1. APC Amount

The Article Processing Charge (APC) applies to accepted, peer-reviewed articles in both journals:

• OpenMind Journal of Multidisciplinary Innovation & Development
• OpenMind Journal of Humanities, Arts & Creative Studies

2. When the APC is Charged

• The APC is charged only after the article has completed peer review, been formally accepted, and the author has approved the final proofs.
• Acceptance is separate from payment: inability to pay should not delay editorial decisions. If funding concerns exist, authors should request a waiver or discount at the time of acceptance.
• An official invoice will be issued to the corresponding author or designated payor upon acceptance.

3. What the APC Covers

The APC contributes to:

• Editorial and peer-review management (editorial office operations, reviewer handling).
• Production (copyediting, typesetting, formatting of the published version).
• DOI registration via Zenodo and preparation of metadata.
• Archiving and preservation (Zenodo, Internet Archive, SSRN).
• Platform and website hosting costs, indexing support, and long-term maintenance of the published record.
• Administrative costs associated with invoicing and optional payment processing.

4. Waiver & Discount Policy — Principles

OMR Publication aims to ensure equitable access to publishing. Waivers and discounts are available under the following principles:

• Equity: Waivers are designed to reduce barriers for authors from low- and lower-middle-income economies, early-career researchers without funding, and authors with demonstrable financial hardship.
• Transparency: Waiver decisions are based on documented need, not on the perceived importance of the research.
• No editorial influence: Requests for waivers or discounts are considered separately from editorial decisions; editors and reviewers remain unaware of waiver requests.

5. Waiver & Discount Eligibility

The following (non-exhaustive) categories are eligible for full or partial waivers. Authors must provide supporting information in the waiver application:

• Full waivers (priority consideration): Authors whose corresponding affiliation is in a low-income economy (e.g., World Bank classifications) or authors who can demonstrate lack of institutional/funder support and financial need.
• Partial waivers or discounts: Authors from lower-middle-income economies, authors with limited funding (doctoral students, unfunded independent researchers), and cases where only a portion of the APC can be covered.
• Automatic considerations: Authors who request a waiver at acceptance and provide a short rationale and supporting evidence will be considered promptly.
• Other cases: In rare cases, OMR Publication may grant waivers for invited papers, special issues, or where institutional agreements apply.

Note: Authors should provide truthful information in waiver requests. Misrepresentation may result in cancellation of publication or retroactive billing.

6. How to Request a Waiver or Discount

• When to apply: At acceptance, authors must indicate their request in the acceptance correspondence to editorial@omrpublication.com. Early inquiries are welcome, but final decisions are made on acceptance.
• What to include: A short statement (max 300 words) explaining the reason for the waiver, the affiliation of the corresponding author, and any supporting documents (e.g., institutional statement of no available funds, student ID).
• Decision timeframe: Waiver requests are considered promptly; authors are usually notified within 7–14 days of application.
• Contact: editorial@omrpublication.com

7. Waiver Application Form Details

Required Information for Waiver Requests

8. Payment Methods & Invoicing

• Invoice: On acceptance, an official invoice (USD) will be issued to the corresponding author or designated payor. Invoices include: article title, author(s), journal, invoice number, APC amount, and payment instructions.
• Payment methods:
  • International bank transfer (wire / SWIFT) — full beneficiary details provided in the invoice.
  • PayPal / Stripe — for card payments.
  • Local payment gateways (e.g., Razorpay/Paytm) — for INR local payments.
  • Institutional purchase order (PO) — accepted on agreement; send to contact@omrpublication.com.
• Currency & conversion: Invoices are issued in USD. If paying in another currency, the payor is responsible for exchange-rate differences and bank fees.
• Taxes & VAT: Any local taxes, VAT or withholding taxes are the responsibility of the payor.

9. Payment Deadlines, Late Payments & Refunds

• Payment deadline: Payment is due as specified on the invoice (typically 30 days). Publication is not withheld for pending waiver applications. If no waiver is granted and payment is not received, publication may be delayed.
• Late payments: May incur administrative fees. Communicate with contact@omrpublication.com to arrange extensions if needed.
• Refund policy: If an accepted article is withdrawn before final publication procedures begin, a partial refund may be considered (administrative fees apply). No refunds are given for articles already published.

10. Institutional Agreements & Sponsor Payments

OMR Publication welcomes institutional agreements or bulk arrangements with universities, research centres, or funders to cover APCs for affiliated authors. Contact contact@omrpublication.com to discuss invoicing options and centralized billing. When a funder or institution pays the APC, the funding source will be listed in the published article’s Funding statement.

11. Transparent Reporting & Metadata

For indexing and discoverability, OMR Publication will include APC and funding information in article metadata where required by indexers (e.g., DOAJ). Published articles will contain a clear statement of the APC status to support indexer assessments.

12. Discounts, Sponsorships & Editorial Neutrality

Discounts (e.g., for reviewers, editorial board members, invited authors) may be offered at the publisher’s discretion but are managed transparently. Editorial decisions are never conditioned on payment or the ability to pay. Waiver applications are handled independently from the peer review process.

13. Example APC Statements for Production

For Metadata or Footer Inclusion

Contact & Support

• Invoicing & payments: contact@omrpublication.com
• Waiver applications & editorial queries: editorial@omrpublication.com
• General enquiries: contact@omrpublication.com