When should I advise referees to submit letters of reference for my fellowship application?

Referees do not need to wait until the application is submitted to submit letters of reference. These letters may be submitted as early as the opening date of the funding opportunity announcement and as late as five business days after the application deadline. See section 5.4, page I-97 of the fellowship application guide for more information.

Remember to always check for specific instructions in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)