How to pay credit card debt with no job and leaving the country
Strict work permit rules and a lack of employment leave international students unable to pay off credit card balances before leaving the country. This makes it difficult to protect their credit history from long-term damage for future returns.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Waiting for money from family or asking for an advance from parentsDid this help you?
- 2Selling possessions or items purchased with the credit cardsDid this help you?
- 3Letting the credit score drop by not paying before leaving the countryDid this help you?
- 4Applying for gig economy driving apps like Spark Driving and InstacartDid this help you?
- 5Relying on family for small assistance with bills or car insuranceDid this help you?
- 6Temporarily withholding household rent payments to familyDid this help you?
- 7Contact creditors for hardship programs or lump-sum settlementsDid this help you?
- 8Continue making minimum payments or utilize 0% APR balance transfersDid this help you?
- 9Use remaining cash savings to pay down or clear the debtDid this help you?
- 10Stop paying and let the debt eventually fall off the credit reportDid this help you?
- 11Requesting a yearly loan forbearanceDid this help you?
- 12Selling collectibles or other available assets to pay billsDid this help you?
- 13Asking local churches for financial assistanceDid this help you?
- 14Considering letting the asset get repossessed to cut monthly expensesDid this help you?
- 15Calling the credit card company to negotiate lower interest ratesDid this help you?
- 16Enrolling in debt relief programsDid this help you?
- 17Accepting account closure or freeze in exchange for lower APRDid this help you?
- 18Declaring bankruptcy or defaulting on debtDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Hi, I'm from Pennsylvania and due to a lot of mistakes I've made here and there I've gotten myself into a pretty bad pickle and really need advice on what I can do to get myself out of this situation.”source ↗
“I am just now sure what I am meant to do to solve these issues in the short term until I start the new job”source ↗
“I have balances that I am not able to pay because I don't have a job.”source ↗
“I cannot get a job in any field other than my own (STEM) due to the rules of my work permit”source ↗
“Are there any methods to get this debt waived or at least settled? I tried talking with Best Buy (citi bank) and Amex and they weren't able to help me.”source ↗
“i don't want to ruin my credit in case I do end up coming back in a few years”source ↗
“Due to visa issues, I had to relocate to another country. I’m actively looking for jobs but currently have no income whatsoever.”source ↗
“I recently called mine to do this after a job loss in our house. I have never missed a payment with them, so we were in good standing. They gave us a 0.9% rate over 72 months and truly saved our asses.”source ↗
“I ran into health problems years back and had to keep my family fed and the lights turned on, which unfortunately meant using my cards and not paying them off.”source ↗
“I genuinely cannot afford to pay the remaining $19,200 of credit-card debt in full.”source ↗
“Since then, I have unexpectedly become disabled, went on long-term medical leave, and can no longer handle that lifestyle.”source ↗
“I currently have no source of income or savings while waiting for my disability claim to go through”source ↗
“coming up with that $350 bill each month is becoming harder as my condition worsens.”source ↗
“I'm honestly so desperate that all I can think to do is let the thing get repo'ed, cut my losses, and learn from my mistakes.”source ↗
“Just found out that many credit cards companies have a Credit Card Hardship Program where they reduce your interest rate from the standard 25% to 0-9% if you can prove you lost your job.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3How do I get off my parents' credit card without ruining my credit?
- 10How to get a mortgage without a traditional salary or employment history
- 6Why does high income still leave me buried in debt payments?
- 17How to pay for large emergency expenses without using credit
- 8How to invest and make my own money without a job
- 2How to pay down student loans on a low income