FAFSA processing for ineligible non-citizens

Hey everyone,

I’m a high school senior in Illinois. I submitted my FAFSA in late October. A few days later it got flagged with an error telling me I need to correct the citizenship question - it’s asking me to pick between “United States citizen” or “eligible non-citizen.”

I am an ineligible non-citizen (I don’t qualify for federal aid). I already put the correct status, because I know I’m not eligible for federal aid. I just want the form processed so the colleges can access my financial info to determine institutional aid.

I see indications that the form was sent to schools, but the error still exists.

Furthermore, today one of the colleges I got admitted to emailed me: “We received your electronic copy of FAFSA, but until you make the correction we won’t be able to determine institutional aid.”

I completed my state’s alternative application for students ineligible for federal aid, but none of the school portals have a place to upload/submit it.

So what should I actually do now?

Do I call each school and tell them that there is no error in my FAFSA form?

Or

Is there a way to make a correction in FAFSA?

Has anyone dealt with this exact flag before? What got the schools to start processing institutional aid when the FAFSA is marked like this? Any script or phrasing that worked when you called financial aid offices or FAFSA support would be super helpful.

I’m stressed and just want the schools to be able to see my info.