To: All SEVIS Users
Date: Aug. 18, 2023
Number: 2308-03
General Information
On Aug. 18, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted Federal Register
notices announcing the suspension of certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant
students from Sudan and Ukraine who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a result of
the current crisis in Sudan and the current armed conflict in Ukraine. This notice extends Special
Student Relief (SSR) for eligible Sudanese and Ukrainian students from Oct. 20, 2023, until
April 19, 2025.
These notices temporarily suspend applicable on-campus and off-campus employment
regulations for eligible Sudanese and Ukrainian students. DHS will continue to monitor the
situation in Sudan and Ukraine 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 citizens of Sudan or Ukraine regardless of country of birth (or individuals having no
nationality who last habitually resided in Syria);
• Are lawfully present in the United States in an F-1 nonimmigrant status on Aug. 21,
2023;
• 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 crisis in
Sudan and the current armed conflict in Ukraine.
The suspension of these requirements will remain in effect until April 19, 2025, for Sudanese
and Ukraine students.
Please refer to the Sudan Federal Register notice and Ukraine 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.
Additional information about SSR and when eligible students may apply is available on the F-1
Special Student Relief Fact Sheet at ICE.gov/SEVP and the What is Special Student Relief?
infographic in the Study in the States Resource Library. Stakeholders with case-specific
questions can contact the SEVP Response Center (SRC) via phone at 703-603-3400 or 1-
800892-4829 or via email at SEVP@ice.dhs.gov. The SRC is open Monday through Friday, 8
a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, except for federal holidays.
Disclaimer
This Broadcast Message is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it itself a rule
or a final action by SEVP. It is not intended to, does not, and may not be relied upon to create
any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any party in any
administrative, civil or criminal matter.