USCIS has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for beneficiaries from of El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras and Nepal until at least October 2021. The extension is valid as long as an alien's TPS is not withdrawn because of individual ineligibility. South Sudan has been offered a longer TPS extension until May 2, 2022. The validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for impacted TPS holders is automatically extended. Beneficiaries under these TPS designations may also apply for new EADs, if they wish.

Temporary Protected Status allows foreigners whose home countries experienced a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event to remain in the United States temporarily and apply for Employment Authorization Documents. A foreign national who is granted TPS is eligible to receive a registration document and employment authorization for the duration of the TPS designation and will not be subject to removal despite their current immigration status.

The United States currently provides TPS to approximately 411,000 foreign nationals from 10 countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. TPS was established by Congress as part of the Immigration Act of 1990 to provide humanitarian relief for foreign nationals within the United States who may not qualify for asylum but are fleeing potentially dangerous situations.

For general information about TPS and the USCIS announcement, click here. For a copy of the Federal Register Notice, click here. For information about the extension of TPS for South Sudan, click here.