Economic Hardship and SSR

This page will help you apply for Economic Hardship Employment or Special Student Relief (SSR) if you are currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program at SFSU and are experiencing severe, unforeseen financial difficulties.

Economic Hardship

Economic Hardship Employment is a benefit available to eligible F-1 students who experience severe, unexpected financial difficulties after arriving in the United States. If you qualify, USCIS may authorize you to work off campus to help meet your living expenses while continuing your studies.

General Information

  • Loss of financial aid or on-campus job (through no fault of your own).
  • Large changes in currency value or exchange rates.
  • Sharp increases in tuition or living costs.
  • High medical bills.
  • Other large, unexpected expenses.

For more details, see USCIS Special Situations.

  • Length of Authorization: The work permit is valid for up to 1 year or until your graduation date, whichever comes first.
  • Types of Jobs Allowed: You can work in any field, not just your major.
  • Renewal: If your financial hardship continues and you haven’t graduated, you can apply for renewal. To renew, you must still be a full-time student and in good academic standing.
  • Termination: Your work authorization will end when:
    • The EAD expires.
    • You lose F-1 status.
    • You transfer to another school.

Note: This work authorization does not affect your eligibility for CPT (Curricular Practical Training) or OPT (Optional Practical Training).

  • Think carefully before applying for Economic Hardship.
  • F-1 advisors cannot predict whether your application will be approved.
  • Past students have been denied because they couldn’t provide enough proof of their financial situation, such as personal or sponsor bank statements.
  • Be in valid F-1 status
  • Be physically in the U.S. 
  • Fulfilled one-year full-time requirement in F-1 status. This employment authorization is not available for students who have just arrived in the U.S. or are in their first year of the program.
  • Make a good faith effort to find on-campus employment before applying for the economic hardship employment authorization.
  • In good academic standing (2.0 GPA for undergraduates/3.0 GPA for graduates

Applying for Economic Hardship

It is essential for you to provide strong evidence/supporting documentation that proves:

  • Accepting employment will not interfere with maintaining a full course load.
  • The off-campus employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control.
  • On-campus employment is either unavailable or insufficient to cover the financial needs created by these unforeseen circumstances.

To request an I-20 with Economic Hardship employment authorization, you must 

  • Complete and email the Updated I-20 Request Form online
  • Upload both a letter of explanation and supporting documentation. 
  • The letter of explanation must be dated and signed by you.

An F-1 advisor will review your request. If you are eligible for Economic Hardship Employment, you will receive an updated I-20 showing the Economic Hardship recommendation on page 2 within 10 business days.

You must mail Form I-765 and supporting documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Online filing is not available for Economic Hardship requests.

What to Include in Your Application Package:

  • Completed and Signed Form I-765
    • Download the form at Form I-765.
    • Follow the instructions carefully.
    • Under Part 2, question 27, type (C)(3)(iii) for Economic Hardship in the Eligibility Category.
  • I-20 with Economic Hardship Authorization
    • Print the updated I-20 that includes the Economic Hardship off-campus employment authorization.
    • Sign the I-20 in blue ink.
  • Letter of Explanation
    • This letter must explain your severe and unforeseen economic hardship.
    • It must be dated and signed.
  • Supporting Documentation
    • Include evidence of your economic hardship (such as financial statements, proof of loss of income, etc.).
  • Two U.S. Passport-Style Photos
    • Follow the instructions for passport photo requirements.
    • Write your full name and I-94 number on the back of the photos (write gently).
    • Place the photos in a small envelope for protection.
  • Most Recent I-94
  • Official Transcripts
    • Include your official transcript in a sealed envelope.
  • Photocopies of Previous EAD (if any)
    • Include copies of any previously issued Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), if applicable.
  • Filing Fee or Fee Waiver Request (Form I-912)
    • Submit the required filing fee. See USCIS most current Fee Schedule | USCIS. or complete Form I-912, if requesting a fee waiver. For more details, visit Fee Waiver Information: Request for Fee Waiver | USCIS
    • Disclaimer Regarding Form I-912: Submitting Form I-912 does not guarantee that your fee waiver will be approved. USCIS will review your request, and the decision may take several weeks or even months. During this time, your application will not be processed. If your fee waiver is not approved, you will be required to refile Form I-765 with the correct filing fee in order for your application to be processed.
  • (Optional) Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application Acceptance. If you would like to receive an electronic notification (email or text) when your application is accepted, complete Form G-1145.
  • Find the correct address to mail your application by visiting the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-765. page. Look for the category "Foreign Students" under (C)(3)(iii).
  • Students must mail their application within 30 days of the I-20 issuance date. The issuance date is usually a few days before the I-20 print date, which can be found next to the F-1 advisor's signature.
  • Please allow time for mailing. USCIS will reject the application if it is received more than 30 days after the I-20 issuance date. If a student cannot mail the application within 30 days, they must contact f1@sfsu.edu and request a new I-20.
  • I-797C Notice of Action: USCIS will mail a paper I-797C notice to the your address after they receive the filing fee, Form I-765, and supporting documentation. The "Received Date" on this notice indicates when USCIS begins processing the application.
    • If you do not receive an I-797C notice within 3 weeks of mailing their application, you should request that the receipt letter be sent to you using USCIS online tools. 
    • You can check the status of their application by entering their receipt number under “Check your case status” at USCIS Case Status.
  • Request for Evidence (RFE): USCIS may send you a Request for Evidence (RFE) if additional supporting documentation is needed.
    • Receiving an RFE does not mean the application has been rejected; it simply means that more documents must be provided before the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) can be issued.
    • USCIS gives you 30 days to respond to the RFE. If you fail to respond by the deadline, your application will be denied. 
    • An RFE may also delay the processing of the application. Your are encouraged to reach out to an F-1 advisor before responding to an RFE.
  • Approval/Denial Notice: USCIS will mail students an I-797 notice(different from the I-797C notice) to inform you of the approval or denial.
  • Employment Authorization Document (EAD): You cannot begin employment until you have received their EAD and the "valid from" date on the EAD has been reached.

Special Student Relief (SSR) 

Special Student Relief (SSR) is a temporary benefit available to eligible F-1 students from certain countries facing crisis situations. SSR may allow you to work more hours and reduce your course load while continuing to maintain F-1 status.

As of 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have been phasing out active SSR designations for international F-1 students from crisis-affected countries.

General Information

DHS issues a Federal Register (FR) notice when the secretary declares that an event constitutes emergent circumstances. To be eligible for SSR, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Are the citizen of a country specified in an FR notice
  • Have lawfully resided in the United States for the dates indicated in the FR notice
  • Have enrolled at SF State since the beginning of the I-20 program start date
  • Are currently maintaining F-1 status
  • Are experiencing severe economic hardship

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have been phasing out active SSR designations for international F-1 students from crisis-affected countries.

To be determined.

To be determined.