Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2022 / Notices 23195 

1Because the suspension of requirements under 

this notice applies throughout an academic term 

during which the suspension is in effect, DHS 

considers an F–1 nonimmigrant student who 

engages in a reduced course load or employment (or 

both) after this notice is effective to be engaging in 

a ‘‘full course of study,’’ see 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6), and 

eligible for employment authorization, through the 

end of any academic term for which such student 

is matriculated as of October 19, 2023, provided the 

student satisfies the minimum course load 

requirements in this notice. DHS also considers 

students who engage in online coursework pursuant 

to ICE Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) 

guidance for nonimmigrant students to be in 

compliance with regulations while such guidance 

remains in effect. See ICE Guidance and Frequently 

Asked Questions on COVID–19, Nonimmigrant 

Students & SEVP-Certified Schools: Frequently 

Asked Questions, https://www.ice.gov/coronavirus 

(last visited Mar. 2022). 

announce such changes in the Federal 

Register. 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 

An F–1 nonimmigrant student seeking 

off-campus employment authorization 

due to severe economic hardship 

resulting from the ongoing armed 

conflict in Ukraine must demonstrate to 

the DSO that this employment is 

necessary to avoid severe economic 

hardship. A DSO who agrees that a 

nonimmigrant student should receive 

such employment authorization must 

recommend an application approval to 

USCIS by entering information in the 

remarks field of the student’s SEVIS 

record. The authority to collect this 

information is in the SEVIS collection of 

information currently approved by the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) under OMB Control Number 

1653–0038. 

This notice also allows an eligible F– 

1 nonimmigrant student to request 

employment authorization, work an 

increased number of hours while the 

academic institution is in session, and 

reduce their course load while 

continuing to maintain F–1 

nonimmigrant student status. 

To apply for employment 

authorization, certain F–1 

nonimmigrant students must complete 

and submit a currently approved Form 

I–765 according to the instructions on 

the form. OMB has previously approved 

the collection of information contained 

on the current Form I–765, consistent 

with the PRA (OMB Control No. 1615– 

0040). Although there will be a slight 

increase in the number of Form I–765 

filings because of this notice, the 

number of filings currently contained in 

the OMB annual inventory for Form I– 

765 is sufficient to cover the additional 

filings. Accordingly, there is no further 

action required under the PRA. 

Alejandro Mayorkas, 

Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security. 

[FR Doc. 2022–08357 Filed 4–18–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–28–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

U.S. Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement 

[Docket No. ICEB–2022–0005] 

RIN 1653–ZA25 

Employment Authorization for 

Sudanese F–1 Nonimmigrant Students 

Experiencing Severe Economic 

Hardship as a Direct Result of the 

Current Crisis in Sudan 

AGENCY: U.S. Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement; Department of Homeland 

Security. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces that 

the Secretary of Homeland Security 

(Secretary) has suspended certain 

regulatory requirements for F–1 

nonimmigrant students whose country 

of citizenship is the Republic of Sudan 

(Sudan), regardless of country of birth 

(or individuals having no nationality 

who last habitually resided in Sudan), 

and who are experiencing severe 

economic hardship as a direct result of 

the current crisis in Sudan. The 

Secretary is taking action to provide 

relief to Sudanese students who are 

lawful F–1 nonimmigrant students so 

they may request employment 

authorization, work an increased 

number of hours while school is in 

session, and reduce their course load 

while continuing to maintain their F–1 

nonimmigrant student status. The 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS) will deem an F–1 nonimmigrant 

student who receives employment 

authorization by means of this notice to 

be engaged in a ‘‘full course of study’’ 

for the duration of the employment 

authorization, if the nonimmigrant 

student satisfies the minimum course 

load requirement described in this 

notice. 

DATES: This F–1 notice is effective April 

19, 2022 through October 19, 2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sharon Snyder, Unit Chief, Policy and 

Response Unit, Student and Exchange 

Visitor Program, MS 5600, U.S. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 

500 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 

20536–5600; email: sevp@ice.dhs.gov, 

telephone: (703) 603–3400. This is not 

a toll-free number. Program information 

can be found at https://www.ice.gov/ 

sevis/. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

What action is DHS taking under this 

notice? 

The Secretary is exercising authority 

under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9) to temporarily 

suspend the applicability of certain 

requirements governing on-campus and 

off-campus employment for F–1 

nonimmigrant students whose country 

of citizenship is Sudan, regardless of 

country of birth (or individuals having 

no nationality who last habitually 

resided in Sudan), who are present in 

the United States in lawful F–1 

nonimmigrant student status on the date 

of publication of this notice, and who 

are experiencing severe economic 

hardship as a direct result of the current 

crisis in Sudan. Effective with this 

publication, suspension of the 

employment limitations is available 

through October 19, 2023, for Sudanese 

students in lawful F–1 nonimmigrant 

status. DHS will deem an F–1 

nonimmigrant student granted 

employment authorization through the 

notice to be engaged in a ‘‘full course of 

study’’ for the duration of the 

employment authorization, if the 

student satisfies the minimum course 

load set forth in this notice.1 See 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(6)(i)(F). 

Who is covered by this notice? 

This notice applies exclusively to F– 

1 nonimmigrant students who meet all 

of the following conditions: 

(1) Are a citizen of Sudan regardless 

of country of birth (or an individual 

having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Sudan); 

(2) Were lawfully present in the 

United States in F–1 nonimmigrant 

status under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of 

the Immigration and Nationality Act 

(INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i), on the 

date of publication of this notice; 

(3) Are enrolled in an academic 

institution that is Student and Exchange 

Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified for 

enrollment for F–1 nonimmigrant 

students; 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
23196 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2022 / Notices 

2Sudan Complex Crisis—Overview, Assessment 

Capacities Project (ACAPS), Aug. 3, 2021, available 

at https://www.acaps.org/country/sudan/crisis/ 

complex-crisis; U.S. Dep’t of State, 2020 Country 

Reports on Human Rights Practices: Sudan (Mar. 

30, 2021). https://www.state.gov/reports/2020- 

country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/sudan/. 

3Sudan Travel Advisory, U.S. Dep’t of State (Dec. 

20, 2021), https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/ 

traveladvisories/traveladvisories/sudan-traveladvisory.html. 

4Sudan Complex Crisis—Overview, Assessment 

Capacities Project (ACAPS) (Aug. 3, 2021), https:// 

www.acaps.org/country/sudan/crisis/complex-crisis 

(last visited Mar. 2022). 

5 Id. 

6The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and 

Change, or FDFC, is the main coalition of 

opposition groups that has been stepping up calls 

for the military to hand leadership over to civilians 

in the government. It is comprised of various antial-Bashir political parties, professional movements 

and opposition groups. It has also called for 

restructuring the military and security agencies and 

ensure that al-Bashir loyalists are removed from 

these agencies, and to absorb the various opposition 

armed groups into Sudan’s security agencies. See 

Samy Magdy and Lee Keath, EXPLAINER: How 

months of tensions led to Sudan’s coup, AP News 

(Oct. 26, 2021), https://apnews.com/article/

explaining-what-led-to-sudan-coup-8e3609d1f5

73b6dd0383ed7a09f0d4aa (last visited Mar. 2022). 

