Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2022 / Notices 23189 

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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (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 & SEVPCertified Schools: Frequently Asked Questions, 

https://www.ice.gov/coronavirus (last visited Mar. 

4, 2022). 

2 ‘‘Russia invades Ukraine on multiple fronts in 

‘brutal act of war’,’’ PBS, Feb. 24, 2022, available 

at: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russiainvades-ukraine-on-multiple-fronts-in-brutal-act-ofwar (last visited Mar. 1, 2022); Natalia Zinets and 

Aleksandar Vasovic, ‘‘Missiles rain down around 

Ukraine,’’ Reuters, Feb. 24, 2022, available at: 

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putinorders-military-operations-ukraine-demands-kyivforces-surrender-2022-02-24/ (last visited Mar. 1, 

2022). 

3Ukraine: Humanitarian Impact Situation Report 

No. 1, United Nations Office for the Coordination 

of Humanitarian Affairs, Feb. 26, 2022, available at: 

https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukrainehumanitarian-impact-situation-report-no-1-500-pm26-february-2022 (last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

Send comments to Carlos D. Graham, 

SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 

5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15E57–A, 

Rockville, Maryland 20857, OR email a 

copy to Carlos.Graham@

samhsa.hhs.gov. Written comments 

should be received by June 21, 2022. 

Carlos Graham, 

Reports Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2022–08301 Filed 4–18–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4162–20–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

U.S. Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement 

[Docket No. ICEB–2022–0006] 

RIN 1653–ZA26 

Employment Authorization for 

Ukrainian F–1 Nonimmigrant Students 

Experiencing Severe Economic 

Hardship as a Direct Result of the 

Ongoing Armed Conflict in Ukraine 

AGENCY: U.S. Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement, Department of Homeland 

Security. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces that 

the Secretary of Homeland Security 

(Secretary) is suspending certain 

regulatory requirements for F–1 

nonimmigrant students whose country 

of citizenship is Ukraine, regardless of 

country of birth (or individuals having 

no nationality who last habitually 

resided in Ukraine), and who are 

experiencing severe economic hardship 

as a direct result of the ongoing armed 

conflict in Ukraine. The Secretary is 

taking action to provide relief to these 

Ukrainian students who are lawful F–1 

nonimmigrant students, so the students 

may request employment authorization, 

work an increased number of hours 

while the 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 Ukraine, regardless of 

country of birth (or individuals having 

no nationality who last habitually 

resided in Ukraine), 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 

ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine. 

Effective with this publication, 

suspension of the employment 

limitations is available through October 

19, 2023, for those who are in lawful F– 

1 nonimmigrant status. DHS will deem 

an F–1 nonimmigrant student granted 

employment authorization through this 

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 Ukraine regardless 

of country of birth (or an individual 

having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Ukraine); 

(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; 

(4) Are maintaining F–1 

nonimmigrant status; and 

(5) Are experiencing severe economic 

hardship as a direct result of the 

ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine. 

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 has reviewed country conditions 

in Ukraine. Based on this review, and in 

consultation with the Department of 

State (DOS), the Secretary has 

determined that an 18-month 

designation is warranted due to ongoing 

armed conflict and emergent 

circumstances described below. 

Overview 

On February 24, 2022, Russia 

massively expanded its unprovoked 

military invasion of Ukraine, marking 

the largest conventional military action 

in Europe since World War II.2 Millions 

of Ukrainian nationals and other 

residents of Ukraine have fled the 

country with millions more displaced 

internally as Russian forces have 

continued to engage in significant, 

sustained bombardment of major cities 

across the country, including attacks on 

Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.3 This ongoing 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
23190 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2022 / Notices 

4Press briefing notes on Ukraine, United Nations 

Office of the High Commissioner Human Rights, 

Mar. 1, 2022, available at: https://www.reuters.com/ 

world/europe/putins-nuclear-move-could-makesituation-much-much-more-dangerous-us-official2022-02-27/ (last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

5 ‘‘Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps—latest 

updates’’, Financial Times, Mar. 1, 2022, available 

at: https://www.ft.com/content/4351d5b0-0888- 

4b47-9368-6bc4dfbccbf5 (last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

6 ‘‘What is happening in Mariupol, the Ukrainian 

city under Russian siege?’’ The Washington Post, 

Mar. 21, 2022, available at: https://

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/21/

ukraine-mariupol-seige-russia-faq/ (last visited Mar. 

