Severe Economic Hardship

Severe Economic Hardship is new, unexpected circumstances beyond your control creating severe economic hardship. These may include:

Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment (if you are not at fault)
Devaluation of the currency you depend upon to pay expenses
Unexpected changes to your sources of financial support
Unexpected large medical bills
Other substantial, unexpected expenses

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. You may work more than 20 hours per week during breaks and summer. Economic Hardship employment authorization is automatically terminated when you graduate, fall out of status, or transfer to a new school. This employment will not affect your OPT.

Eligibility Requirements:

You must have remained enrolled for at least one academic year. You must be in valid F-1 status, in good academic standing, and enrolled in a full course of study. You must be able to show that working will not adversely impact your ability to attend school full-time and maintain academic standing. You must show evidence that severed economic hardship due to unforeseen circumstances is beyond your control.

Required Application Documents:

STEP ONE: Complete the Severe Economic Hardship FORM and prepare the documents listed below before meeting with your immigration adviser.

Form G-1145
Form I-765

Please note some new changes with the new I-765 form. You need to complete the page 7 and list all of your previous CPTs, OPTs, Economic Hardships and SEVIS numbers (if prior SEVIS numbers). Please see the Form I-765 FAQ: Severe Economic Hardship guide.

Filing Fee payable to US Department of Homeland Security
Two (2) new passport style photographs, in color, with I-94 and full name written on back
Copy of valid passport page
Copy of visa
Copy of your I-94 record
Copy of any previous EAD's (front and back)
A 1-page letter describing your financial difficulties and why on-campus employment opportunities are unavailable or insufficient; including supporting evident

STEP TWO: Set up a meeting with your immigration advisor. Bring documents 1-9 with you to the appointment. Your immigration advisor will prepare the following documents for you:

SEVIS event history print out
DSO statement of support

You will sign and date it.
You will send a copy of the I-20 and keep the original.

STEP THREE: After going through the entire Severe Economic Hardship work authorization packet with your immigration advisor, package the following documents into a legal-sized envelop:

Step 1 documents 1-9
Step 2 documents 1-3

STEP FOUR: Send the package to USCIS. REMEMBER:

You are responsible for sending all items of your OPT application to the USCIS.
Find the appropriate Lockbox to send your OPT application on the USCIS website.
You MUST send the package within 30 days of the processing date on your I-20 with DSO recommendation.

NOTE: Application processing average time is 90 days. Do not begin working until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).