; (B) was younger than 18 years of age on the date on which the alien initially entered the United States; and (C) (i) has been admitted to an institution of higher education; (ii) has earned a high school diploma or a commensurate alternative award from a public or private high school, or has obtained a general education development certificate recognized under State law or a high school equivalency diploma in the United States; (iii) is enrolled in secondary school or in an education program assisting students in obtaining a regular high school diploma or its recognized equivalent under State law, or in passing a general educational development exam, a high school equivalence diploma examination, or other similar State-authorized exam, and has made satisfactory progress in obtaining such diploma or passing such exam; or (iv) (I) has served for not less than 4 years in the uniformed services (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code); and (II) in the case of an alien who has been discharged from the uniformed services, has received an honorable discharge. (2) Hardship exception The Secretary shall issue regulations that direct when the Department shall waive the requirement of subparagraph (A) or (B), or both, of paragraph (1) for an individual to qualify as a Dreamer student under such paragraph, if the individual— (A) demonstrates compelling circumstances for the inability to satisfy the requirement of such subparagraph (A) or (B), or both; and (B) satisfies the requirement of paragraph (1)(C). .