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ICE Announces Employment Authorization Eligibility for Certain Libyan Students
On June 6, 2011, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced that certain F-1 Libyan students who have suffered severe economic hardship as a direct result of the civil unrest in Libya since February 2011 may be able to apply for employment authorization documents (EADs).
Requirements to be eligible for the EAD include:
A student must be a national of Libya;
Must present evidence that the student is suffering severe economic hardship as a direct result of the civil unrest in Libya since February 2011
Has been present in the United States in F-1 status since at least Feb. 1, 2011, and
Must be enrolled in an college or school that is certified by ICE's Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
ICE has published a notice in the Federal Register suspending certain regulatory requirements in order to allow eligible Libyan F-1 students to obtain employment authorization, work an increased number of hours during the school term, and, if necessary, reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F-1 student status.
"We want to ensure that students from Libya, who were here when civil unrest began, are able to continue their studies without the worry of financial burdens due to the armed conflict," said Louis Farrell, director for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. "The changes announced in this notice will allow eligible students from Libya to obtain employment authorization so that they can meet their basic living expenses while continuing to pursue their education in the United States."
ICE has provided a fact sheet regarding employment authorization eligibility for certain Libyan students. It is available by clicking here. No special I-9 rules have been created for this category, at least so far.
Posted by Mira Mdivani Corporate Immigration Attorney The Mdivani Law Firm, LLC