The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) defines “severe economic hardship” (SEH) as a financial condition caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond a student’s control that makes it difficult for the student to continue pursuing an education in the United States.
These financial conditions may include:
- Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment through no fault of the student
- Substantial changes in the exchange rate or value of the currency upon which the student depends
- Inordinate increases in tuition or living costs
- Unexpected changes in the financial state of the student’s source of support
- Medical bills
- Other substantial and unexpected expenses
A student seeking employment authorization based on severe economic hardship must meet the following conditions:
- The student must have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year.
- The student must be in good academic standing.
- The student must prove to USCIS that employment is necessary because of severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond his or her control that arose after he or she obtained F-1 status.
- The student must demonstrate that on-campus employment is unavailable or otherwise insufficient to meet the needs that have arisen as a result of the unforeseen circumstances.
- The student must get a letter from the academic department stating that employment will not interfere with the student’s pursuing a full course of study.
If you feel that you would qualify for Severe Economic Hardship, please schedule an appointment with our ISS office to review your case. If deemed eligible, you will need to present required documentation that will be submitted on your online I-765 application to USCIS. In addition to that an updated I-20 indicated your request for this assistance will also be provided.
Required Documentation
- Copy of passport
- Copy of U.S. Visa
- Copy of most recent I-94
- Two 2×2 passport style jpeg photos
- Payment of $410 to USCIS or the Form I-912 requesting the fee waiver
- Letter to USCIS indicating how the situation in your home country has impacted you and how special student relief would assist you moving forward.
Special Student Relief (SSR)
“Special Student Relief (SSR) is a 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.” – Study in the States
The terminology “Special Student Relief” is placed under severe economic hardship but slightly differs in that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes and acts to support the need for relief to international students in specific countries due to emergency situations. Examples of these circumstances have included natural disasters, war, and military conflicts. Students from countries that qualify for SSR are issued a “federal registry notice” authorizing their special student relief and will be granted more leniency when applying for economic hardship. Also, in addition to off campus employment, SSR students can also enroll in fewer credits per semester and still be considered maintaining status.
Eligibility for SSR
- Student must be a citizen of a country specified in a Federal Register Notice.
- Have lawfully resided in the U.S. for the dates indicated in the Federal Register Notice.
- Maintained full-time enrollment at Monmouth University
- Are currently maintaining F-1 status as a student (not currently on post-completion practical training)
- Are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the emergent circumstances in their country of citizenship.
Please see below for current countries who have been deemed eligible from DHS for special student relief opportunities:
Afghanistan
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective May 20, 2022 through November 20, 2023.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on May 20, 2022.
Burma/Myanmar
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective September 27, 2022 through November 25, 2025.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on September 27, 2022.
Cameroon
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective June 7, 2022 through December 7, 2023.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on June 7, 2022.
Ethiopia
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective December 12, 2022 through December 12, 2025.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on December 12, 2022.
Haiti
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective January 26, 2023 through August 3, 2024.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on January 26, 2023.
Palestine
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective February 14, 2024 through August 13, 2025
- Student must have been in F-1 status on February 14, 2024
Somalia
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective March 13, 2023 through Septebmer 17, 2024.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on March 13, 2023.
South Sudan
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective March 3, 2022 through November 3, 2023.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on March 3, 2022.
Sudan
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective April 19, 2022 through April 19, 2025.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on April 19, 2021.
Syria
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective August 1, 2022 through April 1, 2024.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on August 1, 2022.
Ukraine
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective April 19, 2022 through April 19, 2025.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on April 19, 2022.
Venezuela
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective September 10, 2022 through March 10, 2024.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on September 10, 2022.
Yemen
- Federal Register Notice
- Effective March 4, 2023 until September 3, 2024.
- Student must have been in F-1 status on January 3, 2023.