Special Student Relief
Special Student Relief (SSR) allows the suspension of certain F-1 requirements at the discretion of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). SSR and Temporary Protected Status are not the same. SSR is specifically for students with active F-1 status.
What is offered
SSR allows for the following:
- Increased on-campus employment.
- Off-campus employment authorization (through USCIS), which includes the ability to reduce your full course load.
How to apply
- Speak to a DSO at ISS
- Eligibility is determined by the rules set in the Federal Register Notice. Please check the notice yourself first.
- Receive a new I-20 from ISS
- If applying for off-campus employment, ISS will direct you on the application with USCIS.
Who is eligible
If your country is going through a crisis or emergency, please search the Federal Register for up to date announcements.
Current notices (updated 07/19/2024)
- Afghanistan
- Effective May 20, 2022
- Updated September 25, 2023
- Expires May 20, 2025
- Burma/Myanmar
- Effective May 25, 2021
- Updated March 25, 2024
- Expires November 25, 2025
- Cameroon
- Effective June 7, 2022
- Updated October 10, 2023
- Expires June 7, 2025
- Ethiopia
- Effective December 12, 2022
- Updated April 12, 2024
- Expires December 12, 2025
- Haiti
- Effective August 3, 2021
- Updated July 1, 2024
- Expires February 3, 2026
- Hong Kong
- Effective November 26, 2021
- Updated January 26, 2023
- Expires February 5, 2025
- Lebanon
- Effective July 26, 2024
- Expires January 25, 2026
- Palestinian Territories
- Effective February 14, 2024
- Expires August 13, 2025
- Somalia
- Effective September 18, 2021
- Updated July 19, 2024
- Expires March 17, 2026
- Sudan
- Effective April 19, 2022
- Updated August 21, 2023
- Expires April 19, 2025
- South Sudan
- Effective March 3, 2022
- Updated September 6, 2023
- Expires May 3, 2025
- Syria
- Effective April 22, 2021
- Updated January 29, 2024
- Expires September 30, 2025
- Ukraine
- Effective April 19, 2022
- Updated August 21, 2023
- Expires April 19, 2025
- Venezuela
- Effective April 22, 2021
- Updated March 11, 2024
- Expires September 10, 2025
- Yemen
- Effective September 4, 2021
- Updated July 10, 2024
- Expires March 3, 2026