SEH Points to Remember

Severe Economic Hardship Authorization Tutorial

Two to three weeks after mailing the packet, USCIS will issue a receipt notice confirming your SEH application was received at the service center and is being processed. USCIS correspondence will be sent to OIE if you chose to list our mailing address on the Form I-765 (recommended). We will open and make copies of SEH-related documents from USCIS and will email you with instructions on how you can receive your mail. In the upper left-hand corner of the Receipt Notice will be a Receipt Number with which you can check the status of your application on the USCIS website. Using this Receipt Number, you can also sign up to receive notification emails from USCIS regarding the status of your case.

Processing times for SEH generally run 2-3 months. Students who file a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver should expect additional processing time.
You may begin employment only after the EAD has been issued to you AND ONLY ON OR AFTER THE START DATE PRINTED ON THE CARD.
Authorization may be granted for up to 12 months but cannot extend beyond the program end date on your I-20. If you are not expected to complete your program by the end date currently listed on your I-20, we recommend requesting an I-20 Extension before you apply for SEH.
Authorization ends if student completes program of study, transfers to another school, or violates F-1 status.
Authorization is renewable, but renewal process is the same as the first application; student must demonstrate continued unforeseeable economic hardship.

Thank you for completing the Severe Economic Hardship (SEH) Tutorial!

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