Economic Hardship

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) defines severe economic hardship as a financial condition caused by unforseen circumstances beyond the student's control that make it difficult for a student to continue education in the United States.

Financial conditions may include:

• Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment through no fault of the student
• Substantial changes in the exchange rate or value of the currency upon which the student depends
• Inordinate increases in tuition or living costs
• Unexpected changes in the financial state of the student's source of support
• Medical bills
• Other substantial and unexpected expenses

• Student must be in valid F1 status at the time of application
• Student must be in valid F1 status for 2 long semesters (a Fall and a Spring) to be eligible for economic hardship
• Student is in good academic standing
• Student is enrolled full-time
• Student can demonstrate that acceptance of employment will not interfere with the student's ability to continue to study full-time
• Student can demonstrate that on-campus employment is unavailable or otherwise insufficient to meet the needs that have arisen as a result of the unforseen circumstance
• Student can demonstrate that the employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship due to unforseen circumstances beyond the student's control

• Evidence of your economic hardship. Examples include:
  
  • Copies of past and present currency exchange charts showing the devaluation of your country's currency
  • Newspaper documents showing currency devaluation in your home country
  • Letter/documentation from sponsor(s) indicating loss of sponsorship
  • Letter from employer verifying unexpected employment termination that is of no fault of the student
  • Copies of medical bills
  • Letter from WT verifying lack of on-campus employment opportunities
  • And more
• Documentation of your current expenses:
  • Proof of tuition bill payment
  • Apartment lease or cost of living on-campus
  • Utility bills
  • Other significant expenses (books, medical expenses, etc.)
• Letter written by you, addressed to USCIS:
  • Detailing the nature of your economic hardship and change in circumstances beyond your control
  • Verifying that this employment will not affect your ability to maintain a full course load
  • Explaining why an on-campus job is not available or is not sufficient to cover the economic hardship
• Additional Documents Required for the USCIS Application:
  • Passport Biographic Page
  • Visa Stamp
  • I-94
  • 2 passport-size photos, taken within the last 30 days
  • Completed I-765 form - form must be typed. Handwritten forms will not be accepted
    • The I-765 cannot be filed online for Economic Hardship
  • Completed G-1145 form - form must be typed. Handwritten forms will not be accepted
  • Check for $410 ($470 effective April 1, 2024)

Schedule an appointment with a DSO

Bring the documents listed above.

You will need provide all of the required documentation listed in step 1 with your application.

In addition, you will need an I-20 recommending economic hardship approval. You will receive this at your appointment with WT, if approved by a DSO