Student Employment
Special Student Relief (SSR)
Ethiopia
Haiti
Lebanon
Myanmar (Burma)
Somolia
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:
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.
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
Somolia
Effective September 18, 2024 until March 17, 2026
(July 22, 2024).
To be eligible, an F-1 student must:
- Be a citizens of Somolia, regardless of country of birth;
- Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on July 22, 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 Somalia.
Yemen
Effective September 4, 2024 until March 3, 2026
(July 10, 2024).
To be eligible, an F-1 student must:
- Be a citizen of Yemen, regardless of country of birth;
- Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on July 10, 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 current crisis in Yemen.
Benefits of SSR
- Ability to reduce course load in Fall & Spring semesters
- Ability to work on-campus over 20 hours per week during Fall and Spring OR apply for off-campus work permission.
How to apply for ssr
To apply use the to submit applications for the necessary I-20 to either gain permission to reduce your course load (6 hours for undergraduates and 3 hours for graduates) for the coming academic year and work over 20 hours in an on-campus job OR to reduce your course load and apply for special off-campus work permission with USCIS. The process is outlined in the E-Form. You do not need a job to apply.
Frequently Asked Question's for SSR & TPS
TPS & DED
Students can also read more information about TPS & DED below. Please note that while the Office of International Services can help you with the SSR process we suggest speaking with an immigration attorney regarding the below processes.