9111-CB-P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
[Docket No. ICEB-2024-0007]
RIN 1653-ZA51
Employment Authorization for Yemeni F-1 Nonimmigrant Students Experiencing
Severe Economic Hardship as a Direct Result of the Current Crisis in Yemen
AGENCY: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is suspending certain
regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Yemen who are
experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Yemen.
The Secretary is providing relief to these students who are in lawful F-1 nonimmigrant
status, so the students 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 status.
DATES: This action covers eligible Yemeni F-1 nonimmigrant students beginning on
September 4, 2024, and ending on March 3, 2026.
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; e-mail:
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 Yemen
regardless of country of birth (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually
resided in Yemen), 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 Yemen. The original notice,
which applied to F-1 nonimmigrant students who met certain criteria, including having
been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on September 4,
2021, was effective from September 4, 2021, through March 3, 2023. See 86 FR 36288
(July 9, 2021). Most recently, DHS issued a notice which applied to F-1 nonimmigrant
students who met certain criteria, including having been lawfully present in the United
States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on January 3, 2023, that was effective from March 4,
2023, through September 3, 2024. See 88 FR 88 (Jan. 3, 2023). Effective with this
publication, suspension of the employment limitations is available through March 3,
2026, for those who are in lawful F-1 nonimmigrant status on the date of publication of
this notice. 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).

Because 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 March 3, 2026, provided the student satisfies the minimum
course load requirements in this notice.
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 Yemen regardless of country of birth (or an individual having
no nationality who last habitually resided in Yemen);
(2) Were lawfully present in the United States on the date of publication of this
notice 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);
(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 currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status; and
(5) Are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current
crisis in Yemen.
This notice applies to F-1 nonimmigrant students in an approved private school in
kindergarten through grade 12, public school grades 9 through 12, and undergraduate and
graduate education. An F-1 nonimmigrant student covered by this notice who transfers to
another SEVP-certified academic institution remains eligible for the relief provided by
means of this notice.
Why is DHS taking this action?
DHS is taking action to provide relief to Yemeni F-1 nonimmigrant students
experiencing severe economic hardship due to the current crisis in Yemen. Based on its
review of country conditions in Yemen and input received from the U.S. Department of
State (DOS), DHS is taking action to allow eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students from
Yemen 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 humanitarian situation in Yemen has worsened considerably in the last 18
months. Thousands of civilians have reportedly been killed or injured due to armed
conflict between Houthi forces and forces loyal to the internationally recognized
government since the United Nations (UN)-supported truce between the parties expired
in October 2022.2 Additionally, the presence of consistent armed conflict has led to the
displacement of a large number of civilians, worsening an already grim humanitarian
situation.3 The heightened security concerns, deteriorating humanitarian conditions,
unstable economy, and other emergent circumstances have adversely affected much of
the Yemeni population.
Security Concerns
Tactics used over the course of the conflict by the Houthi forces, the Saudi-led
coalition backing the internationally recognized government4, and domestic and
international terrorist organizations operating inside of Yemen have put civilians at
significant risk from conflict-related externalities following the UN-supported truce in
2022.5 Explosive remnants of war, which consist of unexploded ordinances, improvised
explosive devices (IEDs), and landmines, pose a lasting threat to civilians in Yemen.6
The DOS estimated that, as of April 2021, “Houthi forces [have] laid over one
million landmines and IEDs across the country.”7 Experts have warned that landmines,

