As resumption of educational debt repayment looms, more than 7 in 10 borrowers say they are taking on extra work, while half say they don't know whether they'll be able to make payments come October.
The way student loans are structured you can't not pay them. Don't pay your loans and default, we'll get your wages garnished. You get a tax refund normally, well they'll take that. Oh you are on government assistance well they'll cut the amount you get. Want to declare bankruptcy sorry still gotta pay the loan.
It will only be worse for incoming freshmen since the rates will now be between 5.50-8.05% last I saw.
No matter what people who lent money for student loans will get paid unless the whole system changes and judging by those in charge there is a snowflakes chance in hell that happens unfortunately.
You can get on income-based repayment. You have no American income, so you pay nothing. Eventually the debt is cancelled, as long as you don't move back.
With the labor shortage right now it would be expensive for loan collectors to hire enough workers to track down and force payments if people stop paying on a large scale.
Can't get blood from a stone. Mass Garnishment will just result in crime and tax evasion. If defaults happens on a large enough scale it'll be impossible and political/economic suicide.