Temporary Protected Status

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible individuals who are unable to return to their country of origin due to ongoing armed conflicts, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions that prevent them from returning safely. TPS is granted by the US government to citizens of certain designated countries.

TPS provides beneficiaries with protection from deportation and work authorization for a limited period of time. This status does not provide a path to permanent residence or citizenship, and individuals must reapply for TPS at the end of each designated period.

The decision to designate a country for TPS is made by the Secretary of Homeland Security based on several factors, including the severity of conditions in the country and whether the country can handle the return of its citizens. TPS designations can last 6, 12, or 18 months and can be extended or terminated depending on the situation in the designated country.

Points to Remember

Countries currently designated for TPS

Afghanistan

Burma (Mysanmar)

cameroon

The Savior

ethiopia

Haiti

Honduras

Nepal

Nicaragua

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Syria

Ukraine

Venezuela

Yemen

Eligibility Requirements

Be a national of a country designated for TPS, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in the designated country;

File your application during the open initial registration or re-registration period, or qualify for late initial filing during any extension of your country's TPS designation (late initial applicants see the "Late Filing" section below) ;

Have been continuously physically present (CPP) in the United States since the effective date of your country's most recent designation date; and

Have continuously resided (CR) in the United States since the date specified for your country. (See your country's TPS webpage on the left.) The law allows an exception to the continuous physical presence and continuous residence requirements for brief, casual, and innocent departures from the United States. When you apply for or re-register for TPS, you must report to USCIS all absences from the United States since the CPP and CR dates. USCIS will determine if the exception applies to your case.

Documents to deliver

Form i-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, must be filed. Eligible citizens of certain countries or non-nationals who last habitually resided in those countries can file the form online.

Upon initial application or re-registration, the employment authorization document (Form I-765) may be requested. This may help you receive your EAD more quickly if you are eligible.

When applying, if you know that a relevant ground of inadmissibility applies to you and you need an extension for TPS, include form i-601. USCIS may grant a waiver of certain grounds of inadmissibility for humanitarian purposes to ensure family unity or when it is in the public interest.

Keep your TPS

Once you are granted TPS, you must re-register during each re-registration period to maintain TPS benefits. This applies to all TPS beneficiaries, including those initially granted by USCIS, an immigration judge, or the BIA. Follow the instructions above to apply for re-enrollment.