On September 7th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an extension of Special Student Relief for Employment Benefits to Venezuelan Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship, extending relief from September 10th, 2022, to March 10th 2024, for eligible Venezuelan students who were in lawful F-1 status on April 22, 2021, and are currently maintaining F-1 status.
The notice applies exclusively to F-1 nonimmigrant students who meet all of the following conditions:
- Are citizens of Venezuela regardless of country of birth (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Venezuela);
- Were lawfully present in the United States in an F-1 nonimmigrant status on April 22, 2021;
- Are enrolled in a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school;
- Are currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status; and
- Are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
Please refer to the Venezuela Federal Register Notice for more information.
In summary, Venezuelan students meeting the conditions above may apply for on-campus or off-campus work authorization for severe economic hardship due to circumstances back home. This suspends the regulatory requirements for such authorizations, allowing work over the 20 hour/week limit while enrolling part-time if needed. Undergraduates will have to maintain at least 6 credit hours per term, while graduate students must maintain at least 3 credit hours. Students must be working in order to receive a reduced course load authorization. Students must apply for this benefit.
For details of this SSR and to apply, students should first make an appointment with an ISS advisor to determine eligibility and to receive the authorization.
