Jamaica and the United States collaborates to track down delinquent student loan borrowers

Jamaicans who have accumulated unpaid student loans and choose to migrate to the United States (US) will encounter considerable challenges when seeking to update or renew their immigration status.

Cheryl Surjue, the Manager of the Loan Servicing Department at the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB), informed JIS News that a partnership has been established between the Government of Jamaica and their US counterparts to identify Jamaican immigrants who are in arrears on their student loan payments.

Manager of the Loan Servicing Department at the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB), Cheryl Surjue- Photo- Dave Reid

Ms. Surjue referenced instances involving various categories of professionals who have emigrated to the US and other countries while leaving unpaid student loans, noting that, “upon their departure, we are often unable to fully track their whereabouts, and these loans subsequently tend to go into default.”

She elaborated, stating, “Individuals who may have migrated on the J1 visa and wish to renew their status in the US will be required to have their indebtedness to the Government confirmed by our office prior to any adjustment in their immigration standing.”

This process is aimed at verifying any outstanding loan balances before an individual’s immigration status is altered.

Ms. Surjue emphasized that resolving the loan situation necessitates not only bringing the account up to date but also fully settling the debt.

“It is at this juncture that many beneficiaries initiate repayment of their loans, as they often fail to communicate with us regarding their migration,” she explained.

The Manager of Loan Servicing at SLB noted that the arrangement with the US Government has significantly aided the agency in the collection of overdue loans.

However, she cautioned that individuals should proactively inform the Bureau prior to their migration and make arrangements to service their debts.

“Before reaching that critical point, we encourage individuals to act as responsible borrowers. This is precisely why we have launched our Financial Literacy Programme, aimed at providing guidance on how beneficiaries can effectively manage their loan repayments and avoid situations that lead to default or necessitate the involvement of debt collectors in tracking them down,” Ms. Surjue asserted.

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