Yemen, Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect, May 31, 2024, available at
https://www.globalr2p.org/countries/yemen/ (last visited June 13, 2024).
3 Yemen - Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #5, Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, Apr. 5, 2024, pp. 5-6, available at
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-complex-emergency-fact-sheet-5-fiscal-year-fy-2024 (last visited
June 13, 2024).
4 Daniel L. Byman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Have a Disastrous Yemen Strategy,
Brookings Institution, July 17, 2018, available at https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-fromchaos/2018/07/17/saudi-arabia-and-the-united-arab-emirates-have-a-disastrous-yemen-strategy (last visited
June 13, 2024).
5 World Report – Yemen, Human Rights Watch 2023 World Report, available at
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/yemen? (last visited June 13, 2024).
6 Yemen: Explosive remnants of war the biggest killer of children since truce began, Save the Children,
June 30, 2022, available at https://www.savethechildren.net/news/yemen-explosive-remnants-war-biggestkilled-children-truce-began (last visited June 13, 2024).
7 Daniel Gurley, Small Steps Have a Big Impact for Yemeni Civilians, Department of State Dipnote:
Military and Security, Apr. 6, 2021, available at https://www.state.gov/dipnote-u-s-department-of-stateofficial-blog/small-steps-have-a-big-impact-for-yemeni-civilians/ (last visited June 13, 2024).
which are largely unmapped, will pose a threat to human life for decades, even if a peace
deal is reached between the warring parties.8 As of 2023, there is evidence that Houthis
had continued to spread landmines across infrastructure areas, water sources, and
farmlands.9 The group has also refused to share maps of landmines with mine removal
authorities, making survival all the more difficult for the civilian populations in the
affected areas.10
Humanitarian Concerns
The UN considers the humanitarian crisis in Yemen to be the largest in the world,
with an estimated 24 million people (or close to 80 percent of the population) needing
assistance.11 In February 2024, the World Food Program (WFP) estimated the number of
food insecure people was approximately 17 million, and that 18.6 million individuals will
need humanitarian assistance in 2024.12 Additionally, 2.2 million children between 6 to
59 months are under threat of acute malnutrition.13 The United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has stated that internally displaced persons (IDPs)
in Yemen are “four times more likely to go hungry than the rest of the population” and
that “62 percent of internally displaced families in Yemen have had to cut back on
food.”14 Moreover, a recent UN Food and Agriculture Organization report warned that
“[i]ncreased military activities in the Red Sea carries the risk of destruction of critical
infrastructure, including ports and storage facilities. This can hamper the efficient

Land mines will be hidden killer in Yemen decades after war, AP, Dec. 24, 2018, available at
https://www.apnews.com/bce0a80324d040f09843ceb3e4e45c1e (last visited June 13, 2024).
9 World Report – Yemen, Human Rights Watch 2024 World Report, available at
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/yemen (last visited June 13, 2024).
10 Id.
11 The United Nations in Yemen, available at https://yemen.un.org/en/about/about-the-un (last visited June
13, 2024).
12 Emergency, Yemen, World Food Program, Feb. 2024, available at
https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/yemen-emergency (last visited June 13, 2024).
13 Yemen – World Food Programme, June 2022, available at https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP0000141295/download/ (last visited June 13, 2024).
14 Get to know Fattoum, a displaced Yemeni mother who struggles to take care of her orphaned children.,
UNHCR, Apr. 22, 2022, available at https://zakat.unhcr.org/blog/en/beneficiaries/fattoum (last visited June
13, 2024).
distribution and storage of food in Yemen, further worsening food insecurity.”15 The
WFP further announced in December 2023 that it would begin a “pause in general food
distributions in areas under the control of the Sana'a-based authorities, due to limited
funding and no agreement with the authorities on a smaller programme.”16 The latest
development increases the likelihood that food insecurity will remain a major concern
across Yemen for the foreseeable future.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Yemen’s
“current water network reaches less than 30 percent of the Yemeni population,” leaving a
majority of Yemenis to depend on alternate means of obtaining water.17 The ICRC
reported that approximately 17.8 million people in Yemen (approximately 56 percent of
the population) do not currently have access to clean water and sanitation.18 In December
2023, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that the parties to the Yemeni conflict have
had a direct negative impact on civilian’s access to water.19 HRW also reports that “[t]he
Houthis have weaponized water in Taizz by blocking water in the two basins under their
control from flowing into government-controlled Taizz city.”20
In 2023, UNHCR recorded approximately 77,000 Yemeni refugees and asylumseekers in neighboring countries,21 and over 4.5 million IDPs within Yemen.22 The

