TPS/Temporary Protected Status changes often. Other methods of immigration may be static, the same across many years, but TPS changes. As it does, we stay on top of changes for our clients. It’s one more way that we can best serve them. If you would like to renew your TPS status, if you believe you are eligible, we encourage you to contact a TPS immigration lawyer at our firm for a free case evaluation. Below are some recent updates in addition to important information about eligibility, the filing process, and more.

Extensions and Redesignations

Recently, Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas extended and redesignated Yemen and Somalia for Temporary Protected Status. For both countries, the extension and redesignation was for a span of 18 months.
For Yemen, the extension and redesignation runs from September 4th, 2024 to March 3rd, 2025 and for Somalia, it runs from September 18th, 2024 through March 17th, 2026, respectively.
Yemen was extended and redesignated because, as Secretary Mayorkas stated, “Yemen has been in a state of protracted conflict for the past decade, severely limiting civilians’ access to water, food, and medical care, pushing the country to the brink of economic collapse,l and preventing Yemeni nationals living abroad from safely returning home.

By that same token, Somalia’s redesignation and extension were on account of how “armed conflict and widespread insecurity have harmed and displaced civilians in Somalia for years, exacerbated today by the ravages of famine, disease, and extreme weather.”

What You Can Expect When Filing for TPS

Applying for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), requires careful navigation through a selection of forms, alongside vital supporting documents. The first step necessitates the inclusion of Form I-821, which is the Application for Temporary Protected Status.

Additionally, upon filing an initial TPS application or taking part in the re-registration process, one can also request an Employment Authorization Document(EAD). This would necessitate the submission of Form I-765, which is the Request for Employment Authorization. The final set of documents required could vary according to your specific situation.

While submitting your TPS application, if you’re also applying for an EAD, the USCIS will evaluate if you are adequately qualified to work before reaching a decision on your TPS application. Provided you meet requirements, the EAD process should progress smoothly. When re-registering for TPS and applying for an EAD, the new EAD will be granted once the entire TPS package is assessed.

Once you’ve received TPS, however, that doesn’t mean you have it forever. In order to maintain your TPS, re-registration must occur during every subsequent re-registration period.

As you can see, this process is very complicated. The amount of paperwork that must be completed correctly can be lengthy indeed. For a smooth progression through this process, it makes sense to work with a law firm that has dealt with these kinds of cases before. Here at the Rijal Law Firm, we’ve helped clients through this process for many years.

The Truth From a TPS Immigration Lawyer: Filing Late

Optimally, you won’t file late for TPS. However, that said, late filing of a TPS application is sometimes a viable option. If there’s even a possibility that you may need to file for TPS late, it’s worth it to contact an attorney who knows how this works and can put that experience to work for you. To successfully apply for late TPS registration, you have plenty of criteria you must meet.

For example, you must apply during the existence of the conditions in your country, or within 60 days following the termination of those conditions. You could be a non-immigrant, having been granted voluntary departure or similar relief from removal proceedings. Maybe you’re a parolee, as that status (or having a pending request for re-parole also qualifies you). Perhaps you are a spouse of an individual currently eligible for TPS.

Your age could factor into your application, too. For example, if you were a dependent child of an individual with valid TPS either at the time of the initial registration period of your country’s designation or during a subsequent registration period, you are eligible to apply for late TPS Registration. There is no time limit for registration for these applicants. Hence, if your parents had a valid TPS at the time of initial registration, you may file for late TPS even if you’re over 21 years old.

There are even more scenarios than these where you may be eligible to file for TPS late. If you think there’s a chance you’ll miss your deadline, it’s worth it to reach out to us as soon as possible. To see how a TPS immigration lawyer from our firm may be able to help you, reach out to us through our site or by calling for a free case evaluation.