Special Student Relief (SSR)
Special Student Relief (SSR) is the suspension of certain regulatory requirements by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for an F‑1 student from parts of the world that are experiencing emergent circumstances. Regulatory requirements that may be suspended or altered for an F-1 student include: duration of status, full course of study and off-campus employment eligibility.
SSR applies when emergent circumstances occur. Emergent circumstances are world events that affect F-1 students from a particular region and create significant financial hardships, such as but not limited to:
- Natural disasters.
- Wars and military conflicts.
- National or international financial crises.
DHS issues a Federal Register (FR) notice when the secretary declares that an event constitutes emergent circumstances. You may be eligible for SSR if you:
- Are the citizen of a country specified in an FR notice.
- Have lawfully resided in the United States for the dates indicated in the FR notice.
- Have reported on time to your designated school official (DSO) and been enrolled in an SEVP-certified school since the event.
- Are currently maintaining F-1 status.
- Are experiencing severe economic hardship.
Your DSO must certify in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) that you meet all the above requirements to qualify for SSR. Your DSO should note any specifics, as SEVP recommends, in the remarks section of your Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” You must first file a Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization,” with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and receive authorization before you can begin off-campus employment.
Countries currently designated for SSR:
Select the country link for additional specific country information.
Please note that SSR and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are different. TPS may be offered to various visa classifications, when applicable, including F-1 students. However, SSR, when applicable, is offered only to eligible F-1 students.
For detailed information about SSR, please see Special Student Relief.
Contact your ISSS Advisor if you are interested in applying for Special Student Relief.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country may also be granted TPS.
The Secretary may designate a country for TPS due to the following temporary conditions in the country:
- Ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war)
- An environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic
- Other extraordinary and temporary conditions
During a designated period, individuals who are TPS beneficiaries or who are found preliminarily eligible for TPS upon initial review of their cases (prima facie eligible):
- Are not removable from the United States
- Can obtain an employment authorization document (EAD)
- May be granted travel authorization
Once granted TPS, an individual also cannot be detained by DHS on the basis of his or her immigration status in the United States.
TPS is a temporary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status. However, registration for TPS does not prevent you from:
- Applying for nonimmigrant status
- Filing for adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition
- Applying for any other immigration benefit or protection for which you may be eligible
Countries currently designated for TPS:
Select the country link for additional specific country information.
Please note that to be granted any other immigration benefit you must still meet all the eligibility requirements for that particular benefit. An application for TPS does not affect an application for asylum or any other immigration benefit and vice versa. Denial of an application for asylum or any other immigration benefit does not affect your ability to register for TPS, although the grounds of denial of that application may also lead to denial of TPS.
For detailed information about TPS, please see Temporary Protected Status.
Contact your ISSS Advisor if you are interested in applying for Temporary Protected Status.
January 21, 2022
U.S. Department of State Announces Initiative for College and University Student-Category Exchange Visitors in STEM Fields
- Undergraduate and pre-doctoral degree-seeking College and University students in J-1 exchange visitor status who are pursuing or recently completed STEM-related studies (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) may be eligible for up to 36 months of academic training (including a single extension); non-degree seeking students in J-1 exchange visitor status are not eligible to apply.
- While participating in these academic training extensions, students in J-1 exchange visitor status must continue to meet the requirements of 22 CFR §62.23(f), including but not limited to, being primarily in the United States to study, pursuing training that is directly related to their major field of study, and either engaging in a full course of study or commencing with their academic training within 30 days after completion of their related studies.
- A complete list of STEM field Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes for which students in J-1 exchange visitor status are eligible to apply for this academic training extension is included in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s STEM Designated Degree Program List at the following address: https://www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/stem-list.pdf.
- The initiative will run for the next two academic years (2021-2022 and 2022-2023) for eligible students in J-1 exchange visitor status who meet the academic training requirements.
Please be mindful that academic training can only be authorized by your exchange visitor program sponsor.
April 27, 2021
New U.S. Domestic Air Travel ID Requirements Take Effect May 3, 2023
Beginning May 3, 2023, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States. If you use a state-issued driver's license or identification card when traveling domestically:
- The state of issuance must meet REAL ID requirements. REAL ID-compliant cards are marked with a star at the top of the card. If you’re not sure, contact your state driver’s license agency on how to obtain a REAL ID compliant card; or
- You must present an alternative form of identification, such as a valid passport or other acceptable documentation, to board a domestic flight.
To date, most U.S. states have either complied with the REAL ID Act or have received an extension. This includes the State of Florida which is compliant. For information on how to obtain a Driver’s License or ID in Florida, go to Obtain a Driver's License.
For information by state, including where to obtain a REAL ID, visit the DHS REAL ID website and click your state on the map.
January 20, 2021
President Biden Ends Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States
President Biden signed a Presidential Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States. This proclamation ends the travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983 that had suspended entry into the United States of certain nationals, based on visa type, from Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen. While the previous travel bans did not directly affect students in F-1 or J-1 status from these countries, this Presidential Proclamation should be a comfort to international students whose family members from affected countries were unable to enter the U.S. for visits due to the now rescinded travel bans.
Pursuant to President Biden’s proclamation, the U.S. Department of State (DoS) can immediately process visa applications for individuals from the affected countries. Please note that the rescission of Presidential Proclamations 9645 and 9983 does not necessarily mean that local U.S. embassies or consulates are able to immediately schedule all affected applicants for visa interviews. The resumption of routine visa services during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, prioritized after services to U.S. citizens, will occur on a post-by-post basis, consistent with DoS’s guidance for safely returning their workforce to consular facilities.
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