7U.S. Relations With Sudan Bilateral Relations 

Fact Sheet, U.S. Dept. of State, Feb. 4, 2022, 

available at https://www.state.gov/u-s-relationswith-sudan/#:∼:text=The%20Sovereign%

20Council%20%E2%80%93%20a%20body,

a%20collective%20head%20of%20state. 

8Sudanese forces shoot 14 in deadliest day since 

military coup, The Guardian (Nov. 17, 2021), 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/17/ 

sudanese-forces-shoot-dead-at-least-14-protestersagainst-coup (last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

9 Id. 

10Michael Atit, Sudan Journalists Protest Media 

Crackdown Since Coup, Voice of America (Nov. 17, 

2021), https://www.voanews.com/a/sudanjournalists-protest-media-crackdown-since-coup/

6317029.html (last visited Mar. 2022). 

11The Guardian, supra note 10. 

12Sudan coup: Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok 

resigns after mass protests, BBC.com (Jan. 3, 2022), 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59855246 

(last visited Mar. 2022). 

13 Yassir Abdullah, Nima Elbagir, and Hamdi 

Alkhshali, Sudanese Prime Minister’s resignation 

triggered by military reneging on deal, sources say, 

CNN (Jan. 4, 2022), https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/ 

03/africa/sudan-pm-resignation-details-intl/ 

index.html (last visited Mar. 2022). 

14U.S. Dep’t of State, supra note 2, at 2. 

15 Id. at 1. 

16 Durable Solutions & Baseline Analysis for the 

U.N. Peacebuilding Fund and the Durable Solutions 

Working Group in Sudan; Key obstacles to durable 

solutions and peacebuilding for the displacementaffected communities in Nertiti locality, Central 

Darfur, U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 14 (Aug. 

2021), https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/ 

download/88364 (last visited Mar. 2022). 

17Sudan: Humanitarian Response Plan 2021, 

UNOCHA, 12 (Jan. 2021), https://www.ecoi.net/en/ 

file/local/2045900/SDN_2021HRP.pdf (last visited 

Mar. 2022). 

18Review of the situation in Darfur—Report of the 

Secretary General, SCOR, 4 (July 31, 2021), https:// 

undocs.org/pdf?symbol=en/S/2021/696 (last visited 

Mar. 2022). 

19Withdrawal of Hybrid Peacekeeping Operation 

in Darfur Completed by 30 June Deadline, UnderSecretary-General Tells Security Council, Outlining 

Plans to Liquidate Assets, UN News (July 27, 2021), 

(4) Are maintaining F–1 

nonimmigrant status; and 

(5) Are experiencing severe economic 

hardship as a direct result of the current 

crisis in Sudan. 

This notice applies to F–1 

nonimmigrant students in an approved 

private school in kindergarten through 

grade 12, public school in grades 9 

through 12, and undergraduate and 

graduate education. An F–1 

nonimmigrant student covered by this 

notice who transfers to another SEVPcertified academic institution remains 

eligible for the relief provided by means 

of this notice. 

Why is DHS taking this action? 

DHS is taking this action to provide 

relief to Sudanese F–1 nonimmigrant 

students experiencing severe economic 

hardship as a result of the crisis in 

Sudan. After reviewing country 

conditions in Sudan and receiving input 

from the U.S. Department of State 

(DOS), DHS is taking action to allow 

eligible F–1 nonimmigrant students 

from Sudan to request employment 

authorization, work an increased 

number of hours while school is in 

session, and reduce their course load 

while continuing to maintain F–1 

nonimmigrant student status. 

The political instability, violence, and 

human rights abuses; ongoing 

intercommunal violence in several 

regions of the country; and a 

humanitarian crisis linked to the 

political instability, unprecedented 

floods, food and clean water shortages, 

and internal displacement have 

impacted millions of individuals in 

Sudan.2 On December 20, 2021, DOS 

issued a Level 4 travel advisory for 

Sudan, warning people not to travel to 

Sudan due to ‘‘civil unrest’’ and ‘‘crime, 

terrorism, kidnapping, and armed 

conflict.’’ 3 DHS is taking action to 

provide relief to Sudanese F–1 

nonimmigrant students because of the 

conditions described below. 

Political Situation 

In April 2019, Sudan’s President 

Omar al-Bashir was overthrown 

following months of popular protests, 

ending his 30-year rule.4 In August 

2019, a civilian-led transitional 

government made up of a Sovereign 

Council (whose civilian, armed group 

and military representatives formed a 

collective head of state), a civilian Prime 

Minister, and a Council of Ministers, 

was established.5 Throughout 2021, 

Sudan continued to face rising political 

tensions between civilian leaders and 

the military members of the Sovereign 

Council as well as growing protests.6 In 

October 2021, Lt. General Abdel Fattah 

al Burhan launched a military takeover 

that brought an end to the civilian-led 

transitional government.7

Since the October 2021 military 

takeover, protests have continued 

throughout Sudan.8 Hundreds have 

reportedly been arrested, including 

activists, passersby, journalists, and an 

Al Jazeera bureau chief, who was 

released several days later.9 Security 

forces have reportedly used ammunition 

and tear gas on protestors.10 In addition 

to the arrests, at least 92 protesters have 

been killed with thousands more 

injured by security forces.11

Following the military takeover, in 

November 2021, civilian and military 

leaders made a power-sharing 

agreement, reinstating Prime Minister 

Abdalla Hamdok. However, ‘‘[p]rotests 

continued even after Mr. Hamdok had 

returned to office, with some 

demonstrators saying that his 

reinstatement was helping to 

legitimatise the military takeover.’’ 12

With violence against civilian protesters 

continuing, Prime Minister Hamdok 

resigned on January 2, 2022.13 Protests 

continue, as does the use of excessive 

forcevoice by security forces. The U.S. 

government sanctioned the Central 

Reserve Police, a militarized police unit, 

for serious human rights abuse under 

E.O. 13818 on March 21, 2022. 

Armed Conflict and Civil Unrest 

In 2020, the civilian-led transitional 

government signed a peace agreement— 

Juba Peace Agreement 14—with various 

oppositions groups, including groups 

from Darfur and the South Kordofan and 

Blue Nile (AKA the ‘‘Two Areas’’) 

regions of Sudan.15 However, one 

Darfuri opposition group which did not 

sign this peace agreement, the Sudan 

Liberation Army/Movement—Abdul 

Wahid (SLA/AW), continues to be 

engaged in clashes with the government 

forces, including with the Sudanese 

Armed Forces (SAF).16

In January 2021, the United Nations 

Office for the Coordination of 

Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) 

reported that instability, including 

intercommunal tensions, remained in 

several parts of the country.17 In July 

2021, the Secretary General for the 

United Nations (U.N.) asserted that the 

primary security concern in Sudan 

remains ‘‘the increasing frequency of 

intercommunal violence.’’ 18

Additionally, the withdrawal of the 

African Union-United Nations Hybrid 

Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in June 

2021 19 has ‘‘left a security and 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2022 / Notices 23197 

https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sc14587.doc.htm 

(last visited Mar. 2022). 

