What Is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

Temporary protected status (TPS) is a temporary status that eligible nationals of certain countries present in the United States may receive. This status allows these individuals to work and live in the United States for limited periods of time. People who may be eligible for temporary protected status are those that are from countries affected by natural disaster or armed conflict.


What countries are currently designated for TPS?

ALERT: On Sept. 21, 2023, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, through May 20, 2025. A Federal Register notice also provides an automatic extension through Nov. 20, 2024, of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) of existing beneficiaries of Afghanistan TPS.

TPS Designated Through: May 20, 2025
Re-Registration Period for People Who Already Have TPS:  Sep. 25, 2023 – Nov. 24, 2023
Registration Period for People Who are Applying for TPS for the First Time:  Sept. 25, 2023 – May 20, 2025
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Auto-Extended Through:  Nov. 20, 2024
Continuous Residence in U.S. Since: Sep. 20, 2023
Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: Nov. 21, 2023
Initial TPS Designation Date: May 20, 2022
Current TPS Designation Date: Nov. 21, 2023
Federal Register Notice Citation: 88 FR 65728

Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Burma (Myanmar)

TPS Designated Through: May 25, 2024
Re-Registration Period for People Who Already Have TPS: Sept. 27, 2022 – Nov. 26, 2022
Registration Period for People Who are Applying for TPS for the First Time: Sept. 27, 2022 – May 25, 2024
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Auto-Extended Through: Nov. 25, 2023
Continuous Residence in U.S. Since: Sept. 25, 2022
Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: Nov. 26, 2022
TPS Designation Date: May 25, 2021
Federal Register Notice Citation: 87 FR 58515

Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Cameroon

TPS Extended Through: June 7, 2025
Re-Registration Period for People Who Already Have TPS: Oct. 10, 2023 – Dec. 9, 2023
Registration Period for People Who are Applying for TPS for the First Time: Oct. 10, 2023 – June 7, 2025
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Auto-Extended Through: Dec. 7, 2024
Continuous Residence in U.S. Since: Oct. 5, 2023
Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: Dec. 8, 2023
Initial TPS Designation Date: June 7, 2022
Current TPS Designation Date: Dec. 8, 2023
Federal Register Notice Citation: 88 FR 69945

ALERT: The Department of Homeland Security is extending the re-registration periods for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador.

The 18-month re-registration period under the TPS for El Salvador now runs through March 9, 2025

Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Ethiopia

TPS Extended Through: December 12, 2025
Registration Period: April 15, 20224 – June 14, 2024
Continuous Residence in U.S. Since: April 11, 2024
Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: June 123, 2024
Current TPS Designation Date: June 13, 2024
Federal Register Notice Citation: 87 FR 76074

ALERT: The Department of Homeland Security is extending the re-registration periods for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations of Haiti.

The 18-month re-registration period under the TPS designation of Haiti now runs through August 3, 2024

ALERT: The Department of Homeland Security is extending the re-registration periods for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations of Honduras.

The 18-month re-registration period under the TPS designation of Haiti now runs through July 5, 2025

ALERT: The Department of Homeland Security is extending the re-registration periods for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations of Nepal.

The 18-month re-registration period under the TPS designation of Haiti now runs through June 24, 2025

ALERT: The Department of Homeland Security is extending the re-registration periods for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations of Nicaragua.

The 18-month re-registration period under the TPS designation of Nicaragua now runs through July 5, 2025

ALERT: On Jan. 12, 2023, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. This extension and redesignation will be in effect from March 18, 2023, through Sept. 17, 2024.

TPS Extended Through: Sept. 17, 2024
Re-registration Period for Aliens Who Already Have TPS: March 13, 2023 – May 12, 2023
Registration Period for People Who are Applying for TPS for the First Time: March 13, 2023 – Sept. 17, 2024
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Auto-Extended Through: March 17, 2024
Continuous Residence in U.S. Since: Jan. 11, 2023
Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: March 18, 2023
Initial TPS Designation Date: Sept. 16, 1991
Current TPS Designation Dates: March 18, 2023
Federal Register Notice Citation: 88 FR 15434

ALERT: On Sep. 5, 2023, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced an extension and redesignation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

For additional information, please see the Federal Register Notice.

TPS Extended Through: Nov. 3, 2023
Re-registration Period for People Who Already Have TPS: Sep. 6, 2023 – Nov. 6, 2023
Registration Period for People Who Are Applying for TPS for the First Time: Sep. 6, 2023 – May 3, 2025
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Auto-Extended Through: Nov. 3, 2024
Continuous Residence Date in U.S. Since: Sep. 4, 2023
Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: Nov. 4, 2023
TPS Designation Date: Nov. 3, 2011
Current TPS Designation Date: Nov. 4, 2023
Federal Register Notice Citation: 88 FR 60971

ALERT: On July 29, 2022, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, through March 31, 2024. A Federal Register notice also provides automatic extension of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) of existing beneficiaries of Syria TPS, through Sept. 30, 2023.

