On Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a notice in the Federal Register that provides an 18-month extension of the employment authorization for Nepali F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the April 25, 2015, earthquake in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

With this notice, the Secretary of Homeland Security extended his previous special student relief (SSR) action, which suspended certain requirements that govern on-campus and off-campus employment, from Dec. 24, 2016, to June 24, 2018. Effective with this notice, the students covered by this SSR action can continue to:

• Apply for employment authorization.
• Work an increased number of hours while school is in session provided that they satisfy the minimum course load requirement while continuing to maintain their F–1 student status.

Please refer to the notice in the Federal Register for more information about:

• The specific SSR action effective with the notice.
• Who is covered by this SSR action.
• Why DHS took this SSR action.
• How to apply for employment authorization under this SSR action.

For more information about SSR actions and when they may apply, please download the What is Special Student Relief (SSR)? infographic in the Study in the States Resource Library. If you have case-specific questions, please contact the SEVP Response Center.