On September 21, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security posted a Federal Register announcing the suspension of certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Afghanistan who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a result of the current armed conflict and humanitarian crisis. This notice redesignates Special Student Relief (SSR) to include eligible students who are in a lawful F-1 status as of Sept. 25, 2023, and extends relief until May 20, 2025.
This notice temporarily suspends applicable on-campus and off-campus employment regulations for eligible Afghan students. DHS will continue to monitor the situation in Afghanistan and will announce any additional modifications or extensions to this notice in the Federal Register.
This notice applies exclusively to F-1 nonimmigrant students who meet all of the following conditions:
- Are citizens of Afghanistan regardless of country of birth (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan);
- Are lawfully present in the United States in an F-1 nonimmigrant status on the date of publication of this notice;
- 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 current armed conflict and humanitarian crisis.
The suspension of these requirements will remain in effect until May 20, 2025, for Afghan students.
Please refer to the Afghanistan Federal Register notice for more information regarding:
- The specific SSR action effective with this notice;
- Who is covered by these SSR actions;
- Why DHS took these SSR actions; and
- How to apply for employment authorization under this SSR action.
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.
