ICE News

ICE News Updates

March 22, 2024 Burma Special Student Relief Announced
On March 22, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a Federal Register notice announcing the suspension of certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Burma who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current armed conflict and humanitarian crisis in Burma. This notice provides Special Student Relief (SSR) for eligible students from Burma from May 26, 2024, until Nov. 25, 2025.

This notice temporarily suspends applicable on-campus and off-campus employment regulations for eligible students from Burma. DHS will continue to monitor the situation in Burma 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 Burma regardless of country of birth (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Burma);
- Are lawfully present in the United States in an F-1 nonimmigrant status on March 22, 2024;
- 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 in Burma.
The suspension of these requirements will remain in effect until Nov. 25, 2025, for eligible students from Burma.

Please refer to the Burma SSR Federal Register notice or contact your OCC F-1 Advisor for more information regarding:
- The specific SSR action effective with this notice;
- Who is covered by this SSR action;
- Why DHS took this SSR action; and
- How to apply for employment authorization under this SSR action.
March 10, 2023 DHS Redesignates and Extends Special Student Relief Employment to Somali Students
On March 10, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a Federal Register Notice announcing the suspension of certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Somalia who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a result of the current crisis in Somalia. This notice redesignates Special Student Relief (SSR) to include eligible students who are in a lawful F-1 status as of March 18, 2023 and extends relief until Sept. 17, 2024.

These notices temporarily suspend applicable on-campus and off-campus employment regulations for eligible Somali students. DHS will continue to monitor the situation in Somalia and will announce any additional modifications or extensions to these notices in the Federal Register.

These notices apply exclusively to F-1 nonimmigrant students who meet all of the following conditions:
- Are a citizen of Somalia regardless of country of birth (or an individual having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia).
- Were lawfully present in the United States on the date of publication of this notice in F-1 nonimmigrant status.
- Are enrolled in an SEVP-certified school.
- Are currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status; and
- Are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Somalia.
The suspension of these requirements will remain in effect until Sept. 17, 2024, for Somali students.
September 27, 2022 - Suspension of certain regulations for Burmese students

Employment Authorization for Burmese F-1 Nonimmigrant Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship as a Direct Result of the Current Crisis in Burma (Myanmar)

Students who are in valid F-1 status and meet the requirements listed in the link above, may drop to 6 units instead of the normal minumum 12 units.

Students who meet the requirements listed in the link above, can work (ON-CAMPUS) in excess of 20 hours per week if the school allows. Unfortunately, OCC does not.

Students may also apply for Severe Economic Hardship work authorization which will allow OFF-CAMPUS work in excess of 20 hours per week. Under SSR this process has been simplified somewhat. Please attend the Severe Economic Hardship Workshop on October 28th at 1:30pm on zoom.

Students may also apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) while remaining an F-1 Student.

We encourage all Burmese students to discuss their situation with their F-1 advisor and/or attend the Severe Economic Hardship Workshop on October 28th at 1:30pm on zoom.
June 12, 2022 USA lifts requirement for COVID testing for travelers to the USA.

Pre-departure Testing Requirements for Air Travelers to the U.S. Lifted Effective June 12, 2022

The CDC order from December 2, 2021, requiring persons aged two and above to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States, is rescinded, effective June 12, 2022, at 12:01AM ET. This means that starting at 12:01AM ET on June 12, 2022, air passengers will not need to get tested and show a negative COVID-19 test result or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 prior to boarding a flight to the United States regardless of vaccination status or citizenship. Of note, CDC’s Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-citizen nonimmigrant to travel to the United States is still in effect. For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19Vaccintation for Air Passengers on CDC’s website.
April 18, 2022 DHS Announces Special Student Relief Employment Benefits to Ukrainian and Sudanese Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship
DHS Announces Special Student Relief Employment Benefits to students from Ukraine and Sudan Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship

Please refer to the Ukraine Federal Register Notice for more information regarding:
- Reduction in required units per semester to maintain status
- Increase in hours allowed to work on campus and/or off campus
For more information about SSR and when eligible students may apply, please view the What is Special Student Relief? monographic in the Study in the States Resource Library. Or contact your OCC F-1 advisor.

Please refer to the Sudan Federal Register Notice for more information regarding:
- Reduction in required units per semester to maintain status
- Increase in hours allowed to work on campus and/or off campus
Additional benefits may be available under TPS (Temporary Protected Status). For more information about SSR and when eligible students may apply, please view the What is Special Student Relief? monographic in the Study in the States Resource Library. Or contact your OCC F-1 advisor.
March 3, 2022 Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainian Citizens Announced

Secretary Mayorkas Designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months

Release Date: March 3, 2022

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months.

“Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked attack on Ukraine has resulted in an ongoing war, senseless violence, and Ukrainians forced to seek refuge in other countries,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “In these extraordinary times, we will continue to offer our support and protection to Ukrainian nationals in the United States.”

