Overview
Severe Economic Hardship is a request to work off campus due to severe financial hardship. The work permission application is sent to USCIS, costs $410, and can take up to 90 days for USCIS to process. If the application is approved, students are permitted to work off-campus, with some limitations (see below).
Eligible Circumstances
Students can apply for off-campus employment if they are able to demonstrate severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances. These circumstances include the following:
- Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment through no fault of the student
- Substantial fluctuations in the value of exchange rates or national currency
- Inordinate increase in tuition and/or living expenses, and/or
- Unexpected and substantial change in the financial conditions of the student’s source of support, medical bills, or other unusual expenses
Eligibility
Students who have been in F-1 status for one academic year (defined as a fall and spring semester), are in good academic standing, can demonstrate that acceptance of employment will not interfere with the ability to carry a full course of study, and have not been able to find on-campus employment may apply for off-campus work permission.
Ineligible for Severe Economic Hardship
The following are not eligible for Severe Economic Hardship:
- F-2 dependents
- F-1 students who have not been in F-1 status for one academic year
Job Offer
Students do not need to have a job offer to apply for Severe Economic Hardship.
Application to USCIS
I-20 Request
Make an initial appointment with an International Student Advisor to discuss Economic Hardship, the limitations, and how to apply. Following your appointment, email your International Student Advisor to request an Economic Hardship I-20. In the email, attach a copy of a draft Form I-765 for review and letter outlining your situation. Once the Economic Hardship I-20 has been issued, students will need to compile application materials to send to USCIS.
Application Materials
Compile application materials:
- Payment of $410.00
- Personal check or money order made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or
- Form I-912, fee waiver application
- Printed copy of completed Form I-765, typed
- Printed copy of completed Form G-1145, typed
- Copy of signed Economic Hardship I-20
- Photocopies of the identity page(s) from passport (picture, number and expiration date)
- Form I-94
- Two color passport photos taken in past 30 days
- Copy of any previously issued EAD cards
- Typed letter to USCIS explaining specific situation
- Supporting documentation showing an unforeseen change in financial circumstances. For example:
- Letter from sponsor which shows funding has been discontinued
- Copies of medical bills
- Newspaper articles discussing currency fluctuations in home country
Submit Application to USCIS
Submit all documents to USCIS. Address can be found on USCIS webpage.
USCIS Processing Time
Students will receive a case number and instructions from USCIS that can be used to track the estimated processing times via the USCIS Website. Note that estimated processing times are subject to change. If employment is authorized, USCIS will send the EAD to the address indicated on Form I-765.
Employment Through Severe Economic Hardship
Hours Per Week
Students may work a total of twenty hours per week when school is in session. All on- and off-campus employment is counted toward the twenty hour limit. Students may work full time during vacation and summer periods, provided they intend and are eligible to register for the next school term.
Duration of EAD
USCIS may grant employment permission in one-year intervals. Renewals may be authorized by USCIS if students remain in good academic standing. Employment authorization is automatically terminated if students fail to maintain status.
Documentation for Work Eligibility
USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to document off-campus work permission.
Beginning Employment
Students can begin to work only after the EAD is received from USCIS.
Replacement EAD
Students must request a replacement EAD by completing a new Form I-765 and sending it along with the application fee of $410, two photos and photocopies of the Form I-797 Receipt Notice and/or of the lost EAD.