Explore the Manual

Payday loans and other short-term loans don’t disappear when you leave the U.S., but you can manage them by stopping automatic payments, negotiating what you owe, and protecting your accounts.

Use this checklist to manage payday loan debt safely, cancel automatic payments, avoid scams, and protect yourself if you have to leave quickly.

Understand how payday loans and short-term debts follow you, and what lenders or collectors may do to recover unpaid debt.

Learn which debts to pay first and how to protect essentials like housing, food, utilities, and your family’s needs.

Find out how to contact lenders, arrange new payment terms in writing, and keep records of all your communications.

Know how to stop lenders from taking money directly from your account and what to do if a lender tries to garnish your wages.

Learn about time limits, state rules, and when a loan might be uncollectible — plus special protections for military servicemembers.

This chapter explains how to handle your insurance policies if you are detained or deported — what your options are, what to consider, and how to plan ahead.

Deciding how to manage your insurance policies is an important and complex process. Rules and procedures specific to your insurance carriers will provide the steps required to properly cancel, continue, or transfer a policy.

Figure out which insurance policies you have — like insurance for healthcare, car, renters, homeowners, or life — and why it’s important to know the details.