Severe Economic Hardship
Severe economic hardship employment was established to provide students who have experienced a legitimate and unforeseen economic hardship since obtaining F-1 status the opportunity to obtain employment authorization.
Severe economic hardship employment was established to provide students who have experienced a legitimate and unforeseen economic hardship since obtaining F-1 status the opportunity to obtain employment authorization.
Phone: 614.797.4700
Email: oisp@franklin.edu
Address:
Franklin University
Office of International Students and Programs
201 S. Grant Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215
USA
Schedule appointments online at https://www.franklin.edu/appt/oisp.
In-person appointments:
Register at the Welcome Center in the Paul J. Otte Center for Student Services.
For US-based phone appointments:
We will call you at the number you provide.
International phone appointments:
We will invite you to a phone conference. View instructions under Joining the Meeting through a Phone Call.
The change in your financial situation must be unforeseen and through no fault of your own. Just what constitutes a legitimate and unforeseen economic hardship is debatable. Some examples would include: loss of on-campus employment: unexpected loss of a scholarship; serious currency devaluation when the funds come from abroad; excessive tuition and fee increases; medical bills; burglary or robbery (with a police report); substantial increases in living costs; disruption of a sponsor’s income; death of a sponsor etc.
You will need to document to OISP your severe and unforeseen economic hardship. If the circumstances are determined to be severe and unforeseen we will recommend to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approval of your application for work authorization. If granted, the work permit is valid for part-time employment (20 hours a week or less while school is in session) and full-time during scheduled breaks. OISP’s recommendation does not guarantee approval of your application.
A complete application to USCIS must include:
We recommend that you include a letter explaining the circumstances and explaining that acceptance of employment will not interfere with your maintaining a full course of study.
To be eligible to apply for severe economic hardship work authorization you must:
An application for severe economic hardship work authorization can be stressful during a difficult time, so OISP is here to help.
First, begin gathering all application materials. Once your application materials are ready we will ask you to submit a request for a “Severe Economic Hardship” I-20.
If you have any difficulties gathering application materials or completing forms, contact OISP can give you advice or point you to helpful resources. We recommend scheduling an appointment to review the application with your international student advisor.
Once you are ready to submit the application to USCIS, send your application file by certified mail or courier. You will receive a receipt number from USCIS, which you can use to track the status of your application online.
If you move before the application is received or adjudicated, you must notify OISP of your address change and change your address online at https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange, or call 1-800-375-5283. Failure to update your address with USCIS can have serious effects on your status in the U.S.
Keep in mind that this work authorization is granted by USCIS in increments of one year at a time, or until your Program End Date, whichever is shorter and that the work authorization ends if you transfer schools or programs.
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