20Review of the situation in Darfur and 

benchmarks to assess the measures on Darfur; 

Report of the Secretary-General [S/2021/696], 

SCOR, 4 (July 2021), https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/ 

local/2058498/S_2021_696_E.pdf (last visited Mar. 

2022). 

21 Id. 

22 Durable Solutions & Baseline Analysis for the 

U.N. Peacebuilding Fund and the Durable Solutions 

Working Group in Sudan; Key obstacles to durable 

solutions and peacebuilding for the displacementaffected communities in Jebel Moon Locality, West 

Darfur, UNHCR, 15 (Aug. 2021), https://

data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/88361 

(last visited Mar. 2022). 

23Situation in the Sudan and the activities of the 

United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance 

Mission in the Sudan; Report of the SecretaryGeneral [S/2021/470], SCOR, 5–6 (May 17, 2021), 

https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2052225/S_

2021_470_E.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

24UNOCHA, Sudan: Escalation of Violence in 

Darfur—Flash Update No. 2, 1 (July 27, 2020), 

https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2035090/ 

Situation+Report+-+Sudan+- 

+23+Jul+2020+%284%29.pdf (last visited Mar. 1, 

2022). 

25UNHCR, Durable Solutions & Baseline Analysis 

for the UN Peacebuilding Fund and the Durable 

Solutions Working Group in Sudan; Key obstacles 

to durable solutions and peacebuilding for the 

displacement-affected communities in Tawila 

locality, North Darfur, 14 (Aug. 2021), https://

data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/88365 

(last visited Mar. 2022). 

26EASO, Political developments and security 

situation in Sudan between 1 Sept. 2020–31 Aug. 

2021, 12 (Oct. 20, 2021), https://www.ecoi.net/en/ 

file/local/2062609/2021_09_Q31_EASO_COI_

QUERY_RESPONSE_SUDAN_SECURITY_

SITUATION.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

27UNHCR, supra note 19, at 14. 

28 Id. 

29Situation in the Sudan and the activities of the 

United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance 

Mission in the Sudan, SCOR, 4 (Sept. 1, 2021), 

https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2059931/S_

2021_766_E.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

30 Id. 

31Reliefweb, 30 people killed in intercommunal 

violence in South Darfur (May 6, 2020), https://

reliefweb.int/report/sudan/30-people-killedintercommunal-violence-south-darfur (last visited 

Mar. 1, 2022). 

32Associated Press, Samy Magdy, Tribal clashes 

leave dozens dead in 2 Sudanese provinces (Jan. 18, 

2021), reported by abcNEWS, https://

abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/sudanesebury-victims-darfur-violence-death-toll-129- 

75322312 (last visited Mar. 2022). 

33SCOR, Situation in the Sudan and the activities 

of the United Nations Integrated Transition 

Assistance Mission in the Sudan, 4 (Sept.1, 2021), 

https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2059931/S_

2021_766_E.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

34UNHCR, Durable Solutions & Baseline Analysis 

for the UN Peacebuilding Fund and the Durable 

Solutions Working Group in Sudan; Key obstacles 

to durable solutions and peacebuilding for the 

displacement-affected communities in Assalaya, 

Yassin and Sheiria localities, East Darfur, 15 (Aug. 

2021), https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/ 

download/88358 (last visited Mar. 2022). 

35 Id. 

36Asylum Research Centre, Sudan: Country 

Report; The situation in South Kordofan and Blue 

Nile—An Update (3rd edition with addendum), 20 

(Mar. 2021), https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/ 

2045013/Final_01.03.2021.pdf (last visited Mar. 

2022). 

37Enough, A Question of Leadership: Addressing 

a Dangerous Crisis in Sudan SPLM–N, 2 (Jul. 2017), 

https://enoughproject.org/reports/a-question-ofleadership (last visited Mar. 2022). 

38U.S. Dep’t of State, supra note 2, at 9. 

39Asylum Research Centre, supra note 39, at 22. 

40UNHCR, Report of the Independent Expert on 

the situation of human rights in the Sudan, 13 (Jul. 

30, 2020), https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/reportindependent-expert-situation-human-rights-sudanahrc4553-enar (last visited Mar. 2022); Id. at 22–23. 

41U.S. Dep’t of State, 2019 Country Reports on 

Human Rights Practices: Sudan, 9 (Mar. 30, 2020), 

https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-country-reportson-human-rights-practices/sudan/ (last visited Mar. 

2022). 

42SCOR, Situation in the Sudan and the activities 

of the United Nations Integrated Transition 

Assistance Mission in the Sudan, 5 (Sept. 1, 2021), 

https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2059931/S_

2021_766_E.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

43SCOR, The situation in Abyei; Report of the 

Secretary-General [S/2020/1019] (Oct. 15, 2020), 

https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2039488/S_

2020_1019_E.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

programmatic vacuum, which has yet to 

be filled by the transitional government 

or state-level authorities.’’ 20

i. Civil Unrest in Darfur 

In July 2021, the U.N. reported that 

intercommunal violence ‘‘has increased 

in frequency and scale over the past 

year, in particular in West, North and 

South Darfur.’’ 21 Since 2019, West 

Darfur has seen an escalation of 

intercommunal violence between two 

key ethnic groups in their region—the 

‘‘Arab armed groups and [the] Masalit 

[Darfuri ethnic group].’’ 22 An escalation 

of violence in April 2021 resulted in a 

reported 144 people killed and 232 

injured. Because heavy weapons were 

reportedly used, homes, a hospital, a 

U.N. compound, and a camp for 

internally displaced persons were 

destroyed or damaged. Also, ‘‘a power 

plant—the only source of electricity in 

El Geneina—was damaged, resulting in 

a critical disruption to most of the 

town’s communication facilities, in 

addition to electricity and water 

supplies in some areas.’’ 23 A few 

months later, in July 2021, UNOCHA 

reported that ‘‘around 500 armed men 

attached [a town] leaving more than 60 

people dead, . . . and another 60 

injured.’’ 24

In 2019, UNOCHA assessed that 

intercommunal violence was the main 

driver of protection needs in North 

Darfur.25 In 2021, the European Asylum 

Support Office (EASO) reported on a 

series of clashes in the region.26

Central Darfur is also considered a 

hotspot due to the strong presence of the 

SLA/AW in this area, and throughout 

the Jebel Marra mountains.27

Widespread insecurity and regular 

clashes between SLA/AW forces and the 

SAF has resulted in counter retaliation 

attacks, with civilians reportedly 

attacked for collaborating with either of 

the forces.28 In September 2021, the 

U.N. reported on continued fighting 

between SLA/AW and government 

forces in Central Darfur,29 including on 

May 18, when a clash reportedly 

resulted in the displacement of 1,284 

people.30

In South Darfur, fighting in May 2020 

over land grazing rights between an 

indigenous group, the Fellata/Fallata, 

and the Rizeigat reportedly resulted in 

the death of 30 civilians.31 In January 

2021, deadly clashes between these 

groups resumed, reportedly leaving 60 

dead and 40 wounded.32 In July 2021, 

intercommunal violence persisted 

between the Fallata and Ta’isha tribes, 

reportedly leaving 48 dead and 

displacing 185 people.33

Similar intercommunal tensions in 

East Darfur are rooted in a long history 

of tensions ‘‘between the Rizeigat 

(pastoralists) and Ma’aliya (sedentary 

farmers) and Rizeigat (pastoralists) 

