Off-Campus Work Due To Severe Economic Hardship
“If other employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient, an eligible F-1 student may request off-campus employment work authorization based upon severe economic hardship cause by unforeseen circumstances beyond the students control.” [8 CFR 214.2 (f)(9)(ii)(C)]
Unforeseen circumstances that can make a student eligible include:
- Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment without fault on the part of the student
- Substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate
- Inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs
- Unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student’s source support
- Medical bills
- Other substantial and unexpected expenses
F-1 students who can document that one of the above situations is true– students, for instance, who have lost assistantship due to budget cuts or who cannot find appropriate on-campus employment– may appeal for off-campus work permission under the terms of these regulations.
In order to be eligible, you must have been in F-1 status for one full academic year (nine months) and be in good academic standing.