Student & Scholar Services » Off-Campus
Work Based On Economic Necessity
According to USCIS, the following circumstances qualify for unforeseen
economic need: loss of financial aid, scholarship, or fellowship; loss
of an on-campus job; large increase in tuition or living expenses; unexpected
changes in student's financial support; medical bills. To be eligible
to apply, students must have been in F-1 status for at least 9 months
at the school they are currently attending, be in good academic standing
(not on probation), and registered full-time. If a reinstatement was required
at the current school, the 9 months counts from the date the reinstatement
was granted. If a change of status took place at the current school, the
9 months is counted from the date the F-1 status was approved. The employment
must not interfere with the student's full-time status. The application
for work authorization is made to USCIS. If the application is accepted,
USCIS will issue an EAD card valid for one year (but not beyond the graduation
date). Work is limited to 20 hours per week during the academic year,
but may be full time in the summer. There is no restriction on the type
of work. Renewals are possible, but the same application procedure must
be followed. A transfer student who has an unexpired need-based employment
card from another school may not use that card for employment while at
UTA.
- Student must have been in F-1 status and enrolled full time at least one full academic year (9 consecutive months) at the school currently attending.
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Student must be in good academic standing (not on probation).
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Student must be able to demonstrate unforeseen financial need.
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Student must be enrolled full-time.
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Student must have attempted to find a job on campus. If currently working on campus, the student must indicate to USCIS why that job is not sufficient to meet the financial need, and also that the on-campus job will cease on a certain date.
PROCEDURE:
- Student brings to the Office of International Education:
- SEVIS I-20.
- Proof of economic need. Write a letter to USCIS requesting the work authorization and detailing the reasons why you must work. Include in the letter a list of assets and expenses for the next year.
- Evidence supporting the reasons given in the student's letter, such as a letter from the sponsor, a letter from the department indicating scholarship/assistantship will not be renewed, doctor bills.
- Completed I-765
- Check made out to USCIS for $180
- 2 passport style photos
- Copy of passport identity page or visa with photo
- Signature card (available in Office of International Education)
- Copy of I-94 (front and back)
- Copy of any previously issued EAD cards
- The office of International Education will:
- Verify student is full time and in good academic standing and has been in F-1 status at UTA for at least 9 months.
- Recommend the need-based employment in SEVIS and print a new I-20.
- Ask the student to come in and sign the new I-20 with the recommendation for employment.
- Mail to the USCIS the following:
- Check for $180
- I-20
- I-765
- Evidence of economic need
- Student's letter
- Photos
- Signature card
- Copy of Passport ID
- Copies of EAD, if any
- Copy of both sides of I-94
- Return the original I-20 to the student
- USCIS will send a receipt notice to the address on the application in about two weeks. The EAD will be mailed to the same address, unless the USCIS is informed of a change of address. It is VERY IMPORTANT to notify USCIS of an address change since the Post Office will not forward mail issued by a government agency.
USCIS Instructions for Photograph:
2 Identical color photos with a white background taken no earlier than
30 days before submission to the USCIS. They should be un-mounted, printed
on thin paper with a glossy finish, and un-retouched. The photos should
show a full frontal pose of head and shoulders (passport style). Your
head should be bare unless you are wearing a headdress as required by
a religious order to which you belong. The photo should not be larger
than 1 ½ by 1 ½ inches, with the distance from the top of
the head to just below the chin about 1 ¼ inches to 1 3/8 inches.
The USCIS instructions are very specific, and applications will be refused
if the photos are not correct. Full Instructions are available on the
State
Department Website.
Notice: Once you receive a receipt notice from the USCIS, you can check the status of your application online at : https://egov.immigration.gov/graphics/cris/jsps/index.jsp or follow the link at http://uscis.gov
Notice about Photos:You may get photos anywhere you want. It is your choice! But the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has certain requirements for the photos . The businesses below claim they know the exact specifications required by USCIS. The Office of international Education does not "recommend" any one in particular; but we do hope that the list will be helpful to you. You may contact the UTA Office of International Education at 817-272-2355 with any question regarding this procedure. Be sure that any photographer you locate understands new photo requirements for immigration applications.
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Name of Business
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Address
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Phone Number
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Contact
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Comments
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C & B Photo
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1301 N Collins Street, Suite 225 Arlington ,Texas
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817-277-5370
817-797-4700 |
Ricky
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20%Discount to UTA Students
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ABC Photo
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716 E Abram Street Arlington ,Texas 76010
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817-461-3368
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Y.K.Bao
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3 Photos for $12
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ASA Photo
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2215 S Collins Street , Arlington, Texas
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817-860-7443
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Jerry
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2 photos for $11
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Note To Student:
It is the responsibility of the Office of International Education to review
the materials submitted by the student and to review the student's records.
It is also the responsibility of the Office of International Education to
provide information to the student and to advise to student how to prepare
the application.
It is the student's responsibility to make honest statements in the letter
and submit genuine documents. If the documents are fraudulent or the student
makes false statements to the USCIS, he has committed a criminal offense
which may lead to severe penalties. Any employment authorization based on
a fraudulent application is considered illegal employment.