Budgeting App for Undocumented Immigrant

Millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. struggle with financial literacy, banking access, and economic stability. Hence, I designed a budgeting app tailored to the unique challenges faced by this community, focusing on privacy, accessibility, and financial empowerment.

Project

Project Type: UX/UI Design, Financial Technology

Duration: 3-4 months
Role: UX Researcher & Designer

Background

Undocumented immigrants make up approximately 12 million people (3.3% of the U.S. population) and contribute significantly to industries such as agriculture, construction, hospitality, and domestic services. Despite their economic contributions, they face systemic barriers that make financial stability difficult to achieve.

Problem Statement

Undocumented immigrants in the U.S. face significant financial hardships due to limited banking access, privacy concerns, language barriers, and financial literacy gaps. Without access to traditional banking services, many rely on cash-based transactions and informal financial systems, making it difficult to track expenses, save for emergencies, and achieve long-term financial stability.

To address these challenges, I designed a budgeting app specifically for undocumented immigrants, focusing on various aspects.

Research & Key Insights

The research revealed key obstacles for undocumented immigrants:

Financial Barriers: Limited banking access leads to cash-based transactions.
Privacy Concerns: Fear of deportation discourages interaction with formal financial systems.
Cognitive Load: Stress and language barriers impact financial decision-making.
Community & Family Support: Collective decision-making influences financial behaviors.

Design Goals & Solution

To address key challenges faced by undocumented immigrants, I designed the app with targeted features that prioritize privacy, accessibility, and financial empowerment. Users are not required to enter personal details like name or immigration status, ensuring secure, anonymous transactions. To overcome language barriers, the app offers multiple language options with simple financial terminology.

Financial literacy tools, including short tutorials on savings and budgeting, help users make informed decisions. The app also enables cash-based expense tracking and remittance management, allowing users to monitor their finances without a bank account. Lastly, accessibility features such as adjustable font sizes, high-contrast mode, and voice assistance ensure an inclusive, stress-free experience.

Personas

Ideation sketch

Hi-fi Wireframes

Feedback & Iteration

Based on peer reviews and usability testing, I made several improvements to enhance the app’s accessibility and user experience. I ensured that all placeholder text and UI elements comply with WCAG accessibility standards, making the interface more inclusive.

To improve onboarding, I added a guided tutorial in multiple languages to help users navigate the app’s features. Financial terminology was simplified to make budgeting concepts more understandable, and push notifications were introduced to remind users to track transactions and stay on top of their finances. These refinements ensure the app is more user-friendly, accessible, and aligned with the unique needs of undocumented immigrants.

Mockup Demo

Designing this budgeting app reinforced the idea that financial tools must go beyond functionality—they need to be built with empathy, security, and accessibility in mind. Understanding the unique challenges undocumented immigrants face pushed me to prioritize privacy, inclusivity, and financial empowerment in every design decision. This project showed me how UX design can create real-world impact, bridging gaps in financial literacy and accessibility for vulnerable communities.