Thread: Haitian F-1 students eligible for employment authorization

I.C.E. News Release

September 14, 2010

Haitian F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship from the January 12, 2010, earthquake in Haiti eligible for employment authorization

Additional information is available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

A fact sheet is also available by clicking here.

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced special relief for certain F-1 Haitian students who have suffered severe economic hardship as result of the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti. This relief applies only to students who were lawfully present in the United States in F-1 status on January 12, 2010, and enrolled in an institution that is certified by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

The suspension of certain regulatory requirements, by notice in the Federal Register, allows eligible Haitian F-1 students to obtain employment authorization, work an increased number of hours during the school term, and, if necessary, reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F-1 student status. F-1 students granted employment authorization by means of this notice will be deemed to be engaged in a full course of study if they meet the minimum course load requirements specified in the notice.

"We want to ensure that students from Haiti, who were here at the time of January's tragic events, are able to concentrate on their studies without the worry of financial burdens created by the devastation of the earthquake," said Louis Farrell, director for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. "These students have the full support of SEVP and designated school officials for assistance."

ICE manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which automated the process for collecting, maintaining, and managing information about international foreign students, exchange visitors and their dependents during their stay in the United States.

To learn more about the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, visit the website of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (http://www.ice.gov/sevis/).

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

Last Modified: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1009/100914washingtondc.htm

They allow any international student to apply if they are in financial hardship. There are only allowed to work a certain number of hours per week and on campus only.

Haitian F-1 Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship from the January 12, 2010 Earthquake in Haiti Eligible for Employment Authorization

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced special relief for certain F-1 Haitian students who have suffered severe economic hardship as result of the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti. This relief applies only to students who were lawfully present in the United States in F-1 status on January 12, 2010, and enrolled in an institution that is certified by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

The suspension of certain regulatory requirements, by notice in the Federal register, allows eligible Haitian F-1 students to obtain employment authorization, work an increased number of hours during the school term, and, if necessary, reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F-1 student status. F-1 students granted employment authorization by means of this notice will be deemed to be engaged in a full course of study if they meet the minimum course load requirements specified in the notice.

•Who is covered by this notice?
This notice applies exclusively to eligible F-1 students whose country of citizenship is Haiti and who were lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on January 12, 2010 under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i). To be eligible for the benefits covered by this notice, F-1 students must be: (1) enrolled in an institution that is Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified for enrollment of F-1 students; (2) currently maintaining F-1 status; and (3) experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
F-1 students covered by this notice who transfer to other academic institutions that are SEVP-certified for enrollment of F-1 students remain eligible for the relief provided by means of this notice.

•What is the minimum course load requirement set forth in this notice?
Undergraduate level F-1 students who are granted on-campus or off-campus employment authorization under this notice must remain registered for a minimum of six semester/quarter hours of instruction per academic term. Graduate level F-1 students who are granted on-campus or off-campus employment authorization under this notice must remain registered for a minimum of three semester/quarter hours of instruction per academic term. See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(5)(v). In addition, F-1 students (both undergraduate and graduate) granted on-campus or off-campus employment authorization under this notice may count up to the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter of online or distance education toward satisfying this minimum course load requirement. See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G).

•May Haitian F-1 students who already have on-campus or off-campus employment authorization benefit from the suspension of regulatory requirements under this notice?
Yes.Haitian F-1 students who already have on-campus or off-campus employment may benefit from this notice without having to apply for a new Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document, (EAD). They must, however, request that their designated school official appropriately annotate their SEVIS student record before reducing their course load or working more than 20 hours while school is in session.

•Will Haitian F-1 students need to apply for reinstatement after expiration of this special employment authorization if the student reduces his or her full course of study?
No. F-1 students who are granted employment authorization under this notice will be deemed to be engaged in a “full course of studyâ€