TPS Designated Through: March 31, 2024
Re-Registration Period for People Who Already Have TPS: Aug. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2022
Registration Period for People Who are Applying for TPS for the First Time: Aug. 1, 2022 – March 31, 2024
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Auto-Extended Through: Sept. 30, 2023
Continuous Residence in U.S. Since: July 28, 2022
Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: Oct. 1, 2022
Initial TPS Designation Date: March 29, 2012
Current TPS Designation Date: Oct. 1, 2022
Federal Register Notice Citation: 87 FR 46982

ALERT: On Aug. 18, 2023, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. This extension and redesignation will be in effect from Oct. 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025. For additional information, please see the Federal Register notice.

TPS Designated Through: April 19, 2025
Re-Registration Period: Aug. 21, 2023 – Oct. 20, 2023
Registration Period: Aug. 21, 2023 – April 19, 2025
Continuous Residence in U.S. Since: Aug. 16, 2023
Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: Oct. 20, 2023
TPS Designation Date: April 19, 2022
Current TPS Designation Date: Oct. 20, 2023
Federal Register Notice Citation: 88 FR 56872

ALERT: On Sept. 20, 2023, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela for 18 months.

For additional information, please see the Federal Register notice.

2021 Designation of Venezuela for TPS (Venezuela 2021)

Extension of Venezuela’s 2021 TPS designation for individuals who currently have TPS or have a pending TPS initial application that has not yet been adjudicated by USCIS

2023 Redesignation of Venezuela for TPS (Venezuela 2023)

Separate redesignation of Venezuela for TPS for individuals who have not yet filed for TPS and would like to file an initial application

TPS Designated Through: Sept. 10, 2025 TPS Designated Through: April 2, 2025
Re-registration Period: Jan. 10, 2024 – Mar. 10, 2024 Registration Period: Oct. 3, 2023 – April 2, 2025
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Auto-Extended Through: Mar. 10, 2025 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Auto-Extended Through: N/A
Continuous Residence in U.S. Since: Mar. 8, 2021 Continuous Residence in U.S. Since: Jul. 31, 2023
Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: Mar. 9, 2021 Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since: Oct. 3, 2023
Designation Date: Mar. 9, 2021 Designation Date: Oct. 3, 2023
Federal Register Notice Citation: 87 FR 55024 Federal Register Notice Citation: 88 FR 68130

Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Yemen

TPS Extended Through:

Sept. 3, 2024

Re-Registration Period for Individuals Who Already Have TPS:

Jan. 3, 2023 – March 6, 2023

Initial Registration Period for Individuals Who do not Currently Have TPS:

Jan. 3, 2023– Sept. 3, 2024

Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Auto-Extended Through:

March 3, 2024

Continuous Residence in the U.S. Since:

Dec. 29, 2022

Continuous Physical Presence in U.S. Since:

March 4, 2023

Initial TPS Designation Date:

Sept. 3, 2015

Current TPS Designation:

March 4, 2023

Federal Register Notice Citation:

88 FR 94

ALERT: The Department of Homeland Security is extending the re-registration periods for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations of Sudan.

The 18-month re-registration period under the TPS designation of Sudan now runs through April 19, 2025


Maintaining 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 who were initially granted by USCIS, an Immigration Judge, or the BIA. Follow the instructions above to apply for re-registration.

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Filing Late

Late Re-Registration for TPS
USCIS may accept a late re-registration application if you have good cause for filing after the end of the re-registration period of your country. You must submit a letter that explains your reason for filing late with your re-registration application.
If you file your TPS re-registration application late, processing may be delayed and can lead to gaps in your work authorization.

Late Initial Filing for TPS
You can apply for TPS for the first time during an extension of your country’s TPS designation period. If you qualify to file your initial TPS application late, you must still independently meet all the TPS eligibility requirements listed in the Eligibility section above.

To qualify to file your initial TPS application late, you must meet at least one of the late initial filing conditions below:

  • During either the initial registration period of your country’s designation or during any subsequent initial registration period if your country was re-designated you met one of the following conditions, and you register while the condition still exists or within a 60-day period immediately following the expiration or termination of such condition
    • You were a nonimmigrant, were granted voluntary departure status, or any relief from removal
    • You had an application for change of status, adjustment of status, asylum, voluntary departure, or any relief from removal which was pending or subject to further review or appeal
    • You were a parolee or had a pending request for re-parole
    • You are a spouse of an individual who is currently eligible for TPS

OR

  • During either the initial registration period of your country’s designation or during any subsequent initial registration period if your country was re-designated you were a child of an individual who is currently eligible for TPS. There is no time limitation on filing if you meet this condition. So if your parent is currently eligible for TPS and you were his or her child (unmarried and under 21 years old) at any time during a TPS initial registration period for your country, you may still be eligible for late initial filing even if you are now over 21 years old or married. You may file during an extension of your TPS designated country.

Please check your country-specific web page for the dates of the initial registration period or periods that apply for late initial filing.

PLEASE NOTE: You cannot obtain TPS as a derivative because your parent or child has TPS.

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