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)).

Economic Hardship means 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.

Limits: 

• 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.

Process:

• 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.

Required Documents: 

• 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.