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REDUCED EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS FOR INDONESIAN STUDENTS

Washington -- The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), in response to the current economic crises in Asia, announced on June 10 that it is temporarily lifting certain employment restrictions for F-1 student visa holders whose means of financial support come from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea or Thailand.

The currencies of the five countries have plummeted in value relative to the U.S. dollar, causing severe economic hardship for many of the estimated 80,000 students currently enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities whose financial support is from these countries, according to the INS.

Under the special relief program which went into effect June 10, eligible students are allowed to work more than 20 hours per week, either on or off campus, while school is in session. INS is also ending the requirement that students must be in F-1 status for one full academic year prior to seeking off-campus employment.

To be granted special relief, students must demonstrate to school officials that their means of financial support come from one of the five countries covered by the program and that employment is necessary to avoid severe hardship caused by the current economic crises.

Following is the text of a press release and a fact sheet on the INS decision:

(begin press release)

June 10, 1998

INS Temporarily Lifts Employment Restrictions for Certain F-1 Students

WASHINGTON -- The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), in response to the current economic crises in Asia, announced today that it is lifting temporarily certain employment restrictions for F-1 student visa holders whose means of financial support come from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea or Thailand, a move aimed at helping eligible students to afford to continue their studies here.

The currencies of the five countries have recently plummeted in value relative to the U.S. dollar, causing severe economic hardship for many of the estimated 80,000 students currently enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities whose financial support is derived from these countries. INS' action comes in response to a request from the Secretary of State and is part of the Administration's larger effort to mitigate the impact of the Asian economic crisis.

Under the special relief program which goes into effect today, eligible students are allowed to work more than 20 hours per week, either on or off campus, while school is in session. (Regulations permitting authorized full-time employment when school is not in session are unchanged.) INS is also lifting the requirement that students must be in F-1 status for one full academic year prior to seeking off-campus employment.

Additionally, INS will allow the students to take less than a full-time course load, if the school approves, and still maintain their student visa status for the duration of this program, which will remain in effect until it is no longer warranted by economic circumstances. However, undergraduates must register for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester and graduate students must register for 3 credit hours.

To be granted special relief, students must demonstrate to school officials that their means of financial support come from one of the five countries covered by the program and that employment is necessary to avoid severe hardship caused by the current economic crises. Once granted, employment authorization will be valid until the student completes his/her course of studies or for one year, whichever comes first. Students who maintain their F-1 visa status can apply to renew authorization.

(end press release)
(begin fact sheet)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
6/10/98

Special Student Relief

Q: Why is INS taking this action?

A: This action comes in response to a request from the Secretary of State and is part of the Administration's larger effort to mitigate the impact of the Asian economic crisis. The currencies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand have recently plummeted in value relative to the U.S. dollar. This precipitous fall has caused severe economic hardship for many of the estimated 80,000 F-1 students presently enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities whose financial support comes from one of these five countries.

Q: What restrictions are being lifted temporarily?

A: INS is lifting:

-- Limit of 20 hours per week for work, whether on or off campus, while school is in session.

-- Requirement that students carry a full-lime course load in order to maintain their F-1 status. However, there is a minimum registration requirement of six credit hours per semester/quarter for undergraduates and three hours for graduate students.

-- Requirement that students be in F-1 status for one full academic year prior to applying for off-campus employment.

Q: How does a student qualify for special relief?

A: To qualify, a student must prove to the Designated School Official (DSO) that his or her means of financial support come from one of the five countries covered by the program and that employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship caused by the economic crisis taking place in that country.

Q: How can a student obtain permission to work on-campus for more than 20 hours per week?

A: Students should consult with their Designated School Officials, who are authorized to grant permission within guidelines set by INS.

Q: How can a student apply for off-campus employment authorization under this special relief program?

A: To apply for off-campus employment authorization under this special relief program, a student must file a complete employment authorization application with an INS Service Center. The application must contain the following completed forms: Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; Form I-20ID, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status for Academic and Language Students; and Form I-538, Certification by the Designated School Official. Students should consult with their DSO to ensure that all forms are completed properly.

The required forms can be obtained by calling INS Forms Line at 1-800-870-3676, and they indicate the Service Center to which the completed application should be sent. To expedite processing, send the application in an envelope marked with the phrase, "Special Student Relief."

If the Service Center approves the application, INS will send the student an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), Form I-766, as evidence of his or her employment authorization. The EAD card will be good for a maximum period of one year.

Q: Can students granted special relief renew their EAD card?

A: Yes, but they must go through the same process required for initial authorization.

Q: How long will INS offer students special relief?

A: The special relief program will be in effect indefinitely. It will be terminated by the Attorney General when it is determined to be no longer warranted by economic circumstances.

Q: What will happen when a student graduates?

A: The special relief program applies to F-1 students who are currently enrolled in U.S. schools and pursuing their education. Graduating students should consult the DSO at their school for information on maintaining lawful immigration status.

Q: What effect does the special relief program have on students from the five designated countries who apply for an F-1 visa for the first time?

A: None. The State Department is responsible for issuing visas and its general rules remain in effect.

Q: Does the special relief program apply to other visa holders or only F-1 students?

A: Only F-1 student visa holders are covered by the special relief program. However, INS will offer expeditious processing of employment authorization applications submitted by J-2 visa holders (spouses and children of cultural exchange students) whose means of financial support come from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea or the Philippines.