25, 2022). 

7Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, The 

Institute for the study of War, p. 1 & p. 5, Feb. 28, 

2022, available at: https://

www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ 

Russian%20Operations%20Assessments%20

Feb28_1.pdf (last visited Mar. 1, 2022); ‘‘Ukraine 

conflict: Russia bombs Kharkiv’s Freedom Square 

and opera house’’, BBC, Mar. 1, 2022, available at: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60567162 

(last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

8Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan 

QC, on the Situation in Ukraine: ‘I have decided to 

proceed with opening an investigation.’, 

International Criminal Court, Feb. 28, 2022, 

available at: https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/

item.aspx?name=20220228-prosecutor-statementukraine (last visited Mar. 1, 2022); Statement of ICC 

Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, on the Situation 

in Ukraine: Receipt of Referrals from 39 States 

Parties and the Opening of an Investigation, Mar. 

2, 2022, available at https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/ 

item.aspx?name=2022-prosecutor-statementreferrals-ukraine (last visited Apr. 4, 2022). 

9War Crimes by Russia’s Forces in Ukraine, Press 

Statement, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. 

Blinken, Mar. 23, 2022, available at: https://

www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=2022- 

prosecutor-statement-referrals-ukraine. (last visited 

April 1, 2022). 

10Ukraine—Complex Emergency, U.S. Agency for 

International Development, Mar. 25, 2022, available 

at: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/

documents/2022-03-25_USG_Ukraine_Complex_

Emergency_Fact_Sheet_8.pdf. 

11Ukraine: Civilian casualty update 31 March 

2022, United Nations Human Rights Office of the 

High Commissioner, Mar. 31, 2022, available at: 

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/03/

ukraine-civilian-casualty-update-31-march-2022. 

12Ukraine: Humanitarian Impact, Situation 

Report No. 01, OCHA Ukraine, Feb. 26, 2022, 

available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ 

ukraine-humanitarian-impact-situation-report-no-1- 

500-pm-26-february-2022 (last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

13 ‘‘Fear, darkness and newborn babies: inside 

Ukraine’s underground shelters’’, The Guardian, 

Feb. 26, 2022, available at: https://

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/26/feardarkness-and-newborn-babies-inside-ukraineunderground-shelters (last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

14 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview—Ukraine, 

UNOCHA, p. 79, Feb. 11, 2022, available at: https:// 

www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/

www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/ 

files/ukraine_2022_hno_eng_2022-02-11.pdf (last 

visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

15 Id. p. 51. 

16 Id. p. 73. 

17 Id. p. 39. 

18Ukraine: Humanitarian Impact, Situation 

Report No. 01, OCHA Ukraine, Feb. 26, 2022, 

available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ 

ukraine-humanitarian-impact-situation-report-no-1- 

500-pm-26-february-2022 (last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

19Exploring Access to health care services in 

Ukraine: A protection and health perspective, 

Protection Cluster Ukraine/Health Cluster Ukraine, 

Jul. 2019, available at: https://www.humanitarian

response.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.

info/files/2019/07/2019-07-Exploring-access-tohealth-care-services-in-Ukraine_ENG.pdf (last 

visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

20 Impact of Health Reform on the Primary 

Healthcare Level in Conflict-Affected Areas of 

Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, Me ́dicos del Mundo, 

June 2021, available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/ 

ukraine/impact-healthcare-reform-primaryhealthcare-level-conflict-affected-areas-donetsk-and 

(last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

21Emergency in Ukraine: External Situation 

Report #3, World Health Organization, Mar. 17, 

2022, available at: https://www.who.int/ 

publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2022-5152-44915- 

63936 (last visited Mar. 25, 2022). 

armed conflict poses a serious threat to 

the personal safety of nationals 

returning to Ukraine. Emergent 

circumstances, including destroyed 

infrastructure, scarce resources, and 

lack of access to healthcare, prevent 

Ukrainian nationals from returning to 

their homeland in safety. 