A country may be designated for TPS when conditions in the country fall into one or more of the three statutory bases for designation: ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. This designation is based on both ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent Ukrainian nationals, and those of no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine, from returning to Ukraine safely. These conditions result from the full-scale Russian military invasion into Ukraine, which marks the largest conventional military action in Europe since World War II. This invasion has caused a humanitarian crisis with significant numbers of individuals fleeing and damage to civilian infrastructure that has left many without electricity or water or access to food, basic supplies, shelter, and emergency medical services.

Individuals eligible for TPS under this designation must have continuously resided in the United States since March 1, 2022. Individuals who attempt to travel to the United States after March 1, 2022 will not be eligible for TPS. Ukraine’s 18-month designation will go into effect on the publication date of the forthcoming Federal Register notice. The Federal Register notice will provide instructions for applying for TPS and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). TPS applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and undergo security and background checks.

For full text see: Temporary Protective status Announced for Ukrainians
Nov 26, 2021 COVID suspension of travel from Botswana, Satin, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, on November 26, 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation suspending the entry of certain noncitizens traveling as immigrants or nonimmigrants who were present in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe during the 14-day period prior to their entry or attempted entry into the United States. The suspension takes effect 12:01 AM EDT on Monday, November 29. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are not subject to the proclamation. Other exceptions include, but are not limited to: foreign diplomats traveling to the United States on A or G visas, and certain immediate family members of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents including spouses, children (under the age of 21), parents (provided that his/her U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident child is unmarried and under the age of 21), and siblings (provided that both the sibling and the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident are unmarried and under the age of 21). There is also an exception for air and sea crew traveling to the United States on C, D, or C1/D visas. For the full list of exceptions, please refer to the proclamation.

The full text of the November 26 presidential proclamation.
July 26, 2021 Joint statement by the US Department of State and the US Department of Education
Oct 27, 2021 New Presidential Proclamation-Edits previous proclamations

The US State Department announced a new Presidential Proclamation which will take effect on Nov 8, 2021, will end the travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamations (P.P.) 9984, 9992, 10143, and 10199 as they relate to the suspension of entry into the United States of persons physically present in Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. In place of these restrictions, the President announced a global vaccination requirement for all adult foreign national travelers. This proclamation applies to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the United States that departs after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on November 8, 2021. More information about this global vaccination requirement, including details on exceptions and waivers due to humanitarian concerns, is available at Non-U.S. citizen, Non-U.S. immigrants: Air Travel to the United States | CDC.

Pursuant to President Biden’s proclamation, as of November 8, the Department can process visa applications for individuals physically present in the affected countries.

Please note that the rescission of these P.P.’s does not necessarily mean that your local U.S. embassy or consulate is able to immediately schedule all affected applicants for visa interviews. Please see the embassy/consulate website for information on what services they are offering at this time and instructions on how to apply for a nonimmigrant visa.
May 4, 2021 - Suspending travel from people physically present in India, due to COVID
April 25, 2021 - Regarding Travel from COVID affected countries (China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa, Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland)
Extended Presidential Proclamation- Regarding Travel from COVID affected countries

There will be a National Interest Exception (NIE) to this proclamation possible for F1 students from those countries whose educational program will start after August 1, 2021 (Fall 2021 new students and continuing OCC F-1 students who will return to the USA for Fall semester since it begins after August 1, 2021.
- The NIE exception may apply to any student who's last point of departure is any of the countries included in presidential proclamation: China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa, the Schengen area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland
- Students who wish to travel to the U.S. before August 1 (summer session), must quarantine in a non-proclamation restricted country for 15 days prior to travel to the U.S.. - NOT eligible for NIE to travel directly from restricted country to U.S.. BEFORE August 1.
- Continuing students returning for Fall 2021, (Semester begins August 24th) can enter US no more than 30 days prior to start of fall semester. Earliest travel date possible would be July 25, 2021.
- If student already has a visa, NIE exception will be automatically applied as of August 1 - student does not need to contact embassy
- If student does not have a visa yet, they should schedule visa appointment and NIE will be applied at time of visa approval.
- GEC will advise continuing students to plan according to NIE memo guidelines, return to US no earlier than July 25th with NIE exception OR plan to quarantine in another country for 15 days before traveling to U.S.. if they wish to return sooner.
March 12, 2021 Burma (Myanmar) & Venezuela Designated as TPS countries
Sept 25, 2020
July 24, 2020

ICE published press release to continue March 2020 guidance for the Fall 2020 semester. Initial status (new) students taking all classes 100% online should remain in their home country for Fall semester.

** This guidance was extended again for the Spring and Fall 2021 semesters. Students already in the USA can continue to take online classes in excess of the 3 unit maximum due to COVID-19 exceptions.
July 22, 2020
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