The government has made provisions on a case-by-case basis to grant authorization for off-campus employment due to new, unexpected circumstances beyond your control that have created the severe economic hardship. These may include:

• Loss of financial aid–if it is not your fault;
• Large increases in tuition or living costs
• Substantial decrease in the relative value of currency you depend upon to pay expenses;
• Unexpected changes in the financial conditions for your sources of financial support;
• Unexpectedly large medical bills not covered by insurance; or
• Other substantial, unexpected expenses.

Eligibility

• Lawful F-1 status for at least one full academic year
• Good academic standing
• Documented. supportable evidence that your off-campus employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond your control that arose after obtaining F-1 status
• Academic record supportive of the prospect that accepting off-campus employment will not interfere with your ability to successfully complete a full course of study

Conditions

• Work is limited to no more than 20 hours per week off-campus while school is in session or full-time during vacation periods.
• Authorization is granted in increments of one year or until your program end date, which ever is sooner.

Application Procedure

1. Complete an Application for Employment Authorization Form I-765. (You can complete the form on page 10 by using your computer keyboard. Use the TAB key to navigate.) Complete Item #16 as follows: ( c ) ( 3 ) ( iii ). Be sure to include the following as part of your application. Form filing tips

   • Form I-765
   • $ 410 check or money order payable to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
   • New Form I-20 recommending your employment obtained from International Services-send a copy with your application
   • Copies of all previous Form I-20s
   • 2 photos as detailed in “Part 3. Required Documentation” of the application—we recommend you place them in a small plastic bag
   • Copy of your Form I-94 Departure Record (front and back)
   • Documentation of hardship
     
     • Personal letter explaining the circumstances of the hardship
     • Supporting materials
       
       • For example, a letter detailing illness at home or information telling of the devaluation of currency in your home country, etc. (Letters from parents and sponsors must be notarized.)
       • A list of assets, income, and expenses
       • Explanation as to why other employment options are unavailable or insufficient (a simple statement might suffice)
   • Copy of your passport visa and your name, date of birth, photograph, passport number, and passport expiration date pages. If you are Canadian, you may submit a copy of a photo identity document issued by a governmental agency such as a passport showing your photograph, name, and date of birth or a driver's license showing the same information. The photocopy must clearly show your photograph and identity information.
   • Copy of your last EAD (front and back) if you have previously received one
2. Bring your completed application to International Services for review before submitting it to USCIS.
3. We recommend that you make a copy of everything for your personal records before you send the application to USCIS.
4. EADs will not be forwarded so if you are planning to move, you may want to put our office address on the I-765 (1351 WSC, Provo, UT 84602). However, if you do, you must update your contact information in Route Y (address, email, phone) so we can reach you when your EAD arrives.
5. Send all of the above to USCIS. We recommend that you use certified return receipt mail when you send the application. The filing addresses change occasionally; please check the USCIS website for the most up-to-date addresses.