Economic Hardship / Necessity Work Authorization

F-1 immigration regulations permit an F-1 student to apply to USCIS for an Economic Hardship Employment Authorization document in cases of "severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control. These circumstances may include 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, inordinate increases of tuition and/or living costs, unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student's source of support, medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected expenses."

Processing of this authorization requires a Form I-20 recommendation of an ISSS adviser, supporting documentation, and an application to USCIS which can take 90 days or more. Students must have been in F-1 status for at least 1 academic year, and employment is limited to a total of 20 hours of work per week while school is in session, including any on-campus employment. Employment can be full-time during official school breaks. 

To discuss your situation and determine if you qualify for this authorization please speak with an International Student Advisor during advising hours, or schedule an appointment.

F-1 regulations allow F-1 students to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in order to work in an internship with a recognized international organization within the meaning of the International Organization Immunities Act. See the full list of designated International Organizations. In most cases, CPT is a more appropriate choice for students with internships.

Processing of this authorization requires a Form I-20 recommendation of an ISSS adviser and an application to USCIS which can take 90 days or more. There is no academic-year waiting period, and eligibility is immediate if a student has an offer by a recognized international organization. This type of employment is only available during the degree program, not post-completion. This type of employment can be full-time or part-time. However, the student must remain a full-time student, enrolled in full course of study and maintain F-1 immigration status.

To discuss your situation and determine if you qualify for this authorization please speak with an International Student Advisor during advising hours, or schedule an appointment.

J-1 students who have received their DS-2019 document from Babson College may be eligible to request Economic Necessity Work Authorization, off-campus work authorization due to unforeseen financial need. This type of work authorization allows J-1 students to work off-campus in a part-time job during the academic year, or in a full-time job during semester breaks. The job does not need to be related to the student's field of study.

Documentation required for this authorization include a personal statement, immigration documentation, and supporting documentation to prove the existence of your hardship and how it was unforeseen. Some examples include a signed affidavit from sponsor(s) explaining why they can no longer provide financial support, your current budget, recent newspaper articles, medical bills, recent exchange rate reports, etc.

There is no time limit associated with the Economic Hardship work authorization. If a student can demonstrate financial need, they are eligible to apply as long as the need exists. Economic Hardship work authorization does not affect a student's J-1 Academic Training eligibility.

To discuss your situation and determine if you qualify for this authorization please speak with an International Student Advisor during advising hours, or schedule an appointment.