2. Receive an e-mail with the PIN immediately.
   3. Request the PIN be mailed to you (approximately 7-10 days for delivery).
2. Apply for a PIN while filling out the FAFSA. You may select one of the following PIN delivery methods:
   1. Instantly select or view your PIN online. You may use it right away to sign your FAFSA.
   2. Receive an e-mail with the PIN immediately. You may use it right away to sign your FAFSA.
   3. Request the PIN be mailed to you (approximately 7-10 days for delivery).

Important Note: A PIN that is selected or viewed instantly online or is sent to you in an e-mail is considered to be conditional until your information is verified with the Social Security Administration (1-3 days from the date you first apply). You may sign your FAFSA with it but nothing else. Once we complete this verification, you will be able to use your PIN for other purposes (such as correcting your SAR or accessing other Federal Student Aid Web sites). At the time your PIN becomes permanent, we will apply your electronic signature to your FAFSA and process it.

2007-2008 Electronic Signature Process
If you already have a PIN you can use it to sign your FAFSA from one year to the next.

If you have not previously received a PIN, you have several options to apply for a PIN and have it delivered to you.

1. Access Federal Student Aid's PIN Web site at www.pin.ed.gov and select Apply For A PIN. You may select one of the following PIN delivery methods:
   1. Instantly select or view your PIN online.
   2. Receive an e-mail with the PIN immediately.
   3. Request the PIN be mailed to you (approximately 7-10 days for delivery).
2. Apply for a PIN while filling out the FAFSA. You may select one of the following PIN delivery methods:
   1. Receive an e-mail with the PIN.
   2. If no e-mail is provided, we will mail you a PIN once we have verified your information with the Social Security Administrartion (approximately 7-10 days for delivery).

Important Note: For 2007-2008 only, if you apply for a PIN and select or view the PIN instantly online or have it sent to you in an e-mail, you must wait 1-3 days before using the PIN. This is because we must first verify your information with the Social Security Administration. Once we complete this verification, you will be able to use your PIN for all purposes, such as signing your FAFSA or accessing other Federal Student Aid Web sites.

Keep in mind that you only have to apply for a PIN one-time. You and your parents (if you are a dependent student) can use the same PIN each year, speeding up the time it takes for your FAFSA to be processed. Your parents can even use the same PIN to sign FAFSAs for your siblings.

If you have submitted a FAFSA without a signature, you need to provide it to complete the submission process. Once you have your PIN you can sign your FAFSA electronically by selecting Sign Electronically With Your PIN under the Filling Out a FAFSA section of the home page.