International students might face another hurdle with the loss of Special Student Relief designations.
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The federal government is expected to phase out the last of its Special Student Relief designations, which provide flexibility to international students from countries in crisis, at the end of the month.
These designations suspend certain regulatory requirements, such as taking a full course load, for eligible students with F-1 visas from countries experiencing emergencies, as determined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The goal is to make it easier for students to weather financial strains caused by wars or other crises in their home countries. Since January 2025, 15 of these Special Student Relief designations expired without renewal, and no new countries have been added, according to a news release from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. The last designation standing, for students from Lebanon, is set to expire May 27.
“The quiet elimination of SSR adds to the growing list of barriers facing international students on U.S. campuses and will particularly affect those from refugee and displaced backgrounds,” Laura Wagner, director of refugee student initiatives at the Presidents’ Alliance, said in the release. “International students enrich and contribute to our campuses and communities across the country, and we cannot allow this needed support for them to disappear without notice.”
