RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - This week’s government shutdown comes right as the process begins for students and parents to file for federal student aid for college.

For the first time in three years, FAFSA forms are opening up on time.

The FAFSA rollout follows two years of headaches and delays with a new process. This year, though, financial aid advisors are hopeful all the kinks are worked out.

“Since the form was simplified back in 2024-2025 by significantly reducing the number of questions and pulling most of the complex financial data from the IRS, it is now much easier to complete,” Laurie Owens, the director of Financial Aid for the Virginia Community College System, said.

One change to FAFSA is a much shorter form.

“It’s significantly less questions,” Sandra Redley-Butler, the dir

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