Students on F-1 Visa

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Maintain Legal Status

SEVIS I-20

Passport

Full Course of Study and Reduced Course Load

Change of Address Procedure

Permanent Departure from the University of Minnesota

Temporary Departure from the University of Minnesota

Violation of Status

Visa Overstay

F-1 School & Visa Transfer

Program Extension

Admission/Readmission to a Program of Study

Work Options for Students on F-1 Visa

F-1 and F-2 Social Security Number

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number

Form I-9 Requirement

F-1 Forms

F-1 and F-2 Travel Information

Inviting Family Members to the US

Dependent on F-2 Visa Status

Change of Visa Status (To F-1 or F-2)

F-1 Student

Special Student Relief

Special Student Relief (SSR)

Eligibility, Off Campus Special Student Relief, On Campus Special Student Relief, Application Forms

On or Off-campus work permission to assist students whose countries are experiencing severe economic crises. This is a special provision under USCIS regulations.

• Applies to students from Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
• Student's I-20 must reflect funding resources from home country.
• Authorization allows the student to work full-time and reduce his/her course load after receiving SSR employment authorization.
• Full-time on-campus employment is authorized by ISSS; USCIS authorizes full-time off-campus employment.

Eligibility for On or Off Campus Special Student Relief

• Student must have been present in the U.S. as an F-1 visa holder on or before 6/10/98.
• Student must be from Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines or Thailand.
• Student must be in legal F-1 status.
• Student must be in possession of an I-20 that shows funding from his/her home country.
• Student must demonstrate economic hardship.
• Student must have a valid passport.
• Non-degree seeking students are not eligible to apply.

Off-Campus Special Student Relief

An ISSS adviser can provide the application forms during scheduled walk-in hours or a scheduled appointment. The completed application must be submitted to an ISSS adviser during scheduled walk-in hours or a scheduled appointment.

• Authorization will be issued for 12 months or less, depending on a student's program completion date.
• ISSS must process a recommendation on the application before it can be submitted to USCIS for approval.
• It takes USCIS up to 120 days to process the application.
• Student can request that the application fee of $175 (Effective April 30, 2004) be waived by submitting a written request with the application explaining why s/he is entitled or deserving of this benefit and the reason for the inability to pay.
• USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) upon approval of the application.
• The EAD allows the student to work up to full-time on or off the campus.
• Receipt of the EAD allows a student to reduce his/her course load for the duration of the employment authorization: no less than 6 credits per semester for undergraduates/professional students and 3 credits per semester for graduate students.
• Student must file a Reduced Course Load Form (with a copy of the EAD attached) for any semester s/he has reduced course load based on SSR approval.
• Employment authorization is valid only while a student is pursuing a program of study; completion of a program of study automatically voids the SSR authorization.
• A request for extension of work authorization is possible if the student is able to demonstrate continued economic hardship.

• Authorization will be issued for 12 months or less, depending on a student's program completion date.
• ISSS provides the authorization for full-time on-campus employment.
• Authorization allows student to work full-time on the University of Minnesota campus (it does not allow off-campus employment)
• Issuance of full-time on-campus employment authorization allows a student to reduce his/her course load for the duration of the employment authorization: no less than 6 credits per semester for undergraduates/professional students and 3 credit per semester for graduate students.
• Student must file a Reduce Course Load Form (with a copy of the I-20 full-time on campus authorization attached) for any semester s/he has reduced course load based on SSR approval.
• Employment authorization is valid only while a student is pursuing a program of study; completion of a program of study automatically voids the SSR authorization.
• A request for extension of work authorization is possible if the student is able to demonstrate continued economic hardship.
• A Form I-9 must be completed at University Payroll before a student can receive salary for employment that exceeds 20 hours/week.

• Special Student Relief General Information
• Off-Campus Work Permission Request-Special Student Relief
• Special Student Relief Ð Full-time On or Off Campus Work Authorization Request
• Form I-765 (not required for an on-campus request)
• Form I-538 Ð Special Student Relief (page 1 and 2) - Student completes Section A; ISSS completes Section B and page 2
• Form I-20
• Letter from sponsor verifying inability to provide funding reflected on I-20.
• Supporting documentation regarding financial crisis in home country (i.e., newspaper/magazine articles, current exchange rates, etc.)
• Passport
• UnofficialTranscript
• Reduced Course Load Form(s), if needed.