- F-1 OFF-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT BASED ON SEVERE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
To be eligible to apply for off-campus employment authorization due to severe economic hardship, you must:
- have been an F-1 student for one full academic year
be in good academic standing and pursuing a full course of study
demonstrate that acceptance of employment will not interfere with your study
demonstrate that the severe economic hardship is due to unforeseen circumstances beyond your control, and
demonstrate that on-campus employment is unavailable or insufficient.
APPLICATION PROCESSING
1. Assemble your application documents and submit them to the OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & SCHOLARS (OISS).
2. The documents you submit will be examined and the recommendation will be recorded on your I-20 before they are assembled and copied.
3. You MUST RETURN TO THE OISS to pick up your original I-20(s) and the completed recommendation packet ready for mailing. Please allow five business days for processing.
NOTE: For electronic applications only:
Complete the electronic I-765 and follow the instructions AFTER delivering your application packet to the OISS. You will need to make an appointment with the nearest USCIS office (PIttsburgh is the nearest office to Morgantown) to have pictures, fingerprint, and signature electronically submitted after you pick up your recommendation packet at the OISS.
4. Send the packet to the USCIS. We recommend express mail (FedEx, UPS, etc) for its tracking ability, but it is not required.
5. Your EAD card will arrive in the mail in approximately 8 weeks, if it is approved by the USCIS.
6. If you must move before you receive your card in the mail, submit your change of address to the OISS AND request that we update your address with the USCIS Service Center by email. The U.S. Postal Service will NOT forward your card.
7. Send a good, legible photocopy of your EAD card to the OISS as soon as you have it.
APPLICATION STEPS:
You may apply for your OPT on paper or electronically. Please follow the instructions for the method you choose. You may change your mind and apply electronically if you intended to file on paper, but you may NOT change from electronic to paper, as your recommendation packet will be missing some required materials.
1. For a paper-based application: assemble your documents in the following order and present them at the OISS (step 1 in processing-see above) :
1. TWO glossy and unretouched color passport photos
2. $340 check or money order, made out to “USCIS” (NOTE: Occasionally, a receipt will go astray. When it does, you can find your receipt number on the back of your check, so that is the recommended method of payment)
3. Evidence detailing the severe economic hardship due to the unforeseen circumstances
4. A letter of request to USCIS, briefly describing the unforeseen circumstances that require you to seek employment authorization
5. A list of your assets, income, and expenses
6. All I-20’s that have been issued to you (NOT photocopies)
7. A completed I-765 (this is a fillable pdf document; it is best if you fill it in and then print for legibility)
8. Photocopies of:
Identification page from your passport
Your visa
Front and back of your I-94