Sep 15 2010

Relief Offered to Certain Haitian F-1 Students

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has just announced a new special relief program for some F-1 Haitian students who have been the victims of severe economic hardship because of the January earthquake in Haiti. This new relief applies to students who were lawfully present in the U.S. at the time of the January earthquake and are enrolling in an educational institution that is listed as certified by ICE’s Student and Exchange Visitor program (SEVIS)

The new relief program will allow eligible Haitian F-1 students to work in the U.S., work an increased number of hours during their school term and reduce their course load, if necessary, while still maintaining F-1 status.

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