In some instances, a student who is able to prove severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond their control, which arose after obtaining the F-1 students status, may be eligible for permission to work off-campus.
Students must have been in student status for one full academic year, and must be able to document the circumstances causing the economic need including not being able to find on-campus employment. If authorized, employment is limited to no more than 20 hours per week when school is in session and full-time during the break or vacation periods.
Applications must be endorsed by OGE and submitted to USCIS for approval. This application may take up to 90 days to process.