My situation:
- I have student loans totaling $65,000 (principal amount), 8 of which are Stafford (Guaranteed Student Loans) and 2 of which are Perkins loans.
- I live in Europe and am a citizen of a European Union country.
- Unproudly, I have been defaulting on these loans since the year 2000, as I had no means to repay them.
- Prior to moving to Europe, I had been paying back my loans regularly.
- The debt collectors keep "hassling" me at work (they found my phone number in a work-related article on the Internet).
- Now the total debt is $115,000 including interest and penalties.
- I am a single mom, work part time, and don't receive financial support from the father.
- I don't plan to ever move back the US.
- I cannot pay back these loans now, and don't anticipate being able to do so in the future.
My questions:
- What are my options for getting this debt fully discharged?
- Can the government or the debt collectors claim the debt or garnish my wages, etc. as long as I live overseas?
- If I file for bankruptcy in Europe, will that relieve me of my student loan debt in the US?
- Do I need a "undue hardship" ruling to get a bankruptcy discharge of my student loans even when I live and file for bankruptcy in Europe?
- Can a "undue hardship" petition be filed by my lawyer in Europe or do I need to get a lawyer in the US?
- What is the statute of limitations for student loans (made in Pennsylvania and California)?
- Will I have trouble travelling into the US as a tourist as long as I am defaulting my debt?
- How can I get the debt collectors off my back now that they have my office phone number?
That's it for now. I hope someone in this forum can help advice me what my best options are. Many thanks in advance.
mariasand