against Misseriya (pastoralists).’’ 34

These legacy disputes are ‘‘driven by 

control of land, tribal leadership and 

wider political power plus access to 

pasture and water.’’ 35

ii. Civil Unrest in Other Regions 

The security situation in the Two 

Areas remains tense.36 In 2017, the main 

opposition group in this region—the 

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/ 

Army-North (SPLM/A–N)—splintered 

into two factions, resulting in several 

months of violence between the two 

groups.37 Both groups were reportedly 

also involved in area fighting between 

Arab nomads and Nuban farmers in 

which a dozen or more people were 

killed.38 Similar ‘‘deadly clashes’’ 39 in 

the region included security forces who 

joined and aligned with civilians 

fighting along ethnic lines.40

In January 2019, Sudan’s Eastern State 

(the ‘‘Red Sea State’’), also saw renewed 

intercommunal violence between the 

main Arab and non-Arab ethnic groups 

in the region.41 In September 2021, the 

U.N. assessed that the ‘‘security 

situation in the eastern Red Sea State 

remained volatile.’’ 42

In the Abyei region disputed between 

Sudan and South Sudan, the U.N. 

reported that the security situation 

remained tense with renewed 

intercommunal violence between the 

two main ethnic groups in the region— 

the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka 

communities.43 In April 2021, the U.N. 

reported that the ‘‘general security 

situation in the Abyei Area has been 

relatively calm, yet tense and 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
23198 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2022 / Notices 

44The situation in Abyei; Report of the SecretaryGeneral [S/2021/383], SCOR, 2 (Apr. 20, 2021), 

https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/situation-abyeireport-secretary-general-s2021383-enar (last visited 

Mar. 2022). 

45 Id. 

46Sudan Humanitarian impact of multiple 

protracted crises, ACAPS, 2 (Nov. 24, 2021), https:// 

www.acaps.org/sites/acaps/files/products/files/ 

20201124_acaps_briefing_note_sudan_impact_of_

multiple_crises.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

47Sudan Economic Crisis, ACAPS, 1 (Feb. 2019), 

https://www.acaps.org/sites/acaps/files/products/ 

files/20190213_acaps_briefing_note_sudan_

economic_crisis.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

48Child Protection Annual Report 2020, UN 

Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 6 (Mar. 2021), https:// 

www.unicef.org/sudan/media/6091/file/Child%20

Protection%20.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

49 Id. 

50 Id. 

51 Id. 

52UNOCHA, Sudan: Humanitarian Response 

Plan 2021, 12 (Feb. 21, 2021), https://reliefweb.int/ 

report/sudan/sudan-humanitarian-response-plan2021-january-2021-enar (last visited Mar. 2022). 

53SCOR, supra note 47, at 5. 

54 International Federation of Red Cross and Red 

Crescent Societies, Sudan: Floods—Operation 

Update—Emergency Appeal (Mar. 25, 2021), 

https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-floodsoperation-update-emergency-appeal-n-mdrsd028- 

24-march-2021 (last visited Mar. 2022). 

55 Id. 

56 Id. 

57Sudan Situation Report, 31 May 2021, 

UNOCHA, 46 (May 31, 2021), https://www.ecoi.net/ 

en/file/local/2055652/Situation+Report+-+Sudan+- 

+12+May+2021.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

58UNOCHA, supra note 55. 

59UNICEF, Sudan Health Annual Report 2020, 5, 

https://www.unicef.org/sudan/media/6141/file/ 

Health.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

60UNOCHA, supra note 55, at 46. 

61 Id. 

62UNICEF, Children killed, injured, detained and 

abused amid escalating violence and unrest in 

Sudan (June 11, 2019), https://www.unicef.org/

press-releases/children-killed-injured-detainedand-abused-amid-escalating-violence-and-unrest 

(last visited Mar. 2022). 

63UNICEF, Child Protection Annual Report 2020, 

7 (Mar. 2021), https://www.unicefusa.org/about/ 

publications/annual-report-2020?gclid=

EAIaIQobChMI9p2M0uD39AIVMv7jBx3c

2gHbEAAYASAAEgKHN_D_BwE (last visited Mar. 

2022). 

64UNOCHA, supra note 55, at 10. 

65UNOCHA, Sudan Key Figures, https:// 

m.reliefweb.int/country/220/sdn (last visited on 

Nov. 23, 2021). 

66UNOCHA, Sudan Situation Report (Sep. 27, 

2021), https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudansituation-report-29-sep-2021 (last visited Mar. 

2022). 

67ACAPS, Humanitarian Access Overview, 12 

(July 2021), https://www.acaps.org/sites/acaps/ 

files/products/files/20210719_acaps_

humanitarian_access_overview_july_2021.pdf (last 

visited Mar. 2022). 

68 Id. 

69 Id. 

70SCOR, Review of the situation in Darfur and 

benchmarks to assess the measures on Darfur; 

Report of the Secretary-General [S/2021/696], 4 

(July 2021), https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/ 

2058498/S_2021_696_E.pdf (last visited Mar. 2022). 

