Severe Economic Hardship
Overview
If you are suffering a severe economic hardship due to unforeseen changes in your financial circumstances, you may apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for authorization to work off-campus.
Examples of Unforeseen Circumstances:
- Loss of financial support or on-campus employment
- Substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate
- Inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs
- Unexpected changes in the financial condition of your source of support, such a loss of a family business
- Excessive medical bills
Employment Authorization:
- The employment authorization is granted by USCIS in increments of one year at a time.
- The authorization allows you to work for any employer up to 20 hours per week while you are registered full-time.
- It also allows you to work more than 20 hours per week during semester breaks. This employment does not affect your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT).
- Employment authorization is automatically terminated if you graduate, fail to maintain status, or transfer to another school.
Eligibility:
- You must have been in F-1 status for one academic year
- You must be in good academic standing
- You must document that on-campus employment opportunities are unavailable or insufficient to meet your financial needs.
How to Apply
Make an appointment with your International Student Advisor.
- (write (c)(3)(iii) in item 16)
- paid by money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or credit card
- If you pay by credit card, you must use
- If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Photocopy of Form I-20, with your ISSO advisor’s recommendation for economic hardship employment
- Two
- Photocopy of I-94
- A letter describing your financial difficulties and why on-campus employment opportunities are unavailable or insufficient; include supporting evidence
- Photocopy of passport identification page
- Photocopy of visa page
- Photocopies of any previously-issued EAD cards
- Keep a copy of the application materials for you record
- Application processing times at USCIS vary between two to four months. Do not begin working until you receive the Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
- Review the to find the correct filing location.
