Temporary Protected Status
ALERT: The Department of Homeland Security has extended through Aug. 3, 2025, the validity of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries under the designation of Haiti.
If you are currently a TPS beneficiary under the Haiti designation and you have not yet re-registered for TPS under the most recent extension, you must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, by Aug. 30, 2024, to keep your TPS benefits.
It is important to timely re-register during the re-registration period and not to wait until your EAD expires. Delaying re-registration could result in gaps in your employment authorization documentation. For additional information, please see the Federal Register notice.
ALERT: Certain TPS beneficiaries and applicants who electronically filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, did not receive a receipt notice or their receipt notice did not include language about the 540-day automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) extension. On or before the week of March 13, we will send these applicants an email and/or text notification instructing them to sign into their USCIS online account and obtain a corrected, printable receipt notice. We will also send corrected paper receipt notices by mail. Please note that, if you are a TPS beneficiary and your TPS country designation is still current, you are authorized to work. However, you must obtain your corrected receipt notice to present when completing Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. If you are eligible for the 540-day automatic EAD extension, any USCIS receipt notice for your Form I-765– together with your expired EAD– will serve as acceptable proof of employment authorization and EAD validity during the automatic extension period.
ALERT: Beginning July 1, 2022, USCIS will issue a new travel authorization document to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries: Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by a Noncitizen to the United States.
Recent TPS Designations/Extensions:
The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country may also be granted TPS.
The Secretary may designate a country for TPS due to the following temporary conditions in the country:
- Ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war)
- An environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic
- Other extraordinary and temporary conditions
During a designated period, individuals who are TPS beneficiaries or who are found preliminarily eligible for TPS upon initial review of their cases (prima facie eligible):
- Are not removable from the United States
- Can obtain an employment authorization document (EAD)
- May be granted travel authorization
Once granted TPS, an individual also cannot be detained by DHS on the basis of his or her immigration status in the United States.
TPS is a temporary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status. However, registration for TPS does not prevent you from:
- Applying for nonimmigrant status
- Filing for adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition
- Applying for any other immigration benefit or protection for which you may be eligible
PLEASE NOTE: To be granted any other immigration benefit you must still meet all the eligibility requirements for that particular benefit. An application for TPS does not affect an application for asylum or any other immigration benefit and vice versa. Denial of an application for asylum or any other immigration benefit does not affect your ability to register for TPS, although the grounds of denial of that application may also lead to denial of TPS.