Ongoing Armed Conflict and Human 

Rights Abuses 

Russia’s further military invasion of 

Ukraine has placed civilians at 

significant risk of physical harm 

throughout the country.4 Aerial 

bombardment in and around major 

cities have been reported as Russian 

forces continue to target critical 

infrastructure.5 In the city of Mariupol, 

Russian forces reportedly have shelled 

the city, killing civilians with strikes on 

homes, schools, hospitals and shelters, 

while blocking routes for humanitarian 

aid and civilian evacuation.6

The scale of attacks harming 

infrastructure has dramatically 

increased, resulting in numerous 

civilian casualties.7 The Prosecutor of 

the International Criminal Court in The 

Hague stated that there is a reasonable 

basis to believe that both alleged war 

crimes and crimes against humanity 

have been committed in Ukraine during 

the past eight years, so his Office will 

‘‘proceed with opening an investigation 

into the Situation in Ukraine’’ from 21 

November 2013 onwards, thereby 

encompassing within its scope any past 

and present allegations of war crimes, 

crimes against humanity or genocide 

committed on any part of the territory 

of Ukraine . . .8 Based on information 

currently available, the U.S. government 

has assessed that members of Russian 

forces have committed war crimes in 

Ukraine.9

Humanitarian Situation 

The war against Ukraine continues to 

result in civilian deaths and generate 

further population displacement, 

damage civilian infrastructure, and 

exacerbate humanitarian needs across 

the country.10 As of March 31, 2022 the 

Office of the United Nations High 

Commissioner for Human Rights 

recorded 3,167 civilian casualties in the 

country: 1,232 killed and 1,935 injured; 

caused by the use of explosive weapons, 

shelling from heavy artillery and 

multiple launch rocket systems, and 

missile and air strikes.11

Destruction of Infrastructure and Scarce 

Resources 

Since February 24, significant 

infrastructural damage in Ukraine from 

Russian air strikes has ‘‘left hundreds of 

thousands of people without electricity 

or water, while bridges and roads 

damaged by shelling have left 

communities cut off from markets for 

food and other basic supplies.’’ 12 Amid 

air raid sirens, civilians have sought 

safety underground in subway stations, 

basements, and bunkers.13 Food 

security has been an ongoing concern in 

Ukraine with 1.1 million Ukrainians in 

need of food assistance—more than a 

third of these being severely and 

moderately food insecure.14 The impact 

on women has been more pronounced 

and ‘‘all available data show that 

female-headed households are an 

estimated 1.3 times more often 

experiencing food insecurity, compared 

to the overall population.’’ 15 Prior to 

Russia’s February 24 expansion of the 

invasion, in February 2022, UNOCHA 

estimated that 2.5 million Ukrainians 

were in need of water, sanitation and 

hygiene assistance.16 Those without 

access to alternative water sources have 

been most heavily impacted.17

Lack of Access to Healthcare 

Shortly after Russia began this 

offensive in 2022, UNOCHA reported 

that in Ukraine, the ‘‘most pressing 

humanitarian needs are emergency 

medical services, critical medicines, 

health supplies and equipment, safe 

water for drinking and hygiene, and 

shelter and protection for those 

displaced from their home.’’ 18

Ukraine’s health care system already 

had major deficiencies including 

shortages of medications and supplies, 

poor infrastructure, and understaffing.19

Challenges within Ukraine’s health 

care system have been exacerbated by 

the massive expansion of armed conflict 

amidst a pandemic.20 Strikes hitting 

medical facilities have resulted in 

injuries and deaths, including among 

health care workers, and have resulted 

in critical shortages of medical supplies 

in some areas.21 Kyiv city authorities 

reported over 80 babies were born in 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2022 / Notices 23191 