71Undergraduate F–1 nonimmigrant students 

enrolled in a term of different duration must 

unpredictable.’’ 44 The ‘‘most prevalent 

threats to security were shooting 

incidents, the increased presence of 

unidentified armed groups, armed 

attacks on civilians and violent 

confrontations between the 

communities.’’ 45

Humanitarian Crisis 

Sudan also continues ‘‘to suffer from 

one of the world’s largest protracted 

humanitarian crises’’ due to conflict and 

displacement, deteriorating economic 

conditions, limited access to basic 

services, and several disease outbreaks, 

including the COVID–19 pandemic.46

Since 2018, Sudan has also faced severe 

economic challenges.47 National 

poverty levels have risen drastically,48

and incomes, wages, and purchasing 

power have fallen, ‘‘driving 9.6 million 

people—almost a quarter of the entire 

population of Sudan—to severe food 

insecurity.’’ 49 This economic crisis has 

reportedly ‘‘degraded the already weak, 

underdeveloped and heavily 

underfunded primary healthcare 

system,’’ including by the end of 2020, 

reducing the number of healthcare 

facilities by 40 percent across the 

country.50 The COVID–19 pandemic has 

further ‘‘compounded the already dire 

public health situation.’’ 51

During the rainy season in 2020, 

flooding affected ‘‘close to 900,000 

people across the country and farmland, 

livestock, shelter and other 

infrastructure.’’ 52 Other areas suffered 

droughts.53 Many of the flood areas have 

very limited access to clean water.54

Water supply sources have been affected 

by overflow of the Blue Nile River 

destroying nearby latrines, resulting in 

increased risk of water contamination 

and the outbreak of waterborne 

diseases.55 The health situation in 

Sudan has continued to deteriorate due 

to flooding causing ‘‘stagnant and 

contaminated water.’’ 56

Sudan’s worsening economy and 

protracted health emergencies have 

resulted in an increase of the number of 

people without access to basic health 

services.57 Sudan has experienced 

disease outbreaks including cholera, 

malaria, dengue, chikungunya, viral 

hemorrhagic fevers and polio.58 In 2020 

alone, thirteen out of Sudan’s eighteen 

states experienced one or more 

outbreaks of chikungunya, dengue fever, 

rift valley fever, or diphtheria.59 The 

COVID–19 pandemic has ‘‘further 

strained the capacity of the health care 

system due to nationwide lockdowns, 

re-allocation of health resources, and 

disruption of global supply chains that 

impacted availability of medicines and 

medical supplies.’’ 60

In Sudan, ‘‘[w]omen and girls suffer 

the most due to insecurity, violations of 

basic human rights, low economic 

status, lack of livelihood opportunities, 

and lack of community awareness on 

women’s rights.’’ 61 The United Nations 

Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also 

noted that ‘‘[c]hildren throughout Sudan 

are already bearing the brunt of decades 

of conflict, chronic underdevelopment 

and poor governance,62 with 64 percent 

of children below 14 years of age 

experiencing various forms of 

violence.’’ 63

According to UNOCHA, ‘‘Sudan has 

seen an increase in the number of 

people in need of humanitarian 

assistance from 5.8 million people in 

2016 to 13.4 million in 2021.’’ 64 It is 

estimated that among the 13.4 million 

people in need,65 9.8 million are 

severely food insecure.66 Yet, access to 

humanitarian assistance is uncertain. In 

2021, the Assessments Capacities 

Project (ACAPS) reported that armed 

opposition groups in some areas created 

‘‘barriers to the delivery of humanitarian 

aid.’’ 67 Intercommunal clashes in other 

areas have also affected humanitarian 

operations.68 The UNAMID drawdown 

and closure has also resulted in 

increased looting and impacted 

‘‘people’s ability to move and reach 

needed aid.’’ 69 In July 2021, the U.N. 

reported that ‘‘since January 2021, 11 of 

the 14 UNAMID team sites, which have 

been handed over to civilian authorities, 

have been looted.’’ 70

As of February 28, 2022, 

approximately 324 F–1 nonimmigrant 

students from Sudan (or individuals 

having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Sudan) are in the 

United States and enrolled in courses at 

SEVP-certified U.S. academic 

institutions. Given the extent of the 

current crisis in Sudan, affected 

students whose primary means of 

financial support comes from Sudan 

may need to be exempt from the normal 

student employment requirements to 

continue their studies in the United 

States. The current crisis has made it 

unfeasible for many students to safely 

return to Sudan for the foreseeable 

future. Without employment 

authorization, these students may lack 

the means to meet basic living expenses. 

What is the minimum course load 

requirement to maintain valid F–1 

nonimmigrant status under this notice? 

Undergraduate F–1 nonimmigrant 

students who receive on-campus or offcampus employment authorization 

under this notice must remain registered 

for a minimum of six semester or 

quarter hours of instruction per 

academic term.71 A graduate-level F–1 


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register for at least one half of the credit hours 

normally required under a ‘‘full course of study.’’ 

See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(B). 

72 DHS considers students who are compliant 

with ICE Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) 

guidance for nonimmigrant students to be in 

compliance with regulations while such COVID–19 

guidance remains in effect. See ICE Guidance and 

Frequently Asked Questions on COVID–19, https:// 

www.ice.gov/coronavirus (last visited Feb. 2022). 

73See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

74Undergraduate F–1 nonimmigrant students 

enrolled in a term of different duration must 

register for at least one half of the credit hours 

normally required under a ‘‘full course of study.’’ 

See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(B). 

nonimmigrant student who receives oncampus or off-campus employment 

authorization under this notice must 

remain registered for a minimum of 

three semester or quarter hours of 

instruction per academic term. See 8 

CFR 214.2(f)(5)(v). Nothing in this 

notice affects the applicability of other 

minimum course load requirements set 

by the academic institution. 

In addition, an F–1 nonimmigrant 

student (either undergraduate or 

graduate) granted on-campus or offcampus 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, unless the course of 

study is in an English language study 

program.72 See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G). 

An F–1 nonimmigrant student attending 

an approved private school in 

kindergarten through grade 12 or public 

school in grades 9 through 12 must 

maintain ‘‘class attendance for not less 

than the minimum number of hours a 

week prescribed by the school for 

normal progress toward graduation,’’ as 

required under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(E). 

Nothing in this notice affects the 

applicability of federal and state labor 

laws limiting the employment of 

minors. 

May an eligible F–1 nonimmigrant 

student who already has on-campus or 

off-campus employment authorization 

benefit from the suspension of 

regulatory requirements under this 

notice? 

Yes. An F–1 nonimmigrant student 

who is a Sudan citizen, regardless of 

country of birth (or an individual having 

no nationality who last habitually 

resided in Sudan), who already has oncampus or off-campus employment 

authorization and is otherwise eligible 

may benefit under this notice, which 

suspends certain regulatory 

requirements relating to the minimum 

course load requirement under 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(6)(i)(A) and (B) and certain 

employment eligibility requirements 

under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9). Such an 

eligible F–1 nonimmigrant student may 

benefit without having to apply for a 

new Form I–766, Employment 

Authorization Document (EAD). To 

benefit from this notice, the F–1 

nonimmigrant student must request that 

the designated school official (DSO) 

enter the following statement in the 

remarks field of the student’s Student 

and Exchange Visitor Information 

System (SEVIS) record, which the 

student’s Form I–20, Certificate of 

Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F–1) 

Student Status, will reflect: 

Approved for more than 20 hours per week 

of [DSO must insert ‘‘on-campus’’ or ‘‘offcampus,’’ depending upon the type of 

employment authorization the student 

already has] employment authorization and 

reduced course load under the Special 

Student Relief authorization from [DSO must 

insert the beginning date of the notice or the 

beginning date of the student’s employment, 

whichever date is later] until [DSO must 

insert either the student’s program end date, 

the current EAD expiration date (if the 

student is currently authorized for offcampus employment), or the end date of this 

notice, whichever date comes first]. 

Must the F–1 nonimmigrant student 

apply for reinstatement after expiration 

of this special employment 

authorization if the student reduces his 

or her ‘‘full course of study’’? 

No. DHS will deem an F–1 

nonimmigrant student who receives and 

comports with the employment 

authorization permitted under this 

notice to be engaged in a ‘‘full course of 

study’’ 73 for the duration of the 

student’s employment authorization, 

provided that a qualifying 

undergraduate level F–1 nonimmigrant 

student remains registered for a 

minimum of six semester or quarter 

hours of instruction per academic term, 

and a qualifying graduate level F–1 

nonimmigrant student remains 

registered for a minimum of three 

semester or quarter hours of instruction 

per academic term.74 See 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(5)(v) and (f)(6)(i)(F). DHS will 

not require such students to apply for 

reinstatement under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(16) 

if they are otherwise maintaining F–1 

nonimmigrant status. 

Will an F–2 dependent (spouse or 

minor child) of an F–1 nonimmigrant 

student covered by this notice be 

eligible to apply for employment 

authorization? 

