The federal government is expected to phase out the last Special Student Relief (SSR) designation at the end of May, removing regulatory flexibility for certain F-1 international students from countries facing crisis-related disruptions. Since January 2025, 15 SSR designations have expired without renewal and no new countries have been added, according to the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. SSR waives requirements such as maintaining full course loads for eligible students during approved emergency periods. The impending end of SSR—particularly affecting students from Lebanon—raises concerns about new compliance burdens at a time when universities already face complex international student reporting obligations. For higher education institutions, the change likely increases the need for rapid advising, policy reminders, and documentation support to prevent enrollment and visa compliance disruptions for affected students.