How This Egyptian F1 Student Finish School On Time With a Stilt Loan

Khaled Abouseada came to the U.S. from Egypt to study computer science so that he could take advantage of all the opportunities a degree in the field had to offer him in America.

But when he arrived, the cost of his education and of living in the U.S. was more than he could afford on a student’s budget and with no support from back home. He tried to find lenders who would work with a visa holder with no U.S. credit history, but none would.

In the below Q&A, Khaled tells his Stilt Story. Read on to learn about how Stilt helped him get the funds he needed to keep his studies on track and to make sure he did it without worrying about unexpected expenses!

Tell us about your education background.

I received my first bachelor’s in Engineering from Mansoura University, Egypt. Now, I am on an F1 visa doing a second degree in Computer Science at Brooklyn College, United States.

Why did you move to the U.S.?

I moved to the U.S. on an F1 visa to study computer science and further my education. Computer Science is the future of this world, and there are many opportunities for the people who study this major, especially in the U.S., and I want to be one of those people.

What financial challenges did you face in the U.S.?

When I got to the U.S., I couldn’t get access to any kind of line of credit. Because of my lack of credit history in the U.S., I was unable to take loans to pay for unexpected expenses.

What barriers prevented you from getting a loan in the U.S.?

Lack of credit history and my visa status, for sure. No American bank wants to lend to someone who’s in the U.S. temporarily, especially if they have no established credit history.

Did you apply to other lenders before Stilt?

Yes, Bank of America. And they denied my loan request due to “lack of sufficient credit history.”

How did you hear about Stilt?

After unsuccessfully attempting to take loans with several lenders, I started to do research online about lenders who would work with immigrants and I found Stilt on Google.

Why did you apply for a loan with Stilt?

I applied for a loan with Stilt to pay for some unexpected personal expenses that came about when I got to the U.S. and for school supplies. As I said, it was hard to get a loan because of my visa status, Stilt really helped me to complete my journey.

How was your experience taking a loan with Stilt?

The Stilt loan process is super easy and fast. The applications took a couple of minutes and then I received the loan offer within a day. The funds reached my personal bank account three days later.

What would have happened to you if didn’t get a Stilt loan?

If I didn’t get a loam from stilt, I would have had to take fewer classes and that would have delayed my graduation. And if I graduated later, it would have meant I’d have to wait longer to start building my career. The whole thing would have been a stressful mess.

How would you define Stilt?

The people at Stilt understand what immigrants are facing in their new lives in the U.S. They get how hard for people like us can be and they’re there to help.

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Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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