22 ‘‘Fear, darkness and newborn babies: Inside 

Ukraine’s underground shelters’’, The Guardian, 

Feb. 26, 2022, available at: https://

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/26/feardarkness-and-newborn-babies-inside-ukraineunderground-shelters (last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

23 ‘‘We are devoted to this work because the 

health and lives of people are at stake’’, United 

Nations Office of the High Commissioner Human 

Rights, Aug. 16, 2022, available at: https://

www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Ukraineand-COVID-19.aspx (last visited Apr. 1, 2022). 

24WHO Health Emergency Dashboard, WHO 

(COVID–19) Homepage—Ukraine, WHO, available 

at: https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/ua 

(last visited Apr. 1, 2022). 

25WHO Health Emergency Dashboard, WHO 

(COVID–19) Homepage—Ukraine, WHO, available 

at: https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/ua 

(last visited Apr. 1, 2022). 

26 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview—Ukraine, 

UNOCHA, p. 34, Feb. 11, 2022, available at: https:// 

www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/ 

www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/ 

files/ukraine_2022_hno_eng_2022-02-11.pdf (last 

visited Apr. 1, 2022). 

27 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview—Ukraine, 

UNOCHA, p. 34, Feb. 11, 2022, available at: https:// 

www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/ 

www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/ 

files/ukraine_2022_hno_eng_2022-02-11.pdf (last 

visited Apr. 1, 2022). 

28Registration of Internal Displacement, UNHCR, 

Apr. 1, 2021, available at: https://app.powerbi.com/ 

view?r=eyJrIjoiY2RhMmE

xMjgtZWRlMS00YjcwLWI0MzktNmEwNDkwYzd

mYTM0IiwidCI6ImU1YzM3OTgxLTY

2NjQtNDEzNC04YTBjLTY1NDNkMmFm

ODBiZSIsImMiOjh9 (last visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

29 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview—Ukraine, 

UNOCHA, p. 34, Feb. 11, 2022, available at: https:// 

www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/ 

www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/ 

files/ukraine_2022_hno_eng_2022-02-11.pdf (last 

visited Mar. 1, 2022). 

30Operational Data Portal, UNHCR, Mar. 6, 2022, 

available at: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ 

ukraine (last visited Mar. 31, 2022). 

31Rapid Gender Analysis of Ukraine: Secondary 

data review, UNHCR, Mar. 29, 2022, https://

data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/91723 (last 

visited Apr. 4, 2022) 

32Undergraduate 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). 

33 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 Mar. 4, 2022). 

