The U.S. Provides Relief to Venezuelans with Student Visas to Obtain Work Permits

The U.S. government has suspended some regulatory requirements for non-immigrant Venezuelan students with F-1 visas who are facing severe economic hardships as a direct result of the crisis in Venezuela, allowing them to work more hours than previously allowed. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is taking measures to provide relief to these Venezuelan students, allowing them to apply for Employment Authorization (EAD), work more hours while school is in session, and reduce their academic load while maintaining their F-1 non-immigrant student status. 

Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of DHS, will temporarily suspend the applicability of certain requirements governing on- and off-campus employment for F-1 non-immigrant students whose country of citizenship is Venezuela and who are present in the United States with this status. The measure took effect on March 11, 2024, and will remain in effect until September 10, 2025. 

A non-immigrant F-1 student who is granted employment authorization under this measure will be engaged in a “full course of study” during the duration of the work permit, provided the non-immigrant student meets the minimum course load requirements set forth in this notice. 

Which Venezuelans Benefit from the DHS Measure? 

  • Must be a citizen of Venezuela regardless of country of birth (or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in Venezuela).
  • Must have been legally present in the United States on the date of publication of this notice in F-1 non-immigrant status.
  • Must be enrolled in an academic institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) for the enrollment of F-1 non-immigrant students.
  • Must currently maintain F-1 non-immigrant status.
  • Must be experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the situation in Venezuela.
  • An F-1 non-immigrant student covered by this notice who transfers to another SEVP-certified academic institution remains eligible for the relief provided by this notice. 

With information from El Nuevo Herald.