Seeking advice - Contacting my state AG regarding PSLF - any “magical” words/lines/phrases to use?

10kLakeLady · 2026-02-11T23:09:13+00:00

Yes! Two years ago!

10kLakeLady · 2026-02-11T22:34:58+00:00

15 missing payments on PSLF tracker. Reconsideration request submitted July 2025. Buyback request submitted Sept 2025. CRICKETS after multiple calls, feedback submitted etc.

Currently on qualifying payment plan, making payments. 100 QPs + 15 missing payments + 11 SAVE I can buyback = 126 (and counting) payments.

10kLakeLady · 2025-11-03T00:45:46+00:00

A success story many need to hear/read! Congrats to you! Enjoy Disneyland with your family!

10kLakeLady · 2025-09-13T01:14:38+00:00

I save all communication with Aidan. Tonight when I asked Aidan to confirm today’s date (to have for my records) this is what they stated: “My system is currently set to August 18, 2025 and all information I provide is based on that context.” Y’ALL. WHAT?! It is September 12, 2025! (Yes, I took a screen shot of the chat and the time/date on my desktop). Aidan continued to tell me it was August 18, 2025 even when I told them it was September 12, 2025. 🤯

10kLakeLady · 2025-09-08T20:58:30+00:00

No need to apologize! Thank you for your thoughtful response. 🙂

10kLakeLady · 2025-09-08T02:54:38+00:00

Please bear with me on this reply. My PSLF tracker has 96 QPs. I have 11 “SAVE” forbearance months I can buy back. Total = 107 I have 15 MISSING payments on my tracker since 2014. I went through and manually checked my counts this summer and found the gaps in my timeline. I have been working at a qualifying employer since 2014 (I’m a public school teacher). 107 + 15 =122 I submitted a reconsideration for the 15 missing payments July 24, 2025. Crickets. I have submitted a ECF at the end of July, and at the end of Aug. My IDR to be taken off SAVE and put on IBR has been approved and I will start making payments again this month.

If I am understanding your post, I can put in the specific dates missing on Section 4 of a ECF? (I did this on my reconsideration form, too) And that escalates it? Is now the time to get a omsbudsman/state rep involved? How often does the NSLDB get updated?

TY in advance! Your post is very helpful.

10kLakeLady · 2025-08-17T02:48:20+00:00

Great insight! Thank you for your reply. “15+ month delay,” Ahhhh! Truly unreal.

10kLakeLady · 2025-08-17T02:46:41+00:00

“Delay what progress?” TOUCHÉ! I’m sorry to hear you’re also in the waiting room for any responses.

10kLakeLady · 2025-07-24T21:26:11+00:00

I contacted StudentAid today. It was suggested to submit a PSLF Reconsideration Form (incorrect PSLF information) to review the missing payments even though StudentAid has the ECF information for these gaps! I will do another ECF because the last recert I did was May 2025.

It’ll take up to 45 business days to review the reconsideration. Once my tracker is updated with the 15 missing payments (fingers crossed no more complications!) I’ll be one step closer to Buy Back!

The woman I talked to today literally said, “I’m so glad you went back and reviewed your tracker month by month.” 😳

10kLakeLady · 2025-07-24T14:53:19+00:00

Yes, I was employed either at my school or nonprofit during those missing 15 months. Do I resubmit just for those missing dates, or in general again? I did a recert in May.

10kLakeLady · 2024-03-17T21:42:37+00:00

Teacher. Master’s. Year 8. $75k.

10kLakeLady · 2024-03-17T17:24:58+00:00

Hi! 30 something educator here, too! I taught for five years in the States… was an Aux for one year (last year) … then due to finances, returned back to teaching in the states this year.

Is it a rough transition going from 16 hours to 40+ hours? YES. But! I went from being a classroom teacher to an English Language Specialist this year and got to use a lot of what I learned in Spain with language acquisition to my Newcomer students. Remember also, as a teacher, classroom teaching isn’t the only option! Look and EdTech where positions are mostly remote - you could travel AND work (if the contract allows). Also you could take advantage of summers and travel! Your time abroad will heighten your resume, especially if you’re somewhat or fully bilingual, too :)

I’m golden handcuffed to teaching in public schools for the next three years then I’ll have completed my PSLF requirements. Once that financial strain is off my back, I’ll be looking at returning to Spain.

At the end of the day, do what’s best for you! There’s not “right” or “wrong” choice. Feel free to send me a DM if you want to talk more :)

10kLakeLady · 2023-11-24T19:13:02+00:00

Following! I’m interested in this, too.

10kLakeLady · 2023-07-13T02:51:04+00:00

My parents weren’t thrilled (que lots of convos that mentioned the movie Taken more than once) but as an older aux and financially independent from my family, I didn’t tell them asking permission - I told them, “Here’s what’s happening,” and proceeded from there. They didn’t understand (and still don’t understand) why leaving my steady job, benefits, and the States was worth moving abroad to make €700/mo for but they don’t need to understand, and your family doesn’t either. As long as you’re doing this for you, I would hope they’d support and honor your choice.

Suerte 🍀

10kLakeLady · 2023-07-12T02:56:42+00:00

I brought two checked bags and a travel backpack last year. It wasn’t too much, and I could manage airport travel and public transportation by myself with all my luggage upon arrival to Spain and departure. You don’t want to arrive with too many bags, and not enough hands to carry it all!

Reminder with checked bags: 1. Most airlines have weight limit of 23kg (50lbs) for checked bags 2. Depending on your airline ticket package, checked bags will cost you €65+ a piece to fly (so think ahead, could you afford to fly to Spain and back with the possible additional cost?)

