APC Waiver Application Form

Important information

JRISA is committed to maintaining high standards of academic publishing while recognizing that certain authors may face genuine financial barriers to publication.

The journal offers a limited number of full Article Processing Charge (APC) waivers to authors who demonstrate financial hardship and an inability to obtain sufficient funding to cover publication costs.

Waivers are discretionary and are not automatically granted upon request. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and provide sufficient information and supporting documentation for the journal to assess their eligibility.

The following conditions apply:

Waiver applications must be submitted at the time of initial manuscript submission, before the peer-review process begins.
The absence of dedicated research funding does not, by itself, establish eligibility for financial assistance.
Applicants are expected to explore reasonable alternative funding sources before requesting a waiver.
Incomplete applications or applications lacking sufficient evidence of financial need may be declined.
APC waiver decisions are made independently of editorial and peer-review decisions. Approval of a waiver does not guarantee manuscript acceptance.

An APC is payable only if the manuscript is accepted for publication, unless otherwise expressly provided in the journal’s published fee policy.

Section 1. Applicant information

Full name of applicant

Email address

Manuscript title

Manuscript ID (if available)

Institution / school

Country / region of residence

Current academic status High school student Undergraduate student Graduate student Independent researcher Other

Are you under 18 years of age? Yes No

If yes, a parent or legal guardian must review and co-sign this application in Section 5.

Section 2. Funding availability

2.1 Has the research presented in this manuscript received financial support? Yes No

If yes, please specify the funding source

2.2 Is any funding available to cover the US$400 APC, in full or in part, from the following sources? Select all that apply. University or school Research institution or laboratory Research grant or scholarship Academic program or sponsoring organization Co-author or collaborating institution Other third-party funding None of the above

If any funding is available, approximate amount (USD)

2.3 Have you explored alternative funding sources before requesting this waiver? Yes No No applicable funding source is available

Details

If yes, briefly describe the sources contacted and the outcome. If no, explain why seeking such support is not feasible.

Section 3. Financial hardship declaration

3.1 What is the primary reason for requesting an APC waiver? Select the most applicable option. Low household income or limited financial resources Current financial hardship affecting the household Unexpected financial circumstances Lack of independent income combined with documented household financial constraints Other exceptional financial circumstances

3.2 Household annual income (optional)

For applicants who are financially dependent on their parents or guardians, please refer to the estimated combined annual income of the financially responsible household. Income information will be considered in context, including household size, country of residence and relevant financial circumstances. No single income range automatically determines eligibility.

Below US$15,000 US$15,000–$30,000 US$30,001–$60,000 US$60,001–$100,000 Above US$100,000 Prefer not to disclose

3.3 Financial hardship statement

In approximately 150–300 words, please explain:

Why the standard US$400 APC would present a significant financial hardship.
Why the applicant, financially responsible household, or relevant sponsoring institutions cannot reasonably cover the charge.
Any circumstances relevant to the applicant’s current ability to pay.

Please provide a specific explanation. General statements regarding the expense of academic publishing or the absence of personal income, without additional financial context, may not be sufficient.

0 words

Section 4. Supporting documentation

To assist JRISA in evaluating financial need, applicants are requested to submit at least one relevant supporting document from the categories below.

Option A. Evidence of financial hardship Official confirmation of need-based financial aid Approval of a school or university application-fee waiver Government-issued financial assistance or hardship certification A relevant letter from a school financial aid office or authorized school official Other equivalent documentation demonstrating financial hardship

Option B. Evidence of unavailable publication funding Letter from an institution confirming that APC funding is unavailable Letter from a research supervisor confirming that the research project has no available publication funding Letter from a sponsoring organization confirming that publication costs are not covered

Important: Evidence of unavailable research funding does not, on its own, establish financial hardship. Additional explanation or documentation may be requested if the evidence does not sufficiently address the applicant’s ability to pay.

Alternative documentation. If none of the listed documents is reasonably available, applicants may explain their circumstances and propose equivalent evidence for consideration. JRISA may request reasonable clarification or additional relevant documentation where the initial information is insufficient or materially inconsistent.

Bank statements, property ownership records, investment account statements, and comprehensive household asset disclosures are not routinely required. Applicants should redact unrelated sensitive information, such as identification numbers, account numbers and transaction details.

Upload supporting document(s)

PDF, JPG or PNG. You may select more than one file.

Alternative documentation or notes (optional)

Section 5. Applicant declaration and acknowledgment

By submitting this application, I acknowledge and agree that:

The information provided in this application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
I have disclosed material funding sources available to support payment of the APC.
I understand that having no independent personal income, being a student, or receiving no dedicated research funding does not automatically qualify me for an APC waiver.
I understand that JRISA may request reasonable additional information or supporting documentation to assess my application.
I understand that incomplete or insufficiently substantiated applications may be declined.
I understand that waiver approval is discretionary and subject to the journal’s published eligibility criteria and available waiver resources.
I understand that a waiver decision does not affect academic evaluation or guarantee publication.
I understand that if materially false or intentionally misleading information is discovered, JRISA may reconsider or revoke an approved waiver after providing an opportunity for clarification. Any resulting payment obligation will be governed by the terms disclosed and accepted at the time of application.

I have read and agree to the declarations above.

Applicant’s signature

Type your full name as your signature.

Date

Parent / legal guardian acknowledgment

Required for applicants under 18 years of age. Becomes available when you answer “Yes” to the age question in Section 1.

I confirm that I have reviewed this application with the applicant and that the financial information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that an APC waiver is intended for documented financial need and that approval is not guaranteed.

Parent / guardian’s full name

Relationship to applicant

Signature

The parent or guardian types their full name as their signature.

Date

Section 6. Privacy and confidentiality

JRISA will use the information supplied in this application solely to assess APC waiver eligibility, communicate with the applicant, and maintain necessary administrative records.

Access to financial hardship information will be restricted to personnel authorized to administer the waiver process. This information will not be provided to peer reviewers or used in academic editorial decisions.

Applicants should not submit bank account numbers, government identification numbers, or unrelated financial records.

Supporting documentation will be handled in accordance with the journal’s published privacy notice, including its applicable retention and deletion procedures.