No. An F–2 spouse or minor child of 

an F–1 nonimmigrant student is not 

authorized to work in the United States 

and, therefore, may not accept 

employment under the F–2 

nonimmigrant status. See 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(15)(i). 

Will the suspension of the applicability 

of the standard student employment 

requirements apply to an individual 

who receives an initial F–1 visa and 

makes an initial entry in the United 

States after the effective date of this 

notice in the Federal Register? 

No. The suspension of the 

applicability of the standard regulatory 

requirements only applies to F–1 

nonimmigrant students who meet the 

following conditions: 

(1) Are citizens of Sudan, regardless 

of country of birth (or individuals 

having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Sudan); 

(2) Were lawfully present in the 

United States in F–1 nonimmigrant 

status under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of 

the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i), on 

the date of publication of this notice; 

(3) Are enrolled in an academic 

institution that is SEVP-certified for 

enrollment of F–1 nonimmigrant 

students; 

(4) Are maintaining F–1 

nonimmigrant status; and 

(5) Are experiencing severe economic 

hardship as a direct result of the current 

crisis in Sudan. 

An F–1 nonimmigrant student who 

does not meet all these requirements is 

ineligible for the suspension of the 

applicability of the standard regulatory 

requirements (even if experiencing 

severe economic hardship as a direct 

result of the current crisis in Sudan). 

Does this notice apply to a continuing 

F–1 nonimmigrant student who departs 

the United States after the effective date 

of this notice in the Federal Register 

and who needs to obtain a new F–1 visa 

before returning to the United States to 

continue an educational program? 

Yes. This notice applies to such an F– 

1 nonimmigrant student, but only if the 

DSO has properly notated the student’s 

SEVIS record, which will then appear 

on the student’s Form I–20. The normal 

rules for visa issuance remain 

applicable to a nonimmigrant who 

needs to apply for a new F–1 visa in 

order to continue their educational 

program in the United States. 

Does this notice apply to elementary 

school, middle school, and high school 

students in F–1 status? 

Yes. However, this notice does not by 

itself reduce the required course load for 

F–1 nonimmigrant students from Sudan 

enrolled in private kindergarten through 

grade 12, or public high school grades 

9 through 12. Such students must 

maintain the minimum number of hours 


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75See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

76Minimum course load requirement for 

enrollment in a school must be established in a 

publicly available document (e.g., catalog, website, 

or operating procedure), and it must be a standard 

applicable to all students (U.S. citizens and foreign 

students) enrolled at the school. 

77See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

78Minimum course load requirement for 

enrollment in a school must be established in a 

publicly available document (e.g., catalog, website, 

or operating procedure), and it must be a standard 

applicable to all students (U.S. citizens and foreign 

students) enrolled at the school. 

of class attendance per week prescribed 

by the academic institution for normal 

progress toward graduation. See 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(6)(i)(E). The suspension of 

certain regulatory requirements related 

to employment through this notice is 

applicable to all eligible F–1 

nonimmigrant students regardless of 

educational level. Eligible F–1 

nonimmigrant students from Sudan 

covered by this notice who are enrolled 

in an elementary school, middle school, 

or high school may benefit from the 

suspension of the requirement in 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(9)(i) that limits on-campus 

employment to 20 hours per week while 

school is in session. Nothing in this 

notice affects the applicability of federal 

and state labor laws limiting the 

employment of minors. 

On-Campus Employment Authorization 

Will an F–1 nonimmigrant student who 

receives on-campus employment 

authorization under this notice be 

authorized to work more than 20 hours 

per week while school is in session? 

Yes. For an F–1 nonimmigrant 

student covered in this notice, the 

Secretary is suspending the 

applicability of the requirement in 8 

CFR 214.2(f)(9)(i) that limits an F–1 

nonimmigrant student’s on-campus 

employment to 20 hours per week while 

school is in session. An eligible F–1 

nonimmigrant student has authorization 

to work more than 20 hours per week 

while school is in session, if the DSO 

has entered the following statement in 

the remarks field of the SEVIS student 

record, which will be reflected on the 

student’s Form I–20: 

Approved for more than 20 hours per week 

of on-campus employment and reduced 

course load, under the Special Student Relief 

authorization from [DSO must insert the 

beginning date of this notice or the beginning 

date of the student’s employment, whichever 

date is later] until [DSO must insert the 

student’s program end date or the end date 

of this notice, whichever date comes first]. 

To obtain on-campus employment 

authorization, the F–1 nonimmigrant 

student must demonstrate to the DSO 

that the employment is necessary to 

avoid severe economic hardship directly 

resulting from the current crisis in 

Sudan. An F–1 nonimmigrant student 

authorized by the student’s DSO to 

engage in on-campus employment by 

means of this notice does not need to 

file an application with U.S. Citizenship 

and Immigration Services (USCIS). The 

standard rules permitting full-time 

employment on-campus when school is 

not in session or during school 

vacations apply. See 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(9)(i). 

Will an F–1 nonimmigrant student who 

receives on-campus employment 

authorization under this notice have 

authorization to reduce the normal 

course load and still maintain their F– 

1 nonimmigrant status? 

Yes. DHS will deem an F–1 

nonimmigrant student who receives oncampus employment authorization 

under this notice to be engaged in a 

‘‘full course of study’’ 75 for the purpose 

of maintaining their F–1 nonimmigrant 

student status for the duration of the oncampus employment if the student 

satisfies the minimum course load 

requirement described in this notice. 

See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(F). However, the 

authorization to reduce the normal 

course load is solely for DHS purposes 

of determining valid F–1 nonimmigrant 

student status. Nothing in this notice 

mandates that school officials allow an 

F–1 nonimmigrant student to take a 

reduced course load if the reduction 

would not meet the school’s minimum 

course load requirement for continued 

enrollment.76

Off-Campus Employment Authorization 

What regulatory requirements does this 

notice temporarily suspend relating to 

off-campus employment? 

For an F–1 nonimmigrant student 

covered by this notice, as provided 

under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii)(A), the 

Secretary is suspending the following 

regulatory requirements relating to offcampus employment: 

(a) The requirement that a student 

must have been in F–1 nonimmigrant 

status for one full academic year in 

order to be eligible for off-campus 

employment; 

(b) The requirement that an F–1 

nonimmigrant student must 

demonstrate that acceptance of 

employment will not interfere with the 

student’s carrying a full course of study; 

(c) The requirement that limits an F– 

1 nonimmigrant student’s employment 

authorization to no more than 20 hours 

per week of off-campus employment 

while school is in session; and 

(d) The requirement that the student 

demonstrate that employment under 8 

CFR 214.2(f)(9)(i) is unavailable or 

otherwise insufficient to meet the needs 

that have arisen as a result of the 

unforeseen circumstances. 

Will an F–1 nonimmigrant student who 

receives off-campus employment 

authorization under this notice have 

authorization to reduce the normal 

course load and still maintain F–1 

nonimmigrant status? 

Yes. DHS will deem an F–1 

nonimmigrant student who receives offcampus employment authorization by 

means of this notice to be engaged in a 

‘‘full course of study’’ 77 for the purpose 

of maintaining F–1 nonimmigrant 

student status for the duration of the 

student’s employment authorization if 

the student satisfies the minimum 

course load requirement described in 

this notice. See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(F). 

