Severe Economic Hardship

Severe Economic Hardship is a form of off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students who experience dramatic changes to their funding source(s) due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control.  

This form of employment authorization:

  • Is authorized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and requires submission of an employment authorization application.
  • Permits off-campus employment up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, 21 or more hours during school breaks.
  • Employment is not required to be related to the student's field of study.
  • Student must maintain full-time enrollment.

Eligibility

  • Completed at least one academic year (two long semesters) as a full-time student.
  • In valid F-1 status.
  • Have proof that something unexpected and severe occurred to your funding source since arriving in the U.S.
  • You have looked for an on-campus job and have been unable to find sufficient work.

Application Process

  1. Request an Economic Hardship Guide from the Oxford ISP office and carefully review.
  2. Schedule an appointment with the Oxford international student advisor to review requirements and required documents.
  3. Submit the required documents to obtain an Economic Hardship Form I-20. Processing time is five business days.
  4. Pick up the Form I-20 and mailing instructions.
  5. Send the required documents to USCIS. USCIS processing usually takes about three months.
  6. If approved, USCIS will send you an Employment Authorization Card authorizing off-campus employment.