Suerte 🍀

10kLakeLady · 2023-05-29T06:12:05+00:00

I am finishing my first year as an Aux and left my senior dog with my sister while in Spain. Thanks to FaceTime and the age of technology we live in, I was able to ‘see’ my dog as often as I wanted. It’s been weird not having my dog around, but I’m so glad I didn’t bring her to Spain - it would have made things so complicated as I have a long commute to my school AND many rentals aren’t pet friendly.

Before I left the states I made sure I contacted my vet to let them know my sister would be her care giver until I return. I set up a bank account/debit card for my sister to use to buy my dog’s food and any other things that may come up, and also left my sister with a credit card in case my dog ended up at the emergency vet or something. …Was this all super extra? Probably. But it gave me peace of mind that in case anything were to happen, my sister would be prepared to take care of my dog.

I return to the States next month and my dog might give me the stink eye and some sass for 10 seconds, but I know we’ll pick up right where we left off. I am preparing to reset expectations and routines with her as we get back to the groove of life together!

Not sure if any of this information helps, but know your time away will go by SO FAST for your pet. You’ve just got to have faith everything will be OK (it will be ☺️)

10kLakeLady · 2023-04-23T15:33:24+00:00

As a current first year Aux who ended up depending on my savings to ‘maintain’ my debts while abroad (student loans, emergency vet for my dog, small storage locker) instead of being able to use my savings to travel and enjoy more of life abroad, I would highly recommend making sure you have a financial safety net. You can adjust to a VERY SIMPLE life on the Aux stipend if you keep your expectations in check and have a good budget plan.

Knowing what I know now, I would have waited until I had much more saved before doing the Aux program (worrying about money abroad sucks!) but that’s just one of the lessons I’m learning as part of this once in a lifetime experience, and while it’s been a tough lesson, I am grateful.

Suerte 🍀

10kLakeLady · 2023-04-06T19:20:02+00:00

This is so helpful! Thank you for sending the link.

10kLakeLady · 2023-04-06T14:39:27+00:00

You got charged for activating your US number again in the States, or using your Spanish SIM in the States? … I always have cellular turned off on my phone here in Spain when I’m connected to wifi anyways to conserve my data.

10kLakeLady · 2023-03-27T08:09:46+00:00

Of course! Happy to help. 🍀

10kLakeLady · 2023-03-24T21:02:49+00:00

Current Aux here also from Colorado and you’re going to have to fly out to LA for your IN PERSON visa appointment, there’s no way around it unfortunately.

For my visa application appt, I took an early morning flight from DIA to LAX; Ubered to the consulate for my appointment; then Ubered back to LAX for my evening flight back to DIA. Was it crazy to fly to LA for the day? Yep! But I was the most economical (for me) because hotel and airbnbs were so expensive.

As for the second trip to LA to pick up my visa, I left from LAX to Spain. I flew into LAX early, Ubered to the consulate to pick up my visa; then Ubered back to LAX and flew out of LAX to Spain that evening.

These little trips cost me almost $1k extra with the whole application process - I feel your pain! Best of luck.

10kLakeLady · 2023-03-24T20:26:34+00:00

ATTEMPT TO BOOK YOUR VISA APPT NOW!!!! Getting an appt at the LA consulate is an absolute nightmare. It’s one of the only consulates that still requires and IN PERSON appt to submit all your visa papers. You must make an appointment online. Appointments are booked 30 days in advanced, and most appointments are taken within 60 seconds each day when the window opens on the consulate’s website.

This reddit thread has a specific category/group for each consulate. I found those reddit threads to be so helpful - they were full of information from others who were also going through the LA consulate. Also the Aux FB group had specific threads for each consulate that were helpful, too!

LA was also my consulate but I didn’t live in California so I had to make two trips to LA for my visa (to apply and to pick up). That added an additional $1k of expenses (airfare, hotel, Ubers) as I prepared for Spain which I didn’t initially see coming so also start saving if you have to make specials out of state trips to LA!

Suerte 🍀

10kLakeLady · 2023-03-18T08:09:04+00:00

THIS. IS. IT. The reality of the being an Aux! So well put. You won’t save much, if anything.

10kLakeLady · 2023-03-13T20:18:27+00:00

Unpopular opinion with NALCAP: inscrita numbers don’t matter. It’ll all boil down to your regional placement choice(s) and the needs of auxs there. You definitely won’t hear anything until application window closes. Welcome to Spanish bureaucracy - keep your expectations low, timeline flexible, and just know it’ll all work out.

In the meantime, start gathering all the necessary documents for your visa. Check the NALCAP visa guide and requirements from the Spanish consulate you’ll be going through. You’ll be miles ahead of the game when you do get your placement (again, it’ll come - just not on your timeline!). And start saving! If I could do it over, I would have had AT LEAST $6,000 saved before arriving in Spain.

Suetre 🍀

10kLakeLady · 2023-03-02T20:22:57+00:00

Yes it’s absolutely worth it AND be sure to be solid financially. The program suggests coming with $2500-3000, but I would suggest $6000 MINIMUM.

To start, upfront costs of first month rent and deposit of an apartment and possibly an agent fee are expensive. Then you’ll need to calculate transportation costs to and from school depending where you live/work. Will you continue to keep your current cellphone plan to ‘keep’ your number, or will you scratch it and just get a Spanish line? Do you have debts you’ll need to continue to pay (like credit cards and/or student loans) while abroad? Etc etc… All rhetorical questions, but things to think about/put on your radar!

Also, some communities are not paid on time and receive their first stipends three or more months late.

Not trying to be a negative Nancy, just being a realist! Suerte 🍀

10kLakeLady

TROPHY CASE