What is Verification?

Verification is a process to confirm the information you provided on FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or California Dream Act Application. This may be random or because application data was incomplete, estimated or inconsistent. The U.S. Department of Education or California Student Aid Commission selects some students for the verification process. Also, the financial aid office may need to verify data if there is conflicting information.

As part of the verification process, you will be asked to complete a verification worksheet and may have to submit an IRS tax transcript, W-2s and 1099s. If you are a dependent student, you may be required to provide your parent(s) IRS tax transcript, W-2s and 1099s.

How do I know if I am selected for Verification?

To view your aid status, as well as the forms required to complete verification at Ventura College, login to your my.vcccd.edu portal

  1. Select the Financial Aid and then click on Financial Aid Requirements
  2. The verification documents will be listed on the Financial Aid Requirements channel.

We may also send you emails telling you to complete verification. Please open and read all correspondence from us, then respond within 14 days.

What information do I need to submit?

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the verification group you were selected for. The specific document requirements are posted for you on the my.vcccd.edu portal when you login to the "financial aid" section.

Please NOTE: The financial aid office may accept signed copies of federal tax returns (1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) as required by federal regulations only with proof you were unable or delayed  to receive them from the IRS after attempting- see the Financial Aid Office to discuss your specific situation.

  • You may use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer tax information to your FAFSA, OR
  • Request an IRS tax return transcript (students completing a CA Dream Act Application and selected for verification will not be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool).
  • If you were not able to use the IRS retrieval Tool or changed the data that was transferred, we will need an IRS tax return transcript. We can no longer accept a copy of your tax return unless you filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return.

NOTE: If you are applying for aid at other colleges, please make a copy of your IRS tax return transcript for your records before you submit it to the financial aid office. We will not keep paper copies.

Is there a deadline to submit my paperwork?

Yes and no. All students selected for verification should submit their documents as early as possible to prevent delays and maximize their award package.

For the 2022-2023 academic year, priority deadline to complete your file for Fall 2022 is June 30, 2022.  Files completed after June 30, 2022,  will be processed on a first-come, first served basis. Otherwise, students may continue submitting paperwork throughout the year with the understanding that no financial aid will be disbursed until all requirements are complete and thorough file review is completed by Financial Aid Office Staff.

How can I avoid processing delays?

We strongly recommend that you submit all documents within 14 days of receipt of the verification notice.

Submit all documents at the same time.

What happens after Verification is complete?

If the information reported on your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application is confirmed, the financial aid office can determine your eligibility for financial aid. We will notify you to check your financial aid eligibility on your MyVCCCD portal.

If we find conflicts between the data reported on your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application and the information that you submitted to the financial aid office, you may be required to submit additional documentation. You can monitor the status of additional information on your MyVCCCD portal. The financial aid office may also be making corrections to your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application.  A "Pending Corrections" document will be posted and cleared once we receive an accurate application. We will notify you to check your financial aid eligibility on your MyVCCCD portal.

What else should I know?

If you are eligible for student aid we will send an award notice to the e-mail address on your portal.   All document requests must be completed before any financial aid can be disbursed to your account.

Failure to submit all requested documentation will result in the forfeiture of your financial aid eligibility.