However, the authorization for reduced 

course load is solely for DHS purposes 

of determining valid F–1 nonimmigrant 

status. Nothing in this notice mandates 

that school officials allow an F–1 

nonimmigrant student to take a reduced 

course load if such reduced course load 

would not meet the school’s minimum 

course load requirement.78

How may an eligible F–1 nonimmigrant 

student obtain employment 

authorization for off-campus 

employment with a reduced course 

load under this notice? 

An F–1 nonimmigrant student must 

file a Form I–765, Application for 

Employment Authorization, with USCIS 

to apply for off-campus employment 

authorization based on severe economic 

hardship directly resulting from the 

current crisis in Sudan. Filing 

instructions are located at: http://

www.uscis.gov/i-765. 

Fee considerations. Submission of a 

Form I–765 currently requires payment 

of a $410 fee. An applicant who is 

unable to pay the fee may submit a 

completed Form I–912, Request for Fee 

Waiver, along with the Form I–765, 

Application for Employment 

Authorization. See www.uscis.gov/ 

feewaiver. The submission must include 

an explanation about why USCIS should 

grant the fee waiver and the reason(s) 

for the inability to pay, and any 

evidence to support the reason(s). See 8 

CFR 103.7(c). 

Supporting documentation. An F–1 

nonimmigrant student seeking offcampus employment authorization due 

to severe economic hardship must 

demonstrate the following to the DSO: 

(1) This employment is necessary to 

avoid severe economic hardship; and 


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79See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

80See DHS Study in the States, Special Student 

Relief, https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/ 

special-student-relief (last visited Feb. 2022). 81See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

(2) The hardship is a direct result of 

the current crisis in Sudan. 

If the DSO agrees that the F–1 

nonimmigrant student should receive 

such employment authorization, the 

DSO must recommend application 

approval to USCIS by entering the 

following statement in the remarks field 

of the student’s SEVIS record, which 

will then appear on the student’s Form 

I–20: 

Recommended for off-campus employment 

authorization in excess of 20 hours per week 

and reduced course load under the Special 

Student Relief authorization from the date of 

the USCIS authorization noted on Form I– 

766 until [DSO must insert the program end 

date or the end date of this notice, whichever 

date comes first]. 

The F–1 nonimmigrant student must 

then file the properly endorsed Form I– 

20 and Form I–765, according to the 

instructions for the Form I–765. The F– 

1 nonimmigrant student may begin 

working off campus only upon receipt 

of the EAD from USCIS. 

DSO recommendation. In making a 

recommendation that a F–1 

nonimmigrant student be approved for 

Special Student Relief, the DSO certifies 

that: 

(a) The F–1 nonimmigrant student is 

in good academic standing and is 

carrying a ‘‘full course of study’’ 79 at the 

time of the request for employment 

authorization; 

(b) The F–1 nonimmigrant student is 

a Sudan citizen, regardless of country of 

birth (or an individual having no 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in Sudan), and is experiencing severe 

economic hardship as a direct result of 

the current crisis in Sudan, as 

documented on the Form I–20; 

(c) The F–1 nonimmigrant student has 

confirmed that the student will comply 

with the reduced course load 

requirements of 8 CFR 214.2(f)(5)(v) and 

register for the duration of the 

authorized employment for a minimum 

of six semester or quarter hours of 

instruction per academic term if at the 

undergraduate level, or for a minimum 

of three semester or quarter hours of 

instruction per academic term if the 

student is at the graduate level; and 

(d) The off-campus employment is 

necessary to alleviate severe economic 

hardship to the individual as a direct 

result of the current crisis in Sudan. 

Processing. To facilitate prompt 

adjudication of the student’s application 

for off-campus employment 

authorization under 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(9)(ii)(C), the F–1 nonimmigrant 

student should do both of the following: 

(a) Ensure that the application 

package includes all of the following 

documents: 

(1) A completed Form I–765; 

(2) The required fee or properly 

documented fee waiver request, as 

described in 8 CFR 103.7(c); and 

(3) A signed and dated copy of the 

student’s Form I–20 with the 

appropriate DSO recommendation, as 

previously described in this notice; and 

(b) Send the application in an 

envelope which is clearly marked on the 

front of the envelope, bottom right-hand 

side, with the phrase ‘‘SPECIAL 

STUDENT RELIEF.’’ Failure to include 

this notation may result in significant 

processing delays. 

If USCIS approves the student’s Form 

I–765, USCIS will send the student a 

Form I–766 EAD as evidence of 

employment authorization. The EAD 

will contain an expiration date that does 

not exceed the end of the granted 

temporary relief. 

Temporary Protected Status 

Considerations 

Can an F–1 nonimmigrant student 

apply for temporary protected status 

(TPS) and for benefits under this notice 

at the same time? 

Yes. An F–1 nonimmigrant student 

who has not yet applied for TPS or other 

relief that reduce the student’s course 

load per term and permits an increased 

number of work hours per week, such 

as Special Student Relief,80 under this 

notice has two options. 

Under the first option, the 

nonimmigrant student may file the TPS 

application according to the instructions 

in the USCIS notice announcing the 

designation of Sudan for TPS published 

elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 

Register. All TPS applicants must file a 

Form I–821, Application for Temporary 

Protected Status with the appropriate 

fee (or request a fee waiver). Although 

not required to do so, if an F–1 

nonimmigrant student wants to obtain a 

new EAD based on their TPS 

application that is valid through 

October 19, 2023, and to be eligible for 

automatic EAD extensions that may be 

available to certain EADs with an A–12 

or C–19 category code, they must file 

Form I–765 and pay the Form I–765 fee 

(or submit a Request for a Fee Waiver 

(Form I–912)). After receiving the TPSrelated EAD, an F–1 nonimmigrant 

student may request that the student’s 

DSO make the required entry in SEVIS, 

issue an updated Form I–20, as 

described in this notice, and notate that 

the nonimmigrant student has been 

authorized to carry a reduced course 

load and is working pursuant to a TPSrelated EAD. So long as the 

nonimmigrant student maintains the 

minimum course load described in this 

notice, does not otherwise violate the 

student’s nonimmigrant status, 

including as provided under 8 CFR 

214.1(g), and maintains the student’s 

TPS, then the student maintains F–1 

nonimmigrant status and TPS 

concurrently. 

Under the second option, the 

nonimmigrant student may apply for an 

EAD under Special Student Relief by 

filing the Form I–765 with the location 

specified in the filing instructions. At 

the same time, the F–1 nonimmigrant 

student may file a separate TPS 

application but must submit the TPS 

application according to the instructions 

provided in the Federal Register Notice 

announcing the designation of Sudan 

for TPS. The F–1 nonimmigrant student 

already has applied for employment 

authorization under Special Student 

Relief and may choose not to submit the 

Form I–765 as part of the TPS 

application. However, some 

nonimmigrant students may wish to 

obtain a TPS EAD in light of automatic 

extensions that may be available to 

certain EADs with an A–12 or C–19 

category code. The nonimmigrant 

student should check the appropriate 

box when filling out Form I–821 to 

indicate whether a TPS-related EAD is 

being requested. Again, so long as the 

nonimmigrant student maintains the 

minimum course load described in this 

notice and does not otherwise violate 

the student’s nonimmigrant status, 

including as provided under 8 CFR 

214.1(g), the nonimmigrant will be able 

to maintain compliance requirements 

for F–1 nonimmigrant student status 

while having TPS. 

