Effective April 21, 2021, the U.S. federal goverment has authorized eligibility for Special Student Relief (SSR) for qualifying F-1 students from Syria or Venezuela. SSR allows qualifying students to temporarily be relieved of requirements to maintain a full time course load, and may allow students to get work authorization in excess of the standard on-campus employment rules. If you meet the below criteria and you would like to learn more, please make an appointment with your ISSS advisor to discuss the SSR and the application process. The SSR benefit is not automatic. 

Venezuela. Effective April 22, 2021 until September 9, 2022. Federal Register notice at 86 FR 21328 (April 22, 2021). To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

• Be a citizen of Venezuela, regardless of country of birth;
• Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on April 22, 2021;
• Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status;
• Be enrolled in an SEVP-certified academic institution; and
• Be experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current humanitarian crisis in Venezuela

Syria. Effective April 22, 2021 until September 30, 2022. Federal Register notice at 86 FR 21333 (April 22, 2021). To be eligible, an F-1 student must:

• Be a citizen of Syria, regardless of country of birth;
• Have been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on April 22, 2021;
• Be currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status;
• Be enrolled in an SEVP-certified academic institution; and
• Be experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the ongoing civil unrest in Syria since March 2011

For more information, contact: ISSS at international@uconn.edu

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