International Center > International Students and Scholars Office > Employment and Internships > F-1 Employment > Economic Hardship

Economic Hardship

Severe Economic Hardship is an F-1 work exception reviewed by USCIS on a case-by-case basis for students who experience a severe financial hardship caused by circumstances beyond their control after obtaining F-1 status. Some examples of circumstances beyond the student’s control:

  • Unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student’s sponsor.
  • Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment if the loss is not the student’s fault.
  • Unexpected medical bills in the U.S. not covered by insurance.
  • Large increases in tuition or living costs.
  • A substantial fluctuation of currency in the student’s home country.

Fast Facts

  • Provides one year of off-campus work authorization before completion of studies.
  • Economic Hardship is not limited to one year and can be renewed. If applying for renewal, the student must repeat the same application process and show a new unforeseen circumstance or explain why the same unforeseen circumstance continues.
  • Authorizes work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, 21 or more hours during school breaks.
  • Work does not have to be related to the student’s program of study.
  • Student must maintain full-time enrollment.
  • Approval for an Economic Hardship EAD does not affect the duration of optional practical training (OPT).
  • Student not authorized to work until the EAD is received and the start date listed on the EAD has arrived.
  • If you transfer to a new school, your Economic Hardship work authorization automatically ends.

Eligibility

  • Valid F-1 status.
  • Lawfully enrolled full-time in a U.S. university for at least one academic year (two long semesters).
  • Good academic standing (minimum 3.0 GPA for graduates, 2.0 GPA for undergraduates).
  • Since arriving in the U.S. something unexpected happened to your funding, such as a sponsor dies or unexpected medical bills.
  • You have looked for an on-campus job and have been unable to find sufficient work.
  • Employment must not interfere with carrying a full course of study.
  • The student is not required to have a job offer to apply for Economic Hardship.

Application Process

  1. We strongly suggest you set an appointment to speak with an international student advisor to review requirements and required documents.
  2. Submit the Economic Hardship Request Form and supplemental documents to obtain an economic hardship I-20 to ISSODocuments@utdallas.edu. See our processing times.
    • You will submit a letter explaining the need for Economic Hardship work authorization and any additional evidence related to your situation.
    • Include copies of previously issued EAD cards, if you have any.
  3. The ISSO will send an email to your UT Dallas email address when the I-20 is ready. Filing instructions will be included with the I-20.
  4. File your application with USCIS.Use code (c)(3)(iii) in the Eligibility Category field.
  5. If approved, USCIS will send you an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) authorizing off-campus employment.