FAFSA Verification

Go to your Ursa account and click on the Financial tab.

NOTE: If you’ve forgotten your username or password, you can retrieve them here. 

Select View Unsatisfied Requirements for the correct academic year to open your Financial Aid Home page.

Click the blue FAFSA Verification link to access UNC’s secure student forms portal. Sign in using your UNC student login.

The first time you log in, you’ll be asked to Confirm Student Information by entering your name, date of birth, and Social Security number exactly as they appear on your FAFSA. You’ll only need to do this once. 

After confirming your information, you’ll find the required verification task in the Needs Action section. Click the white arrow to expand each task and view details. Select either “Fill Out Form” or “Upload” to get started.

TIP: A green check mark means the task is complete.

When prompted, choose to opt in for text message updates about your financial aid. This is the easiest way to receive real-time updates and reminders about your verification status.

If the Household Information section appears on your verification form, you’ll need to list everyone who lives in your parent household and receives more than half of their financial support from your parent(s)—just like you reported on your FAFSA.

• Your parent(s)
• You (the student)
• Your siblings or other family members  your parent(s) financially support

If you’re an independent student, include your spouse (if applicable) and anyone you provide more than half of their financial support.

Click Add to enter each person’s information.

If this section doesn’t appear, no problem—it just means your FAFSA already includes all the required household details.

To add a household member, click “Add” and enter each person’s information.

If this section doesn’t appear, that’s okay—it just means your FAFSA responses already meet the requirements and no additional household information is needed.

If you’re asked to verify tax information, you’ll need to confirm how you and your parent(s), if you’re a dependent student, filed taxes for the year listed on your FAFSA.

You’ll see a list of options. Choose the one that best describes your situation. You may need to scroll or use the arrow keys to see all the choices.

Depending on what you select, you might be asked to:

• Upload tax document, such as an IRS Tax Return Transcript or a signed copy of your federal tax return (Form 1040) with Schedules 1, 2, and 3 (if applicable), or
• Other proof of income, such as a W-2 or Wage and Income transcript.

If you or your parent(s) didn’t file taxes, select “Did not and will not file” and upload any supporting documents as prompted.

If you’re an independent student, follow the same steps for your own (and your spouse’s, if applicable) tax information.

Once everything is complete and uploaded, continue to the next step to review and sign your form.

If your FAFSA was selected for Identity Verification, it just means we need to confirm your identity before finalizing your financial aid. This is a standard federal step designed to protect students and prevent fraud—it’s not a sign that anything is wrong with your application.

Depending on your situation, you can verify your identity in person or with a notary.

Option 1: Verify in Person

Visit the Office of Financial Aid in Bear Central and bring:

• A valid, government-issued photo ID (like a driver’s license, state ID, or passport.

A staff member will review your ID, make a copy, and confirm your identity on the spot.

Option 2: Verify with a Notary (if you can’t come to campus)

If you’re unable to appear in person, you can complete this process with a notary public instead.

You’ll need to:

1. Download and print the Identity Verification Notary Certification form from your verification portal.
2. Take the form and your valid, government-issued photo ID to a notary, who will verify your identity and witness your signature.
3. Upload the completed Identity Verification form and a copy of the photo ID presented to the notary.

Tips for a Smooth Process

• Your ID must be valid and unexpired.
• Sign your form in blue or black ink.
• Upload both documents together to prevent delays.
• Watch your BearMail for confirmation that your verification is complete.

After completing all sections of the form, you’ll review and sign it electronically.

How to Review & E-Sign

1. Review your information carefully. You can click section links on the left to return and make changes.
2. Read and accept the Terms and Conditions for electronic signatures.
3. Enter your PIN to e-sign your form. (If this is your first time e-signing, you’ll create one.)
4. Click E-Sign to submit your signature.

If you’ve previously opted out of the electronic signature, you’ll be prompted to complete a short Consent to Use Electronic Signatures form before signing.

After You Sign

• You’ll see a confirmation message once your form is successfully signed.
• If any additional documents are required, you’ll see a list of what to upload next.
• Dependent Students: One parent must also e-sign. You’ll be guided through the steps to request your parents’ signature after you sign
  • More information can be found here: Parent E-Signature.

Opting Out of E-Sign

If you prefer to sign your form by hand, you can choose to opt out of e-signing at any time.

1. On the Certification and Signatures screen, turn on the Opt Out of E-Sign switch.
2. When the confirmation box appears, click confirm.
3. Click Download to save your form, then print and sign it by hand (use blue or black ink)
4. Go back to your verification task and upload a clear photo or a scanned copy of the signed form.

Tip: You can always opt out, but e-signing is faster and helps your financial aid process move more quickly.

Once you’ve completed all required forms in your Verification portal, you’ll need to upload any supporting documents listed on your task screen.

How to Upload

1. Click the Upload button next to the document name.
2. Select the file from your computer or phone.
3. Review the Document Preview to make sure it’s clear and complete.
4. Click Use to confirm your upload.
5. If your document has more than one page, click + Add Page to include them before submitting.

Tips:

• Accepted file types: PDF and JPG
• Make sure all pages are included and easy to read
• Upload all pages of multi-page forms at once
• If you need to replace a file, delete the old one and upload the new version

After all required items are completed and signed, the Submit button will turn blue. Click Submit to finalize your verification.

You’ll receive a confirmation message when your verification has been successfully submitted.

Be sure to check your BearMail regularly for updates from the Office of Financial Aid.

1. Got to the IRS Get Transcript website and chose Get Transcript Online to view, print or download your transcript immediately. Be sure to request the Tax Return Transcript.
2. If you prefer it mailed, select Get Transcript by Mail. Make sure the mailing address you enter exactly matches the address the IRS has on file (even small differences like “Street” vs “St.” can cause errors).
3. Once you’ve submitted your request, your transcript will arrive by mail at the address on file, typically within 5 – 10 business days if you chose the mail delivery option.

Look for an email from UNC Office of Financial Aid with a subject line Requesting Your E-Signature. This email contains a secure link to set up your parent account.

Click the link and follow the on-screen prompts to:

• Create your Parent Account Username and Password
• Confirm your personal information – information must be exactly as it appears on the student’s FAFSA

Make sure to use a different email address from your students – each account must be unique.

After reviewing your information, click Create Account to finish setup. You’ll then be directed to your student’s verification form.

Once logged in, you can review the document and electronically sign it. Use the password you created during the setup to e-sign.