bullshit upon bullshits...

Drifter: economic hardship work permits do not deduct your opt time. it has nothing to do with opt. may be you're talking about cpt? or JPT ( jay payo tehi).

ITSCA: you are lucky that you have scholorship. try more scholorships or even stay poor. ramen noodles are cheap and well known among students.  unless it is for cash don't rish working off campus. you're so close to graduation. can't your family wait for few more months. then you'll have opt. you need to tell your family clearly that you're a student , you're not a dv winner or a h1b or a US citizen who can just work and save if they want to. but again, i don't know how urgent your family needs are. there is always the cost and benefit issue on any matter. and i'm sure you're mature enough to make your own decision. as far as the risk goes, yes !, it is risky. do people take that risk? yes, they do. should you? i don' tknow.. i don't know how bad u need it..

some of you guys need to go to ocean city and estes park. and ask any h1b or green card holder in america who was once a f1 , ask them, how they survived.