Special Student Relief

SSR applies to F-1 students who meet all of the following conditions:

• Are citizens of the designated country
• Were lawfully present in the United States in an F-1 nonimmigrant status on the date listed in the Federal Register (linked above)
• Are enrolled in an SEVP-certified school
• Are currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status
  
• Are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the crisis in their home country

• After approval from your ISS Advisor, you are eligible to seek on-campus employment of more than 20 hours/week.
• You may apply for off-campus work authorization based on severe economic hardship. Read through the information at the link.
• Undergraduate (Bachelor) students who work more than 20 hours/week on campus or are approved for off-campus work authorization can drop to 6 credit hours, with up to 3 credit hours of online credit counting towards full-time enrollment (with prior approval from your ISS advisor).
• Graduate (Master, Doctorate, or Law) students who work more than 20 hours/week on campus or are approved for off-campus work authorization can drop to 3 credit hours, with up to 3 credit hours of online credit counting towards full-time enrollment (with prior approval from your ISS advisor).

The US Department of Homeland Security has designated some countries for Special Student Relief (SSR). SSR suspends some rules regarding F-1 student enrollment and employment.

For the most current list of coutries and/or regions that have received this declaration is available here.