F-1 Authorization for Economic Hardship
When applying for F-1 work authorization for Severe Economic Hardship, you must meet with your ISSO advisor in an appointment in order to receive a recommendation for Severe Economic Hardship.
Please prepare and bring the following items to your appointment:
✓ Personal Check or Money Order for $410.00, payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
✓ Two (2) photographs – Must meet USCIS/DOS passport color photograph specifications. The photographs should only be cut by the photo establishment. Do not cut them yourself. Please print your full name in pencil on the back of each photograph.
✓ USCIS Form I-765 – Use an address in section 3 that will be valid for at least 3 months. In section 16 write “( c ) ( 3 ) ( iii ).” It is strongly recommended that you fill out the PDF version of the form, then print and sign it.
✓ Personal Letter from You to USCIS – you must explain in detail the circumstances of your severe financial hardship, and that they were unforeseen and beyond your control. You must also state that on-campus employment is either unavailable or insufficient to meet your financial needs.
✓ Supporting Documentation – This is necessary to prove the existence of your hardship and how it was unforeseen. Some examples include a signed affidavit from sponsor(s) explaining why they can no longer provide financial support, your current budget, recent newspaper articles, medical bills, recent exchange rate reports, etc.
✓ Current Form I-20 with Economic Hardship Employment Authorization request on P. 2
✓ All previous Forms I-20
✓ Valid Passport and Form I-94.
Make a copy of your entire application package for your records prior to mailing.
Mail your I-765 Employment Authorization Application
USCIS Processing
You should receive an official I-797 Notice of Action (receipt notice) from the USCIS approximately two weeks after you mail your application. This notice will confirm official receipt of your application and assign a receipt number to your application.
The receipt notice will also have a phone number you can call 24 hours a day to check the status of your application. If you still have questions after you have phoned USCIS, please contact the ISSO. Realize, however, that although the USCIS tries to give priority to applications based on economic necessity, it will take up to 90 days to reach a decision on your application. In many cases, the USCIS will ask you to provide additional documentation to support your application (see below), which will further delay a decision on your application.
Often with Economic Hardship applications, USCIS will send a Request For Evidence (RFE) to an applicant. This letter is issued in cases where an item in the above checklist is missing, or USCIS needs additional information before making a decision on an application. If you receive such a letter, please contact your ISSO Advisor immediately for assistance.
Once your application is approved, the USCIS will mail your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to the address you indicated on the Form I-765. Please bring this card to the ISSO so that it can be copied for your file. Starting employment before you receive your EAD is a serious violation of your F-1 immigration status.
Please note that Economic Hardship Employment Authorization is approved for a maximum of 12 months at at time, and will end no later than the program completion date on P. 1 of your I-20. If your need for this type of work authorization will extend beyond the initial period that you are approved for, you should submit a new application to the USCIS with new filing fee and updated documentation showing that your economic need still exists. If you have questions about this process, please contact your ISSO Advisor.
