Eligibility Requirements

You may be eligible to apply if you:

• Are currently maintaining F-1 student status

• Have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year

• Are in good academic standing

• Have tried to obtain on-campus employment

• Can document unexpected financial hardship

Examples of Severe Economic Hardship

Examples of situations that may qualify include:

• Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment through no fault of the student

• Significant changes in currency value or exchange rates

• Large increases in tuition or living expenses

• Unexpected changes in the financial condition of your sponsor or financial support

• Medical bills or emergencies

• Other substantial and unexpected expenses

Important Information

• Authorization must be approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you begin working.

• Working without authorization may violate your F-1 immigration status.

• Approval is not guaranteed and depends on the documentation you provide.

Federal Regulation

These regulations are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii)(C)).

You must be able to prove that off-campus employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond your control. The economic hardship must have occurred after you obtained F-1 status. You are not required to have a job offer when applying for this type of work authorization.

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply:

• You must be in valid F-1 status for at least one full academic year (fall and spring semesters).
• You must be in good academic standing and carrying a full course of study.
• You must demonstrate that employment will not interfere with your full course of study.
• You must demonstrate that the off-campus employment is necessary to assist you in alleviating your severe economic hardship due to unforeseen circumstances beyond your control. You must also document that on-campus employment is unavailable or otherwise insufficient to meet the needs that have arisen as a result of the unforeseen financial circumstances.
• You must receive an approved authorization of off-campus employment for economic hardship listed on your I-20 form.
• You must be approved and receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card before beginning any off-campus employment.

• USCIS will issue you an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card if employment is approved. If the application is denied, you will receive a denial notice in writing. There are no options to appeal. In some situations, a motion to reopen your case may be available.
• The student may not begin employment until they receive the EAD card from USCIS. USCIS asks for a minimum of 90 days for processing your application.

• Meet with your International Student Advisor to discuss your need and eligibility for off-campus employment due to economic hardship and to review the documents required for work authorization.
• Complete the USCIS forms G-1145 and I-765. Enter (c)(3)(iii) in Item 16 on Form I-765, and prepare all required supporting documentation.
• Submit your complete application packet to your International Student Advisor for review.
• Receive an email from isss@mst.edu to pick up your updated Form I-20 with the off-campus employment authorization notation.
• Prepare your economic hardship application for mailing and submit it to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox for processing.

For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:

USCIS
PO Box 21281
Phoenix, AZ 85036

For express mail and courier deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: AOS
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034

• USCIS will issue you an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) if employment is approved. If the application is denied, you will receive a denial notice in writing. There are no options to appeal a denial from USCIS; however, in some situations, a motion to reopen your case may be available.

• Complete the USCIS forms G-1145 and I-765. Enter (c)(3)(iii) in Item 16 on Form I-765.
• Complete Form I-912 (Fee Waiver), if applicable. (Discuss this option with your International Student Advisor.)
• Prepare a letter of explanation describing your economic hardship:
  1. Identify the cause of the economic hardship and its impact on your personal finances.
  2. Explain why on-campus employment options are unavailable or insufficient.
  3. Attach any relevant supporting documentation (for example, proof of currency devaluation, natural disaster, or other unforeseen circumstances).
• Prepare a monthly budget outlining your income and expenses both before and after the unforeseen circumstance.
• Obtain two passport-sized photos taken within 30 days of submitting your application to USCIS.
• Make copies of your most recent Form I-94 record, visa, and passport identification pages.
• Prepare a check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $410.00.
• Make copies of any previously issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD), if applicable.
• Meet with your International Student Advisor to receive your updated Form I-20 with an off-campus employment recommendation for economic hardship. (Please bring all documents listed above to your appointment.)
• Obtain the recommendation letter on school letterhead from your International Student Advisor.

• The Career Opportunities and Employer Relations Office (COER) is dedicated to helping students and alumni secure part-time and full-time employment opportunities.
• To learn more about available off-campus employment opportunities, please visit http://career.mst.edu/ or stop by the COER office on the third floor of Norwood Hall.