Potential Impacts of Red Sea Crisis Escalation on Food Insecurity in Yemen, UNFOA, Feb. 28, 2024,
available at https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/special-technical-paper-potential-impacts-red-sea-crisisescalation-food-insecurity-yemen-issued-28th-february-2024 (last visited June 13, 2024).
16 Emergency, Yemen, World Food Program, Feb. 2024, available at
https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/yemen-emergency (last visited June 13, 2024).
17 The Water Situation in Yemen, ICRC, June 5, 2022, available at
https://www.icrc.org/en/document/water-situation-yemen (last visited June 13, 2024).
18 Id.
19 Yemen: Warring Parties Deepen Water Crisis, Human Rights Watch, Dec. 11, 2023, available at
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/11/yemen-warring-parties-deepen-water-crisis# (last visited June 13,
2024).
20 Death is More Merciful Than This Life, Human Rights Watch, Dec. 11, 2023, available at
https://www.hrw.org/report/2023/12/11/death-more-merciful-life/houthi-and-yemeni-governmentviolations-right-water (last visited June 13, 2024).
21 Refugee Data Finder, The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, available at https://www.unhcr.org/refugeestatistics/download/?url=So83fZ (last visited June 13, 2024).
22 Yemen Humanitarian Needs Overview, OCHA, January 2024, p. 15, available at
https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/yemen/yemen-humanitarian-needs-overview-2024-january2024 (last visited June 13, 2024).
number of IDPs represents approximately 13 percent of the population.23 In 2023, the
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund reported that “among the
19,943 newly registered displaced people, 88 percent were displaced due to conflict,
while 12 percent were displaced by torrential rains and flooding.”24 As of 2022, there
were approximately 2 million IDPs that were children, which represented approximately
half of the IDP population in Yemen at the time.25 As of 2024, the situation of IDPs had
not improved.26
Economic Concerns
The World Bank reported that in Yemen, as of April 14, 2022, “[e]conomic
conditions continue to deteriorate, and the acute humanitarian crisis persists.”27 Official
statistics about the status of Yemen’s economy are no longer being produced making it
difficult to obtain reliable economic information.28 Available data indicates an economy
that continues to weaken.29 Yemen’s economy was primarily an informal economy with
remittances from abroad and foreign aid being the two primary sources of funding30 for
essential commodities.31 As of early 2024, over 90 percent of the food in Yemen was

Yemen-Complex Emergency, Fact Sheet #4, FY 2023, USAID, Feb. 10, 2023, available at
https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-02/2023-0210_USG_Yemen_Complex_Emergency_Fact_Sheet_4.pdf (last visited June 13, 2024).
24 Humanitarian Situation Report No. 3, Dec. 11, 2023, UNICEF, p. 6, available at
https://www.unicef.org/documents/yemen-humanitarian-situation-report-no-3-30-september-2023 (last
visited June 13, 2024).
25 Migration and Displacement Country Profiles, Yemen, 2022, available at
https://data.unicef.org/resources/migration-and-displacement-country-profiles-mdcp/ (last visited June 13,
2024).
26 Yemen – Complex Emergency, Fact Sheet #5 FY 2024, USAID, Apr. 5, 2024, available at
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-complex-emergency-fact-sheet-5-fiscal-year-fy-2024 (last visited
June 13, 2024).
27 Republic of Yemen, World Bank Economic Update, Apr. 14, 2022, available at
https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/de816119d04a4e82a9c380bfd02dbc3a-0280012022/original/mposm22-yemen-yem-kcm.pdf (last visited June 13, 2024).
28 Id.
29 Yemen Country Economic Memorandum: Glimmers of Hope in Dark Times, The World Bank, May 30,
2023, at xvi, available at
https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099050923091537357/pdf/P17826203eb7ac0030b5540af445
6d0dd7c.pdf (last visited June 13, 2024).
30 Id.
31 Yemen – Comple, Fact Sheet #6 FY 2024, USAID, May 7, 2024, p. 4, available at
https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/2024-0507_USG_Yemen_Complex_Emergency_Fact_Sheet_6.pdf (last visited June 13, 2024).
imported,32 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine and associated sanctions are expected to
negatively impact the importation of key commodities, like oil and food, to Yemen.33
Additionally, recent “disruptions in oil exports due to Houthi attacks on ports have
caused the [Yemeni] Rial to drop.”34
As of June 10, 2024, 255 F-1 nonimmigrant students from Yemen are enrolled at
SEVP-certified academic institutions in the United States. Given the extent of the current
crisis in Yemen, affected students whose primary means of financial support comes from
Yemen 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 Yemen 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 off-campus
employment authorization under this notice must remain registered for a minimum of six
semester or quarter hours of instruction per academic term. Undergraduate 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) and (F). 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

