A Fair Educational Remedy for Cancelled TOEFL Appointments in Iran
The Issue
Dear ETS Leadership and TOEFL Program Team,
We are a group of Iranian TOEFL test takers whose examinations in Iran were cancelled following recent regulatory changes. We understand that ETS must comply with applicable laws, and we are not asking ETS to violate any financial or sanctions-related restrictions. However, affected students bear no responsibility for political and regulatory circumstances and should not be left to sacrifice their academic futures and financial resources. For us, the TOEFL is not just a test; it is a vital step toward university admission, scholarships, research opportunities, and our academic careers.
Our Strategic and Legal Argument:
Crucially, ETS’s own official TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin, under “Rescheduling and canceling (by ETS),” explicitly states:
“Fees that you paid will be transferred to a new test appointment or upon request a full refund will be issued.”
Furthermore, ETS officially states that Iranian nationals may continue to take the TOEFL outside Iran. Since a cash refund is currently restricted due to international financial limitations, we are not asking to break any rules; we are simply asking ETS to apply its own pre-existing policy. Instead of a cash refund, please allow the examination fee already paid to be converted into an internal TOEFL credit that can be used for a new appointment outside Iran.
Our Specific Demands:
We respectfully call on ETS to establish a clear and transparent mechanism for affected Iranian test takers:
- Preserve the full value of the fee already paid for cancelled TOEFL appointments in Iran.
- Allow students to transfer that amount as a TOEFL credit toward an appointment outside Iran.
- Prevent double-charging, ensuring students do not have to pay the full fee a second time on top of the heavy costs of international travel, visas, and accommodation.
- Provide clear, written guidance on how to request and use this credit, especially for students facing urgent university application deadlines.
- We are not asking for special treatment or a political stance; we are asking for a fair educational remedy. If a cash refund is legally or technically impossible, let the value of the examination fee follow the student across the border.
Education should not be lost because borders, regulations, or political circumstances changed.
Sincerely,
Iranian TOEFL Test Takers
108
The Issue
Dear ETS Leadership and TOEFL Program Team,
We are a group of Iranian TOEFL test takers whose examinations in Iran were cancelled following recent regulatory changes. We understand that ETS must comply with applicable laws, and we are not asking ETS to violate any financial or sanctions-related restrictions. However, affected students bear no responsibility for political and regulatory circumstances and should not be left to sacrifice their academic futures and financial resources. For us, the TOEFL is not just a test; it is a vital step toward university admission, scholarships, research opportunities, and our academic careers.
Our Strategic and Legal Argument:
Crucially, ETS’s own official TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin, under “Rescheduling and canceling (by ETS),” explicitly states:
“Fees that you paid will be transferred to a new test appointment or upon request a full refund will be issued.”
Furthermore, ETS officially states that Iranian nationals may continue to take the TOEFL outside Iran. Since a cash refund is currently restricted due to international financial limitations, we are not asking to break any rules; we are simply asking ETS to apply its own pre-existing policy. Instead of a cash refund, please allow the examination fee already paid to be converted into an internal TOEFL credit that can be used for a new appointment outside Iran.
Our Specific Demands:
We respectfully call on ETS to establish a clear and transparent mechanism for affected Iranian test takers:
- Preserve the full value of the fee already paid for cancelled TOEFL appointments in Iran.
- Allow students to transfer that amount as a TOEFL credit toward an appointment outside Iran.
- Prevent double-charging, ensuring students do not have to pay the full fee a second time on top of the heavy costs of international travel, visas, and accommodation.
- Provide clear, written guidance on how to request and use this credit, especially for students facing urgent university application deadlines.
- We are not asking for special treatment or a political stance; we are asking for a fair educational remedy. If a cash refund is legally or technically impossible, let the value of the examination fee follow the student across the border.
Education should not be lost because borders, regulations, or political circumstances changed.
Sincerely,
Iranian TOEFL Test Takers
Supporter Voices
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on September 18, 2026