F-1 Severe Economic Hardship Off-Campus Employment Authorization
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT F-1 SEVERE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION
What is it?
Severe Economic Hardship Employment is off-campus employment authorization, for F-1 students who are experiencing serious financial difficulties, caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. If authorized, you may work anywhere, for a maximum of 20 hours per week, while school is in session, and full-time during vacation periods.
How can you qualify for it?
- You must have been in F-1 status for a minimum of one academic year. (i.e., you must be enrolled for a fall and spring semester prior to submitting an application.)
- You must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
- You must explain how on-campus employment has been either unavailable or insufficient to meet your needs.
- You must convince us that working will not interfere with your ongoing full-time studies, and with completing all required academic work.
- You must have, and be able to provide evidence which proves that you have financial problems caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control. Reasonable explanations are acceptable, as long as you can convince us that they could not have been avoided and are beyond your control. Examples of unexpected expenses may be medical or dental bills, illness, death or business problems of your sponsor, natural disasters or other problems (i.e., your sponsor’s location, currency devaluations, or large tuition increases.)
If your financial difficulties are caused by problems the person whose name appears on your Form I-20 is having, that person will have to complete a Sponsor’s Affidavit of Severe Economic Hardship, and provide evidence of the unexpected circumstances that are now affecting your support. He/she will also have to complete a Revised Affidavit of Financial Support, indicating the new amount that will be provided (if any), and evidence of continued financial capability to provide it. Evidence may include newspaper articles, back issues of the New York Times or Wall Street Journal, showing currency devaluations, official school notices, or medical/dental bills.
How do you apply?
If you think that you qualify for severe economic hardship employment authorization, make an appointment to see the International Student Advisor, to discuss your situation. Bring any evidence that you have, to prove your financial need. At your meeting, you will get an Application for Severe Economic Hardship Employment Authorization to fill out and return to us.
When you return it, we will review your application, to make sure that you qualify. If we agree that you do, we will recommend that USCIS authorize your employment due to severe economic hardship, and send your application to USCIS, for processing of your work permit.
How long does it take?
After you return your application to the Office of Multicultural and International Affairs, expect it to take about two months for your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) to be returned to us. It could take less, or more, depending on the USCIS’ workload.
Sometimes, USCIS will write, asking for more evidence of your financial problems. If that happens, we will contact you. If you receive such notification, it is advisable that you inform us immediately, or the process could be further delayed.
You cannot begin to work until you have your EAD card!
How long will you be able to work?
USCIS grants hardship employment authorization for one-year periods. It can be renewed annually, up to your expected date of completion of studies.
Your employment authorization is automatically terminated if you fail to maintain your F-1 student status.
You cannot start working until USCIS authorizes your employment, and you have received your EAD card! The EAD card indicates your employment start date.