bomb shelters in the first two nights.22

The COVID–19 pandemic already put 

significant strain on Ukraine’s health 

care system by stretching its limited 

capacity.23 Since January 3, 2020, there 

have been over 5 million confirmed 

cases of COVID–19 with 107,957 deaths 

the number of deaths topping 100,000.24

Hospitals have struggled with the 

volume of COVID cases and Ukraine has 

one of the lowest vaccination rates in 

Europe.25

Displacement 

Prior to Russia’s full-scale military 

invasion into Ukraine on February 24, 

2022, a large number of Ukrainian 

citizens had already been internally 

displaced by the Russia-backed conflict 

in the Donbas and Russia’s occupation 

of Crimea since 2014.26 As of March 5, 

2021, well before the onset of the 2022 

invasion by Russia, the Ukrainian 

Ministry of Social Policy had already 

registered 1,461,770 individuals as 

internally displaced persons (IDPs).27

Among these nearly 1.5 million IDPs, 

195,320 were children, 724,786 were 

elderly and 51,478 were persons with 

disabilities.28 Moreover, life in Ukraine 

for many IDPs was dire with an 

estimated 300,000 IDPs having been 

identified as in need of livelihood 

assistance and food assistance for the 

year 2022, even before the onset of the 

February 2022 Russian invasion.29

The newly intensified and 

widespread conflict has caused more 

than four million people to exit Ukraine 

for Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, 

Moldova, and beyond.30 The United 

Nations notes that women and girls face 

higher risks of human rights violations 

and sexual exploitation and abuse, 

including transactional sex, survival sex 

and conflict-related sexual violence.31

As of February 28, 2022, 

approximately 2,604 F–1 nonimmigrant 

students from Ukraine (or individuals 

having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Ukraine) are in the 

United States and enrolled at SEVPcertified U.S. academic institutions. 

Given the extent of the ongoing war in 

Ukraine, affected students whose 

primary means of financial support 

comes from Ukraine may need to be 

exempt from the normal student 

employment requirements to continue 

their studies in the United States. The 

ongoing armed conflict has made it 

unfeasible for many students to safely 

return to Ukraine 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.32 A graduate-level F–1 

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). 

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 

towards satisfying this minimum course 

load requirement, unless the course of 

study is in an English language study 

program.33 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 towards 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 Ukrainian citizen, regardless of 

country of birth (or an individual having 

no nationality who last habitually 

resided in Ukraine), who already has 

on-campus 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 


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23192 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2022 / Notices 

34See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

35Undergraduate 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). 36See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

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’’ 34 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.35 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, as required under 

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 into 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 certain F– 

1 nonimmigrant students who meet the 

following conditions: 

(1) Are citizens of Ukraine, regardless 

of country of birth (or individuals 

having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Ukraine); 

(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 

ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine. 

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 ongoing armed conflict in 

Ukraine). 

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 endorsed 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 

Ukraine enrolled in private kindergarten 

through grade 12, or public high school 

grades 9 through 12. Such students must 

maintain the minimum number of hours 

of class attendance per week prescribed 

by the academic institution for normal 

progress towards graduation, as required 

under 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 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 ongoing armed 

conflict in Ukraine. 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 any applications 

with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services (USCIS). The standard rules 

permitting full-time employment oncampus when school is not in session or 

during school vacations apply, as 

required under 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’’ 36 for the purpose 

of maintaining their F–1 nonimmigrant 


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37Minimum 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. 

38See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

39Minimum 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. 40See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

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

satisfies the minimum course load 

requirement described in this notice, as 

required under 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.37

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’’ 38 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, as required under 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.39

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 

ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine. 

Filing instructions are located at: 

https://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 

(2) The hardship is a direct result of 

the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine. 

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’’ 40 at the 

time of the request for employment 

authorization; 

(b) The F–1 nonimmigrant student is 

a citizen of Ukraine, regardless of 

country of birth (or an individual having 

no nationality who last habitually 

resided in Ukraine), and is experiencing 

severe economic hardship as a direct 

result of the ongoing armed conflict in 

Ukraine, 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 ongoing armed conflict in 

Ukraine. 

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 

defined 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 


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23194 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 19, 2022 / Notices 

41See DHS Study in the States, Special Student 

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

special-student-relief (last visited Mar. 4, 2022). 42See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

43Because 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. 4, 2022). 

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 reduces the student’s course 

load per term and permits an increased 

number of work hours per week, such 

as Special Student Relief,41 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 Ukraine 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 F–1 

nonimmigrant students want 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 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 Fee Waiver (Form 

I–912)). After receiving the TPS-related 

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 Ukraine 

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 certain 

extensions that may be available to 

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, included 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 status 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’’ 42 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 

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), (f)(6), and (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 Ukraine. 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 43 to eligible F– 

1 nonimmigrant students. DHS will 

continue to monitor the situation in 

Ukraine. Should the special provisions 

authorized by this notice need 

modification or extension, DHS will 


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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; 


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