What is Economic Hardship Employment?
A. In some instances, a student who is able to prove severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond his or her control, which arose after obtaining the F-1 students status, may be eligible for permission to work off campus. Students must have been in student status for one full academic year, and must be able to document the circumstances causing the economic need. If authorized, the employment is limited to no more than 20 hours per week when school is in session and full-time during the break or vacation periods. Applications must be endorsed by OISS and submitted to the USCIS for approval. This application may take up to ninety days to process. See an OISS adviser for more information.