Yemen: Conflict, Maritime Attacks, and U.S. Policy, Congressional Research Services, Feb. 26, 2024,
available at https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12581 (last visited June 13, 2024).
33 Republic of Yemen, World Bank Economic Update, Apr. 14, 2022, available at
https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/de816119d04a4e82a9c380bfd02dbc3a-0280012022/original/mposm22-yemen-yem-kcm.pdf (last visited June 13, 2024).
34 Yemen Central Bank Acts to Stop Currency Collapse, Money Laundering, Asharq Al-Awsat News, Feb.
14, 2024, available at https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/4853331-yemen-central-bank-acts-stopcurrency-collapse-money-laundering (last visited June 13, 2024).
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 off-campus employment authorization under this notice may count
up to the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or
quarter of online or distance education toward satisfying this minimum course load
requirement, unless their course of study is in an English language study program. 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 offcampus employment authorization benefit from the suspension of regulatory
requirements under this notice?
Yes. An F-1 nonimmigrant student who is a Yemeni citizen, regardless of country
of birth (or an individual having no nationality who last habitually resided in Yemen),
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) 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 their 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
“off-campus,” 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 off-campus
employment), or the end date of this notice, whichever date comes first].35
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”36 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. See 8 CFR
214.2(f)(5)(v) and (f)(6)(i)(F). Undergraduate 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) and (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.

Because 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 March 3, 2026, provided the student satisfies the minimum
course load requirements in this notice.
36 See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6).
Will an F-2 dependent (spouse or minor child) of an F-1 nonimmigrant student
covered by this notice be eligible 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 while
in F-2 nonimmigrant status, consistent with 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 a citizen of Yemen regardless of country of birth (or an individual having
no nationality who last habitually resided in Yemen);
(2) Were lawfully present in the United States on the date of publication of this
notice in F-1 nonimmigrant status, under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the INA, 8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(15)(F)(i);
(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 Yemen.
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
Yemen).

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 to continue an 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 Yemen enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 at a
private school, or grades 9 through 12 at a public high school. Such students must
maintain the minimum number of hours of class attendance per week prescribed by the
academic institution for normal progress toward 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 from Yemen 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.

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 student’s SEVIS 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].37
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 Yemen. An F-1 nonimmigrant
student authorized by the 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 on-campus employment when
school is not in session or during school vacations apply, as described in 8 CFR
214.2(f)(9)(i).

Because 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 March 3, 2026, provided the student satisfies the minimum
course load requirements in this notice.
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 his or her F-1 nonimmigrant student status?
Yes. DHS will deem an F-1 nonimmigrant student who receives on-campus
employment authorization under this notice to be engaged in a “full course of study”38 for
the purpose of maintaining their F-1 nonimmigrant student status for the duration of the
on-campus employment, if the student satisfies the minimum course load requirement
described in this notice, consistent with 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 academic institution’s minimum course load requirement for
continued enrollment.39
Off-Campus Employment Authorization
What regulatory requirements does this notice temporarily suspend relating to offcampus 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 off-campus employment:
(a) The requirement that a student must have been in F-1 nonimmigrant student
status for one full academic year to be eligible for off-campus employment;

See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6).
Minimum 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.
38
(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 the
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 off-campus
employment authorization by means of this notice to be engaged in a “full course of
study”40 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, consistent with 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(F). The
authorization for a reduced 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 such reduced course
load would not meet the school’s minimum course load requirement.41

