Economic Hardship Employment

Eligibility requirements for this type of work authorization are as follows: 

• You must have completed at least one full academic year before you can start working (although you can apply before the end of the full academic year). 
• You must be in good academic standing. 
• You must be able to show that you have an economic need due to unforeseen (unexpected) situations, such as unexpected medical events, a sponsor’s loss of employment, a natural or civil disaster in your country, or a devaluation of your home country’s currency due to an economic crisis. 
• You must make good-faith efforts at finding on-campus employment, and demonstrate that any on-campus work opportunities are not sufficient to meet your financial needs.
• You must still be able to maintain full-time enrollment and valid F-1 student status while working off-campus. 

In order to get this type of work authorization, you must be recommended by an SISS international student advisor and then submit an application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

To learn more or if you think you have a case for this type of employment authorization, schedule an appointment with a SISS international student advisor. If USCIS approves your application, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card that allows you to accept off-campus employment. 

Note the following restrictions: 

• The EAD can be approved for up to one year or until your program completion date, whichever comes first. 
• You may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the school year or full-time (more than 20 hours) during school vacations and breaks. 
• The card loses validity if, for any reason, you stop studying or fall out of valid F-1 student status.