U.S. Extends Temporary Protected Status to Immigrants From 6 Countries

What is Temporary Protected Status and who receives it?

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is granted to immigrants who came to the United States from countries that were particularly impacted by violence or natural disaster. Under TPS, immigrants are granted work permits and are safe from deportation while they live in the United States.

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a notice that Temporary Protected Status will be extended through December 31st, 2022, for those immigrants who come from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan.

This extension is due in part to the DHS’s compliance with various federal district court orders. These court orders were issued via three separate federal lawsuits against the Trump administration who tried to end TPS designation for those individuals who came from Haiti, Central American nations, and other countries. It has since been extended into the present Biden administration.

Do TPS recipients need to file any extensions?

TPS recipients from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan do not need to pay any fees or file any applications in order to keep their protected status. As long as TPS beneficiaries continue to meet the eligibility requirements and are up to date with their registration, then their status will be automatically extended for 15 months by the DHS. This includes all TPS-related documentation such as the I-94 Arrival/Departure Records and I-797 Notices of Actions.

What is the future for those with Temporary Protected Status?

It is estimated that at least 400,000 immigrants from these six countries will be impacted by this extension. Since President Biden took office, his administration has taken actions to expand the TPS program to include more immigrants in the program including about 500,000 individuals from Venezuela and Haiti in addition to thousands of people from Myanmar, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. Furthermore, President Biden announced on August 5th, 2021 that he would also offer deportation relief to Hong Kong residents looking to flee anti-democratic actions by China in Hong Kong.

Although these immigrants are granted work permits and are safe from deportation while they are in the United States, the status is only temporary. This uncertainty of their legal status is leading many to call for a more permanent solution for these immigrants via immigration reform from Congress.

How can IAS help me?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your Temporary Protected Status case, contact us today. Our expert immigration lawyers are experienced in all areas of immigration law. Whether you need support with making a U.S. citizenship application, a work visa, or a family visa, we look forward to assisting with your case.
Call our friendly advisors for a confidential discussion at +1 844 290 6312. We are here to help!