"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 caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control." [8 CFR 214.2 (f)(9)(ii)(C)]
Eligibility:
Unforeseen circumstances that can make a student eligible for hardship-based employment include:
- Unexpected 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
- Unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student's source of support (ex: parents losing business, bankruptcy of sponsoring institution, etc.)
- Unplanned medical bills
- Other substantial and unexpected expenses
F-1 students who can document that one of the above situations is true may apply for off-campus work permission under the terms of this regulation. 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.
