Severe Economic Hardship (Special Cases)

Severe Economic Hardship

Economic Hardship Employment Authorization is limited to 20 hours per week when school is in session and 40 hours per week during school breaks. Economic Hardship employment authorization is normally issued for one year.

source: Special Situations | USCIS

Severe Economic Hardship to F-1 Students Caused by Unforeseen Circumstances

If you experience severe economic hardship because of unforeseen circumstances beyond your control, you may request employment authorization to work off-campus (if you meet certain regulatory requirements). See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9). Examples of unforeseen circumstances include (but are not limited to):

Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment (through no fault of your own);
Substantial fluctuations in currency value or exchange rate;
Inordinate increases in tuition or living costs;
Unexpected changes in the financial condition of your source of support;
Medical bills; and
Other substantial and unexpected expenses.

To apply, you must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, along with a copy of your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and any other supporting materials to USCIS.

Your Form I-20 must include the employment page completed by your Designated School Official, certifying your eligibility for off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control.

If your request is approved, you may be able to work off-campus in one-year intervals up to the expected date of completion of your current course of study. See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii).

Special Student Relief

Source: Special Situations | USCIS

Special Student Relief is the suspension of certain regulatory requirements by the secretary of Homeland Security for F‑1 students from parts of the world that are experiencing emergent circumstances. Examples of emergent circumstances include natural catastrophe, war and military conflicts, and national or international financial crises.

You may be eligible to apply for off-campus employment authorization if you:

Are the citizen of a country specified in a Federal Register notice;
Have been lawfully present in the United States for the period indicated in the Federal Register notice;
Have reported on time to your Designated School Official and been enrolled in a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school since the special situation;
Are currently maintaining F-1 status; and
Experiencing severe economic hardship.

Economic Hardship Application Instructions

You will mail a manila envelope with everything listed below:

Original Form I‑765 (you can get it here), using the code (C)(3)(iii) at item 16. Do not date the form until you are ready to send the application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Don’t forget to sign and include all seven pages!

Be sure to also carefully review the USCIS instructions.

Form G-1145 (you can get it here)

Application fee of $410. This should be a check (from a U.S. bank) or a U.S. money order payable to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”. Write the 11-digit number from your I-94 on your check or money order.

Don’t forget to sign and date the check. If you don’t know how to fill it out, please ask for help.

Your new Economic Hardship endorsement I‑20.

Don’t forget to sign and date the Student Attestation section of your I-20. If you forget, USCIS will return your OPT application to you.

Photocopies of all previous I‑20’s.

Do not send originals!

Letter of support/recommendation from IAU’s DSO.

Two (2) identical passport-style photos taken within 30 days of your application and not previously used for another purpose. o Please review the specifications for the photos. Photos can be taken at most drug stores (Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid).

If your photos do not meet USCIS requirements exactly, your EAD card will not be issued.

In pencil, write your full name and I-94 number lightly on the back of each photo.

Photocopy of your current, valid passport (biographic and photo pages) and U.S. visa stamp in your passport. Canadian citizens do not have visa stamps.

Photocopy of the front and back of your newest I-94 Card OR print-out of electronic I-94 (available on CBP’s website).

Details below are extremely important.

Documentation of the unforeseen change in your financial circumstances:

Personal statement describing the unforeseen hardship situation. Address the letter to the USCIS.

Describe the facts that led to the problem, explain the difficult situation that could not be avoided and how you are not at fault, and present a reasonable plan that is short-term and designed to get you out of financial and academic trouble.
Include a statement about how this employment will not impact the ability to maintain a full course load in the future.
Elaborate on why other on-campus jobs are not available
If choosing a start date earlier than the published processing times, indicate that you accept a change in authorization dates due to adjudication.

USCIS Chicago Lockbox

U.S. Postal Service (USPS):

USCIS
Attn: I-765 C03
P.O. Box 805373
Chicago, IL 60680-5374

FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: I-765 C03 (Box 805373)
131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

Evidence / documentation of your economic hardship. Examples of such evidence include:

Copies of past and present currency exchange charts, showing the devaluation of your country’s currency.
Proof (signed letters, affidavits, bank statements) of unexpected changes in the financial situation of your sponsor.
Copies of medical bills or other substantial and unexpected expenses.
Documentation of your current expenses. For example:
Proof of tuition bill payment (apartment lease, proof of your current cost of living, utility bills).
Any other significant expenses (books, medical expenses, etc.)