The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the validity period of employment authorization for F-1 nonimmigrant students experiencing severe economic hardship due to emergent circumstances, also known as special student relief (SSR). The policy update clarifies that in cases of severe economic hardship due to emergent circumstances, USCIS may grant off-campus SSR employment authorization to an F-1 nonimmigrant student for the duration of the Federal Register notice validity period, which is typically 18 months. However, this employment authorization cannot extend past the student’s academic program end date. Emergent circumstances are events that affect F-1 nonimmigrant students from a particular region and create severe economic hardship, such as natural disasters, financial crises, and military conflicts. This policy update will be effective when published and will apply to all pending and future applications for SSR employment authorization.
For more information, refer to the policy update available in PDF format.