Category: Temporary Protected Status

TPS Extended for Nepal for 18 months – Effective December 25, 2016 – June 24, 2018

USCIS News Release:

Nepal Flag

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Nepal (and those without nationality who last habitually resided in Nepal) for an additional 18 months, effective Dec. 25, 2016, through June 24, 2018.

Current TPS Nepal beneficiaries who want to extend their TPS must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from October 26, 2016 through December 27, 2016. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages beneficiaries to re-register as soon as possible once the 60-day re-registration period begins.

Employment Authorization:

The 18-month extension allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Those who re-register during the 60-day period and request a new EAD will receive one with an expiration date of June 24, 2018.

USCIS recognizes that some re-registrants may not receive their new EAD until after their current work permits expire. Therefore, we are automatically extending current TPS Nepal EADs with a Dec. 24, 2016, expiration date for six months. These existing EADs are now valid through June 24, 2017.

Re-registering for TPS:

To re-register, current TPS beneficiaries must submit:

  • Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status (re-registrants do not need to pay the Form I-821 application fee);

  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, regardless of whether they want an EAD;

  • The Form I-765 application fee (or a fee waiver request) only if they want an EAD. If the re-registrant does not want an EAD, no application fee is required; and

  • The biometric services fee (or a fee waiver request) if they are 14 years old or older.

Additional information about TPS, including guidance on eligibility, the application process and where to file, is available at uscis.gov. The Federal Register notice published today contains further details about this TPS extension for Nepal.

USCIS will reject the application of any applicant who fails to submit the required filing fee or a properly documented fee-waiver request. Applicants may request that USCIS waive any fees based on an inability to pay by filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or by submitting a written request. Fee-waiver requests must be accompanied by supporting documentation.

All USCIS forms are available for free. Download forms or order them by mail through the USCIS website at uscis.gov/formsor by calling USCIS Forms Request Line toll-free at 1-800-870-3676.

Applicants can check their case status at My Case Status Online or by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TDD for the deaf and hard of hearing: 1-800-767-1833).

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit http://www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

For more information on TPS click here or contact us.

TPS Extended for Guinea, Liberia & Sierra Leone for 6 months – Will Terminate May 2017

USCIS News Release:

*Important for anyone who is currently a TPS beneficiary of Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone:*

Release Date: September 22, 2016

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson is extending TPS benefits for beneficiaries of TPS under the designations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone for 6 months for the purpose of orderly transition before the designations terminate, effective May 21, 2017. After reviewing country conditions and consulting with the appropriate U.S. government agencies, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has determined that conditions in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone no longer support their designations for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The widespread transmission of Ebola virus in the three countries that led to the designations has ended.

To provide for an orderly transition, current TPS beneficiaries will automatically retain their TPS and have the validity of their current Employment Authorization Documents extended through May 20, 2017. Beneficiaries do not need to pay a fee or file any application, including for work authorization, in order to retain their TPS benefits through May 20, 2017.

Although TPS benefits will no longer be in effect starting May 21, 2017, TPS beneficiaries will continue to hold any other immigration status that they have maintained or acquired while registered for TPS. The Department of Homeland Security urges individuals who do not have another immigration status to use the time before the terminations become effective in May to prepare for and arrange their departure from the United States or to apply for other immigration benefits for which they may be eligible.

Additional information about TPS is available at uscis.gov/tps. Federal Register notices posted for public inspection today contain further details about the six-month extension for orderly transition before the termination of the TPS designations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

For more information about USCIS, visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), Instagram(/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.