ISP advising, UNT

F-1 Special Student Relief affects the status and benefits of students whose financial support* comes from one of the following countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and who obtained and have maintained F-1 status on or before June 10, 1998.

Effective date: June 10, 1998

End date: Will be announced by Department of Homeland Security when they decide to terminate program.

Purpose: To provide financial relief for certain students who have been affected by the Asian crisis.

Eligibility:

Note 1: You are eligible only if the funding for your education at UNT comes from one of the above countries. Thus those on Graduate Assistantships may not be eligible unless a significant portion of their expenses is still from one of the listed countries.

Note 2 : You are not automatically eligible, but must apply through International Advising and USCIS (immigration) for authorization for Economic Hardship Work Permission under the Special Student Relief program.

You are eligible to apply for this program IF

You are an undergraduate or graduate in valid F-1 status (IELI students are not eligible).

You are on an F-1 visa issued before June 10, 1998 and entered the US as F-1 before June 10, 1998. If you obtained a new visa stamp after June 10, 1998, you must have had the Special Student Relief noted on your I-20 when you received the visa stamp.

You are in valid F-1 status.

Your financial support, as listed on your I-20, comes from one of the 5 countries listed above.

You have a demonstrated need for additional work permission to avoid serious economic hardship

Benefits: You may apply for new employment privileges, either on-campus or off-campus, and for a reduction in your course load if and only if this is needed to allow the additional employment.

Economic hardship work permission:

More than 20 hours per week economic hardship work permission allowed during semester, after authorization by USCIS with recommendation from International Advising.

Reduced course load of minimum 6 credits per semester for undergraduates and 3 credits per semester for graduates, if necessary for employment.

$175 fee

WARNING to Continuing students who need a new visa stamp:

If your new visa stamp is dated after June 10, 1998, you will not be eligible for these benefits in the future unless a economic crisis permission was noted on I-20 before obtaining the visa.

How to apply for SSR Economic Hardship Work Permission

Off-campus work permission

Step 1: Complete an application to International Advising for the recommendation for Special Student Relief

Completed SSR application form
Current I-20
A letter demonstrating that employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship
Documentation of the change in economic circumstances which have affected your financial situation

Step 2: On receipt of International Advising documentation, submit your application to USCIS for Special Student Relief.

This must include:

Photocopy of I-20 with International Advising recommendation for Special Student Relief
I-765 form. #16 should read: (C)(3)(iv)
Photocopy of your I-94 card
Letter to INS demonstrating that employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship, and documentation of the change in economic circumstances which have affected your financial situation
2 color photos, green card style.
A check for $195 made out to the USCIS

SEND your application to:

USCIS Texas Service Center

P.O. Box 851041

Mesquite TX 75185-1041

On the right bottom corner of envelope write “SPECIAL STUDENT RELIEF”

USCIS processing time is estimated to be 60-90 days, or more. The permission will be granted for a maximum of one year. Please bring the card to the office for us to copy when you receive it.

When you receive your EAD card from USCIS, you will be eligible for the working and reduced course load benefits.

Application for Off Campus Special Student Relief