When a student applies simultaneously 

for TPS and benefits under this notice, 

what is the minimum course load 

requirement while an application for 

employment authorization is pending? 

The F–1 nonimmigrant student must 

maintain normal course load 

requirements for a ‘‘full course of 

study’’ 81 unless or until the 

nonimmigrant student receives 

employment authorization under this 

notice. TPS-related employment 

authorization, by itself, does not 

authorize a nonimmigrant student to 

drop below twelve credit hours, or 

otherwise applicable minimum 

requirements (e.g., clock hours for 

language students). Once approved for 


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82Because the suspension of requirements under 

this notice applies throughout an academic term 

during which the suspension is in effect, DHS 

considers an F–1 nonimmigrant student who 

engages in a reduced course load or employment (or 

both) after this notice is effective to be engaging in 

a ‘‘full course of study,’’ see 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6), and 

eligible for employment authorization, through the 

end of any academic term for which such student 

is matriculated as of October 19, 2023, provided the 

student satisfies the minimum course load 

requirement in this notice. DHS also considers 

students who engage in online coursework pursuant 

to ICE Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) 

guidance for nonimmigrant students to be in 

compliance with regulations while such guidance 

remains in effect. See ICE Guidance and Frequently 

Asked Questions on COVID–19, Nonimmigrant 

Students & SEVP-Certified Schools: Frequently 

Asked Questions, https://www.ice.gov/coronavirus 

(last visited Mar. 2022). 

Special Student Relief employment 

authorization, the F–1 nonimmigrant 

student may drop below twelve credit 

hours, or otherwise applicable 

minimum requirements (with a 

minimum of six semester or quarter 

credit hours of instruction per academic 

term if at the undergraduate level, or for 

a minimum of three semester or quarter 

credit hours of instruction per academic 

term if at the graduate level). See 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(5)(v), 214.2(f)(6), and 

214.2(f)(9)(i) and (ii). 

How does a student who has received 

a TPS-related employment 

authorization document then apply for 

authorization to take a reduced course 

load under this notice? 

There is no further application 

process with USCIS if a student has 

been approved for a TPS-related EAD. 

The F–1 nonimmigrant student must 

demonstrate and provide 

documentation to the DSO of the direct 

economic hardship resulting from the 

current crisis in Sudan. The DSO will 

then verify and update the student’s 

record in SEVIS to enable the F–1 

nonimmigrant student with TPS to 

reduce the course load without any 

further action or application. No other 

EAD needs to be issued for the F–1 

nonimmigrant student to have 

employment authorization. 

Can a noncitizen who has been granted 

TPS apply for reinstatement of F–1 

nonimmigrant student status after the 

noncitizen’s F–1 nonimmigrant student 

status has lapsed? 

Yes. Current regulations permit 

certain students who fall out of F–1 

nonimmigrant student status to apply 

for reinstatement. See 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(16). This provision might apply 

to students who worked on a TPSrelated EAD or dropped their course 

load before publication of this notice, 

and therefore fell out of student status. 

These students must satisfy the criteria 

set forth in the F–1 nonimmigrant 

student status reinstatement regulations. 

How long will this notice remain in 

effect? 

This notice grants temporary relief 

until October 19, 2023 82 to eligible F– 

1 nonimmigrant students. DHS will 

continue to monitor the situation in 

Sudan. Should the special provisions 

authorized by this notice need 

modification or extension, DHS will 

announce such changes in the Federal 

Register. 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 

An F–1 nonimmigrant student seeking 

off-campus employment authorization 

due to severe economic hardship 

resulting from the current crisis in 

Sudan must demonstrate to the DSO 

that this employment is necessary to 

avoid severe economic hardship. A DSO 

who agrees that a nonimmigrant student 

should receive such employment 

authorization must recommend an 

application approval to USCIS by 

entering information in the remarks 

field of the student’s SEVIS record. The 

authority to collect this information is 

in the SEVIS collection of information 

currently approved by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) under 

OMB Control Number 1653–0038. 

This notice also allows an eligible F– 

1 nonimmigrant student to request 

employment authorization, work an 

increased number of hours while the 

academic institution is in session, and 

reduce their course load while 

continuing to maintain F–1 

nonimmigrant student status. 

To apply for employment 

authorization, certain F–1 

nonimmigrant students must complete 

and submit a currently approved Form 

I–765 according to the instructions on 

the form. OMB has previously approved 

the collection of information contained 

on the current Form I–765, consistent 

with the PRA (OMB Control No. 1615– 

0040). Although there will be a slight 

increase in the number of Form I–765 

filings because of this notice, the 

number of filings currently contained in 

the OMB annual inventory for Form I– 

765 is sufficient to cover the additional 

filings. Accordingly, there is no further 

action required under the PRA. 

Alejandro Mayorkas, 

Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security. 

[FR Doc. 2022–08362 Filed 4–18–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–28–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services 

[CIS No. 2710–21; DHS Docket No. USCIS– 

2014–0003] 

RIN 1615–ZB92 

Designation of Sudan for Temporary 

Protected Status 

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services (USCIS), 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS). 

ACTION: Notice of Temporary Protected 

Status (TPS) designation. 

SUMMARY: Through this Notice, the 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS) announces that the Secretary of 

Homeland Security (Secretary) has 

designated Sudan for Temporary 

Protected Status (TPS) for eighteen 

months, from April 19, 2022, through 

October 19, 2023. This designation 

allows eligible Sudanese nationals (and 

individuals having no nationality who 

last habitually resided in Sudan) who 

have continuously resided in the United 

States since March 1, 2022, and who 

have been continuously physically 

present in the United States since April 

19, 2022 to apply for TPS. 

DATES: Designation of Sudan for TPS: 

The eighteen-month designation of 

Sudan for TPS is effective on April 19, 

2022 and will remain in effect for 

eighteen months, through October 19, 

2023. The registration period for eligible 

individuals to submit TPS applications 

begins April 19, 2022 and will remain 

in effect through October 19, 2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rena ́ Cutlip-Mason, Chief, 

Humanitarian Affairs Division, Office of 

Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship 

and Immigration Services, Department 

of Homeland Security, by mail at 5900 

Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, 

MD 20746, or by phone at 800–375– 

5283. 

ADDRESSES: For further information on 

TPS, including guidance on the 

registration process and additional 

information on eligibility, please visit 

the USCIS TPS web page at uscis.gov/ 

tps. You can find specific information 

about Sudan’s TPS designation by 

selecting ‘‘Sudan’’ from the menu on the 

left side of the TPS web page. 

If you have additional questions about 

TPS, please visit uscis.gov/tools. Our 

online virtual assistant, Emma, can 

answer many of your questions and 

point you to additional information on 

our website. If you are unable to find 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1