Student Employment

Special Student Relief (SSR)




Afghanistan
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Haiti
Hong Kong
Lebanon
Myanmar (Burma)
Palestine
Somolia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Ukraine
Venezuela
Yemen
Benefits of SSR
How to Apply for SSR
Frequently Asked Questions
TPS & DED

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Special Student Relief (SSR) for F-1 students who are citizens of the below countries.  Students from these countries who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a result of the current crisis in their home country can apply for permission to reduce their course load and to work over 20 hours in on-campus positions or apply for an EAD card to work off-campus. Students apply in iStart using the . They do not need to work to receive the reduced course load benefit and they do not need a job to complete the E-form. Students receive a special I-20 that shows permission for these benefits.

For eligibility criteria see below:

Afghanistan

Effective November 21, 2023 through May 20, 2025
 (September 25, 2023)

To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

  • Be a citizen of Afghanistan, regardless of country of birth (or be an individual having no nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan);
  • Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on September 25, 2023;
  • Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status;
  • Be enrolled in an SEVP-certified academic institution; and
  • Be experiencing severe economic hardship "as a direct result of the current situation in Afghanistan"

Cameroon  

Effective December 8, 2023 until June 7, 2025
 (October 10, 2023)

To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

  • Be a citizen of Cameroon, regardless of country of birth (or be an individual having no nationality who last habitually resided in Cameroon)
  • Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on October 10, 2023;
  • Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status;
  • Be enrolled in an SEVP-certified academic institution; and
  • Be experiencing severe economic hardship "as a direct result of the crises in Cameroon"

Ethiopia         

Effective June 13, 2024 until December 12, 2025
 (April 15, 2024)

To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

  • Be a citizens of Ethiopia, regardless of country of birth;
  • Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on April 15, 2024;
  • Be enrolled in an Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school;
  • Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status; and
  • Be experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Ethiopia.

Haiti

Effective August 4, 2024 until February 3, 2026
(July 1, 2024)

To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

  • Be a citizens of Haiti, regardless of country of birth;
  • Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on July 1, 2024;
  • Be enrolled in an Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school;
  • Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status; and
  • Be experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Haiti.

Hong Kong

Effective January 26, 2023 until February 5, 2025
(May 4, 2023).

To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

  • Be a resident of Hong Kong, regardless of country of birth;
  • Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on January 26, 2023;
  • Be enrolled in an Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school;
  • Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status; and
  • Be experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the emergent circumstances in Hong Kong.

Lebanon

Effective July 26, 2024 until January 25, 2026
(October 17, 2024).

To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

  • Be a citizens of Lebanon regardless of country or birth (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon);
  • Have been lawfully present in the United States in an F-1 nonimmigrant status on July 26, 2024;
  • Be enrolled in a Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP)-Certified School;
  • Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status; and
  • Be experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

Myanmar (Burma)    

Effective May 26, 2024 until November 25, 2025
(March 25, 2024)

To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

  • Be a citizen of Burma, regardless of country of birth;
  • Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on March 25, 2024;
  • Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status;
  • Be enrolled in an SEVP-certified academic institution; and
  • Be experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the crisis in Burma

Palestine

Effective February 14, 2024 until August 13, 2025
(April 15, 2024)

To be eligible an F-1 student must:

  • Possesses any authentic document described in the Supplementary Information section