Verification Process

If you have been selected for verification, we will notify you through CalCentral that there are items you need to review. Verification and other requirements are completed through the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website. Newly admitted students, you will be able to access this website and proceed with the verification process after you accept your offer of admission and create a CalNet ID.

• Note: if you have not registered with the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website, you will need to do that first. This is a one time process that matches up your personal information with the aid application we have on file for you. Review the instructions on how to get started in the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website.
• New Students: you will need a CalNet ID to access the verification forms, which is created when you commit to Berkeley and become a Golden Bear! Students that apply for aid using the California Dream Act Application will need to have their AB540 eligibility confirmed by the Residency Office. Be sure to complete your Statement of Legal Residence as soon as possible.
• When you have successfully logged into the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website, you will be taken to a Needs Action task list—select anywhere on the task to expand and get additional information about what is needed.
• Some tasks you will be able to satisfy completely online, while others will require you to download, complete, and upload back to the task.
• To e-sign an online form, you will need to create a pin that you will use to sign all your online forms on the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website. You can also opt out of e-signing your documents—it is up to you!
• Dependent students may have forms that require a parent signature. After you (the student) have e-signed a document, you will have the option to request a parent signature.
• You will need to:
  • Select the parent you would like to sign the document
  • Enter the the parent's email address
  • Confirm their email
  • Select the Send Request button
  • Share detailed registration and e-sign instructions with the parent.
  • Your parent should not use your PIN to provide their signature, instead the password they create functions as their signature.
• Upload any documents needed to complete your tasks.
• Once all documents are completed and all additional information uploaded, you can submit your verification for review.

If you were selected for verification by the Department of Education, we need to confirm information you provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

In-person

You can verify your identity by appearing in person and presenting your valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification (ID) to an institutionally authorized individual at your school.

• In person identity verification can be done by visiting Cal Student Central at 120 Sproul Hall. Be sure to check their website for the most up-to-date information on hours and services. 
• A valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID includes: a U.S. passport, a driver's license, or other state-issued ID.  
• Note: Identification such as state university or college IDs and military IDs (due to prohibition from being copied) are not sufficient for identity verification.

Notary 

If you are unable to appear in-person to verify your identity, you can appear in person in front of a notary and provide to the institution:

• Identity Verification Notary Certification - must be completed in person with a notary; and 
• A copy of the valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification (ID) that is acknowledged in the notary certification below, or that is presented in person to a notary, such as, but not limited to, a driver's license, other state-issued ID, or passport. 
• Note: Identification such as state university or college IDs and military IDs (due to prohibition from being copied) are not sufficient for identity verification.

Zoom Appointments 

If you are unable to appear in person at UC Berkeley or complete the process with a notary, beginning Wednesday, June 17th, the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office is offering 10 minute video appointments to assist students in completing the identity verification process.

• Appointments can be scheduled for Wednesdays from 1pm -3pm and Fridays from 10am-12pm. 
• You will be required to show a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID such as: a U.S. passport, a driver's license, or other state-issued ID.
• Note: Identification such as state university or college IDs and military IDs (due to prohibition from being copied) are not sufficient for identity verification.

It may.  If the information provided on the verification documents and/or tax returns (source documents) differs from what was reported on the aid application, we will update your aid application to match the source documents. As such, it may change the financial aid you were originally offered.

You will be notified during the aid application filing process if you have been selected for federal verification on your FAFSA Submission Summary. We will also notify you by placing tasks and instructions in your CalCentral account.

To see if you have been selected for verification, go to the My Finances section of CalCentral. Click on the "Details" link in the Financial Aid and Scholarships section of the page. Review your Messages and Tasks for information about your verification status. If selected, you will be provided a link to the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms website where you can see what is being requested from you.

There are several factors that impact how quickly your verification documents can be reviewed, including the time of year in which documents are received. During heavy processing periods, it can take 6-8 weeks for your documents to be reviewed. We encourage you to submit any requests for additional documentation as soon as you receive them to avoid additional delays.

For students who qualify for non-resident tuition exemption under California's AB540, the process is similar, but instead of submitting a FAFSA, you will submit the California Dream Act Application. The California Student Aid Commission also requires us to verify that the information used to complete the application is accurate by collecting supporting documentation from a percentage of students.