See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6).
Minimum 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.
40
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 Yemen.42 Filing instructions are located at https://www.uscis.gov/i-765.
Fee considerations. Submission of a Form I-765 currently requires payment of a
$520 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 https://www.uscis.gov/i-912. 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 106.2 and 106.3.
Supporting documentation. An F-1 nonimmigrant student seeking off-campus
employment authorization due to severe economic hardship must demonstrate the
following to their DSO:
(1) This employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship; and
(2) The hardship is a direct result of the current crisis in Yemen.
If the DSO agrees that the F-1 nonimmigrant student is entitled to 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 that 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].43
See 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(3)(iii).
Because 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
42
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 an 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”44 at the time of the request for employment authorization;
(b) The F-1 nonimmigrant student is a citizen of Yemen, regardless of country of
birth (or an individual having no nationality who last habitually resided in Yemen), and is
experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Yemen,
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 this notice 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;45
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 Yemen.
Processing. To facilitate prompt adjudication of the student’s application for offcampus employment authorization under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii)(C), the F-1 nonimmigrant
student should do both of the following:

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 March 3, 2026, provided the student satisfies the minimum
course load requirements in this notice.
44 See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6).
45 8 CFR 214.2(f)(5)(v).

(a) Ensure that the application package includes the following documents:
(1) A completed Form I-765 with all applicable supporting evidence;
(2) The required fee or properly documented fee waiver request as defined
in 8 CFR 106.2 and 106.3; 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.”46
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 (TPS) Considerations
Can an F-1 nonimmigrant student apply for 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 for 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,47 under this notice has two options.
Under the first option, the F-1 nonimmigrant student may apply for TPS
according to the instructions in the USCIS notice designating Yemen for TPS 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 TPS-related EAD that is valid through March 3, 2026, and to be eligible for

Guidance for direct filing addresses can be found here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765-addresses.
See DHS Study in the States, Special Student Relief, available at
https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/special-student-relief (last visited Feb. 28, 2024).
46
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 request a fee
waiver). After receiving the TPS-related EAD, an F-1 nonimmigrant student may request
that their DSO make the required entry in SEVIS and issue an updated Form I-20, which
notates that the nonimmigrant student has been authorized to carry a reduced course load,
as described in this notice. As long as the F-1 nonimmigrant student maintains the
minimum course load described in this notice, does not otherwise violate their
nonimmigrant status, including as provided under 8 CFR 214.1(g), and maintains TPS,
then the student maintains F-1 status and TPS concurrently.
Under the second option, the F-1 nonimmigrant student may apply for an EAD
under Special Student Relief by filing 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 Form I-821 according to the instructions provided in the
Federal Register notice designating Yemen for TPS. If the F-1 nonimmigrant student has
already applied for employment authorization under Special Student Relief, they are not
required to submit the Form I-765 as part of the TPS application. However, some
nonimmigrant students may wish to obtain a TPS-related EAD in light of certain
extensions that may be available to EADs with an A-12 or C-19 category code that are
not available to the C-3 category under which Special Student Relief falls. The F-1
nonimmigrant student should check the appropriate box when filling out Form I-821 to
indicate whether a TPS-related EAD is being requested. Again, as long as the F-1
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 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”48 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 non-traditional academic
programs). Once approved for a TPS-related EAD and Special Student Relief
employment authorization, as indicated by the DSO’s required entry in SEVIS and
issuance of an updated Form I-20, the F-1 nonimmigrant student may drop below twelve
credit hours, or otherwise applicable minimum requirements (with 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 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 EAD 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 Yemen. 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.

See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6).

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. 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 may
apply to students who worked on a TPS-related 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 March 3, 2026,49 to eligible F-1
nonimmigrant students. DHS will continue to monitor the situation in Yemen. 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 Yemen 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

Because 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 March 3, 2026, provided the student satisfies the minimum
course load requirements in this notice.
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 Number 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. 2024-15082 Filed: 7/8/2024 11:15 am; Publication Date: 7/10/2024]