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F-1 Off Campus Employment and International Organization Internship

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F-1 Off Campus Employment and International Organization Internship

Last updated: October 31, 2023

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Off-campus employment is a benefit available for some F-1 students who are:

  • Experiencing an economic hardship.
  • Seeking special student relief due to emergent circumstances.
  • Participating in an internship with an international organization.

A designated school official (DSO) must verify that the student qualifies for off-campus employment by entering the employment information in SEVIS.

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Off-campus employment recommendations cannot exceed one year; except for employment during Special Student Relief (SSR), which can end either on the last date of the authorized SSR, as published in the Federal Register notice, or the student’s program end date, whichever is earlier.

The student must then file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

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Remind your F-1 students:

  • Not to file the Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization,” until you have recommended off-campus employment in their SEVIS records, and they have the updated Form I-20 with the off-campus employment recommendation. 

If a student submits the Form I-765 on paper or electronically before you recommend the off-campus employment:

  • USCIS will deny the application. (Federal regulations require the DSO off- campus recommendation on the student SEVIS record before the Form  I- 765 is submitted.) 
  • The student will have to reapply for off-campus employment and pay the fee again, if required.

IMPORTANT: Making these mistakes can dramatically delay the final USCIS authorized employment start date.
 

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  • 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii) – Off-campus work authorization
  • 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(iii) – Internship with an international organization

Severe Economic Hardship

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

These 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.
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8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii)(C) – Severe economic hardship

To qualify for off-campus employment, the student must be able to demonstrate why on-campus employment is unavailable or insufficient to meet the student’s financial needs, which arise from unexpected circumstances.

Special Student Relief Due to Emergent Circumstances

AnchorIn special global circumstances (e.g., famine, war, economic downturn, etc.) the U.S. government may allow students from affected countries temporary special benefits. This practice is called Special Student Relief (SSR). One of the SSR benefits is to apply for off-campus employment. In these cases, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will issue a notice in the Federal Register that gives timelines and details of the benefits.

Internship with an International Organization

Students who are offered an internship with an international organization may be eligible for an employment benefit. The internship must:

  • Be in the United States.
  • Be with a public international organization that falls within the International Organization Immunities Act, as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 288 59 Stat. 669.
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8 CFR 316.20(c) – International Organizations Immunities Act designations

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Required fields are marked by a red asterisk (*).

  1. Go to the Student Information Page.
Screenshot of the Student information page with Off-Campus Employment link highlighted.
  1.   Click Off-Campus Employment under the Employment/Training section. The Off-Campus Employment page opens.
Screenshot of the Off-Campus Employment page with New Off-Campus Employment link highlighted.
  1. Click New Off-Campus Employment. The Add Off-Campus Employment page opens.
Screenshot of the Add Off-Campus Employment page with all data fields required.
  1. Enter the following information in the Add Off-Campus Employment fields:
    • Employment Start Date
    • Employment End Date
    • Off-Campus Employment Type: Click drop-down arrow to select type:
      • Economic Hardship.
      • International Organization [Internship].
      • Special Student Relief [due to emergent circumstances.
    • Recommendation: Text is visible in SEVIS student record for certain government users.
    • Student Remarks: Text prints on the Form I-20, Page 1 in the Remarks field.
  2. Click Add Employment. An Update Successful confirmation page opens.
Screenshot of the Update Successful message
  1. Click either:
  • Return to Employment List: Returns the user to the Off-Campus Employment page without printing the Form I-20.
  • Print I-20: Prints the Form I-20 with the DSO’s employment recommendation.
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The student must send a copy of the Form I-20, along with the Form I-765, to USCIS.

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Any F-1 off-campus request in Requested status longer than 180 days is automatically canceled by SEVIS.

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Required fields are marked by a red asterisk. (*)

To edit a request for employment:

  1. Go to the Off-Campus Employment page.
Screenshot of the Off-Campus Employment page with the Edit link highlighted.
  1.  Click Edit next to the record you want to change. The Edit Off-Campus Employment page opens.
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You may only edit requests in Requested or Pending status.

Screenshot of the Edit Off-Campus Employment page with the data fields completed.  All fields are required.
  1. Edit the following information, if needed:
    • Employment Start Date
    • Employment End Date
    • Off-Campus Employment Type: Click drop-down arrow to select type:
      • Economic Hardship.
      • International Organization [Internship].
      • Special Student Relief [due to emergent circumstances].
    • Recommendation: Text is visible in SEVIS student record for certain government users.
    • Student Remarks: Text prints on the Form I-20, Page 1 in the Remarks field.
  2.   Click Update Employment. An Update Successful confirmation page opens.
Screenshot of the Update Successful page.
  1. Click either:
    • Return to Employment List: Returns the user to the Off-Campus Employment page without printing the Form I-20.
    • Print I-20: Prints the Form I-20 with the DSO’s employment recommendation.
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An updated Form I-20 should be sent to USCIS.

To cancel a request:

  1. Go to the Off-Campus Employment page.
Screenshot of the Off-Campus Employment page with Cancel Request link highlighted.
  1. Click Cancel Request next to the record you want to cancel. A Confirm Cancelation of Request message opens.
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You may only cancel employment requests in the Requested status

Confirm Cancellation of Request

3. Click either:

  • Yes: Cancels the off-campus employment request. Update Successful message opens.
  • No: Returns to the Off-Campus Employment page.
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If the student has sent the Form I-765 application to USCIS, you must withdraw the application with USCIS, even if the SEVIS status is still Requested.

Sometimes SEVIS displays an incorrect status of benefit requests; for example, a request may be listed as Pending, instead of Approved.

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For information on correcting the status of employment requests in SEVIS, see Correct SEVIS Status of USCIS Requests article on the SEVIS Help Hub.

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