Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a time-limited status given to eligible
nationals of designated countries who are present in the United States
when circumstances in their home country make it unsafe to return. The status
is afforded to nationals from countries affected by armed conflict, natural
disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions, and allows eligible
individuals to live and work in the United States temporarily. The length of a
TPS designation can be anywhere from 6 to 18 months and can be extended for
many years.
At least 60 days prior to expiration of the TPS designation, the Secretary of the
Department of Homeland Security must announce whether he/she will extend
or end the TPS designation. Announcements on whether TPS designations will
be extended are posted online at https://www.federalregister.gov or https://
www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status.
As of January 2021, the following countries are currently designated for TPS:
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Somalia
- South sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Venezuela
- Yemen
To be eligible for TPS, you must meet the following requirements:
Nationality: Be a national of a country designated for TPS, or a person without nationality who last
habitually resided in the designated country;
Filing Date: File during the open initial registration or re-registration period for your country of nationality,
or meet the requirements for late initial filing during any extension of the TPS designation (see information
on late filing below);
Continuous U.S. Physical Presence: Have been continuously physically present in the United States since
the specified*; and
Continuous U.S. Residence: Have continuously maintained a residence in the United States since the date
specified.
*The law allows an exception to the continuous physical presence and continuous residence requirements for brief, casual, and innocent departures from the United States. If you have any questions about these requirements or whether your qualify for TPS, please consult your attorney.