Work Permission Due To Severe Economic Hardship

(F-1 Students Only)

Description

As an F-1 student, you may be eligible to apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)for off-campus employment based on severe economic hardship. This program allows you to work in any kind of job off-campus. You are limited to part-time employment (a maximum of 20 hours per week) when classes are in session. You must also maintain a full course of study during the fall and spring semesters. You can work full-time during your vacation perios or officially recognized school breaks.

Eligibility Requirements

There are four basic requirements to be eligible for this program:

1. You must have maintained legal status for at least nine consecutive months,
2. You must be in current legal status and carrying a full course of study,
3. You must have made a good faith effort to find employment on-campus or through the INS pilot program, and

4. You must demonstrate unforeseen severe economic hardship. This may include "loss of financial aid or on-campus employment without fault on the part of the student, substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate, inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs, unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student's source of support, medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected expenses."
   
   Please note: If you are a transfer student from another U.S. school where you have an Economic Hardship EAD, you will lose that Economic Hardship EAD upon transferring to La Verne or any other school.

Steps to Follow

Make an appointment to see an International Student Adviser to have your eligibility evaluated. If your eligibility is confirmed, compile the following documents for your second appointment:

1. A letter from you requesting work authorization and explaining the unforeseen circumstances that have occurred since your arrival to the United States that require you to seek employment authorization.
2. A signed and original letter from your sponsor, explaining the reasons he/she cannot fully support you at this time and why the situation was unforeseen.
3. Any documentation which supports your case.
4. Completed Form I-765 (form is available at the USCIS Web site here. Two photographs (information on photo specifications is available here.
5. A new I-20 will be issued to you. You will send the original document and any previous I-20's issued to you), togethere with copies of a valid passport, and I-94 card.
   
   At your appointment we will review your documents and photographs and address the envelope for you to mail.
   
   You will then mail the following documents to: USCIS California Service Center, PO Box 10765, Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1076

1. Letters and documentation of economic need.
2. Front and back photocopies of your current I-20 (and previous issued I-20's) and I-94 card.
3. Form I-765
4. Two photographs as explained on page four of the I-765.
5. Photocopies of previous Employment Authorization Document (EAD) cards, if applicable.
6. A personal check or money order payable to USCIS for $180.
7. A list of your assets, income and expenses.
8. Mark the outside of the envelope with "I-765" in large print.

A Notice of Action form when your application is received will be sent to you. If approved, your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card will be sent to you. You should bring a copy of the card to the ISAS, for your file.

A final note: The application for off-campus employment authorization is burdensome to compile, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services requires about three months or more to process such applications. Probably for these reasons, few F-1 students from the University of La ver apply for permission to work off campus for reasons of economic necessity. Most students who need employment find work on the campus, where no time-consuming permission procedure is necessary and no application fee is required.