Economic Hardship Work Authorization

To apply for Economic Hardship you submit the following to ISS:

• Update your emergency contact, local address, permanent address, and phone number in the Student HUB Center
  • Instructions on how to update your HUB information can be found here.
• Personal statement describing the unforeseen hardship situation; address the letter to the USCIS;
  • Describe the facts that led to the problem, explain the difficult situation that could not be avoided and how you are not at fault, and present a reasonable plan that is short-term and designed to get you out of financial and academic trouble.
  • Include a statement about how this employment will not impact ability to maintain a full course load in the future. If you have experience managing course work and on-campus employment mention that.
  • Elaborate on why other on-campus jobs are not available
  • If choosing a start date earlier than the published processing times, indicate that you accept a change in authorization dates due to adjudication. 
• Evidence / documentation of your economic hardship. Examples of such evidence include: 
  • Copies of past and present currency exchange charts showing the devaluation of your country's currency
  • Proof (signed letters, affidavits, bank statements) of unexpected changes in the financial situation of your sponsor 
  • Copies of medical bills or other substantial and unexpected expenses 
  • A letter from your department verifying that your assistantship has been unexpectedly terminated 
• Documentation of your current expenses. For example: 
  • Proof of tuition bill payment 
  • Apartment lease or cost of living on campus 
  • Utility bills 
  • Any other significant expenses (books, medical expenses, etc.) 
• Completed Form G-1145 (E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance)
• Requested employment start and end date. This information can be sent via e-mail to the ISS Advisor assisting you with your Economic Hardship application.
  

When your application is complete, ISS will enter your Economic Hardship application into the SEVIS system, and produce a new I-20 with the Economic Hardship recommendation.

ISS recommends that you submit the following documents to the USCIS:

• Original Form I‑765. 
  • Don't forget to sign and include all seven pages! 
  • Be sure to also carefully review the USCIS instructions
• Form G-1145
• Application fee of $410.
  • This should be a check (from a U.S. bank) or a U.S. money order payable to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”. 
  • Write the 11-digit number from your I-94 on your check or money order. 
  • Don’t forget to sign and date the check.
    • Click here to see an example check.
  • If you intend to file for a Fee Waiver (Form I-912), then we recommend that you carefully review the eligibility requirements found on the USCIS website. If you request a fee waiver and are denied, you will be required to submit a new application with the appropriate fee. This will add significant processing time to your application. 
• Photocopy of pages 1 and 2 of your new Economic Hardship endorsement I‑20
  • Don’t forget to sign and date the Student Attestation section of your I-20. If you forget, USCIS will return your OPT application to you.
• Photocopies of all previous I‑20's. Do not send originals!
• Your cover letter explaining your situation (as described above). 
• Letter of support from ISS. Your ISS advisor will provide this letter after you submit a complete application to ISS.
• Documentation of the unforeseen change in your financial circumstances. 
• Two (2) identical natural color photographs of yourself, taken within 30 days of your application and not previously used for another purpose.
  • Please review the specifications for the photos.  
    • If your photos do not meet USCIS requirements exactly, your EAD card will not be issued.
  • In pencil, write your name and I-94 number lightly on the back of each photo.
  • Photos can be taken at most drug stores (Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid) or at the UB Law Library, 211 O’Brian Hall (Tel. 645-2204).
• Photocopy of your current, valid passport (biographic and photo pages) and U.S. visa stamp in your passport. If your passport has expired, please go to ISS, Talbert Hall 210 for advice.  
  • Canadian citizens do not have visa stamps.
• Photocopy of the front and back of your newest I-94 Card OR print-out of electronic I-94 (available on CBP's website).

Visit the USCIS I-765 Direct Filing Address for the current lockbox mailing address. Be sure to click on "Foreign Students".

You should use a reliable, express delivery service (e.g. UPS, FedEx) to mail your application. Utilizing an express delivery service will enable you to track your application and its delivery. Please save your receipt.

Processing time at the USCIS is estimated to be 90-120 days. However, processing times vary widely, depending on the time of year and workload at the Service Center to which you send your application.

If your application is approved, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (“EAD card”) from the USCIS Service Center.

You must submit a copy of your EAD card to ISS on UB Global using the "Document Upload" e-form.