Temporary Protected Status
Temporary protected status (TPS) can be granted to nationals of countries with conditions that may prevent the country’s nationals from safely returning, or countries which are unable to handle the return of its nationals in an adequate manner.
To be eligible for temporary protected status, you must:
- Be a national of a TPS-designated country, or a person without nationality who last resided in the designated country
- File during the open initial registration or re-registration period, unless you meet requirements for late initial filing during an extension
- Have been continuously physically present in the U.S. since the effective date of designation
- Have been continuously residing in the U.S. since the date specified for your country
- Not be inadmissible to the U.S. or barred from asylum for specified criminal or national security related reasons
Under TPS, you are not removable from the U.S. You may also be granted travel authorization or may obtain an employment authorization document.
TPS does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other immigration status, but it also does not bar you from applying for nonimmigrant status, filing for adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition, or applying for other immigration benefits or protections as long as you are eligible.
In addition, under potential new legislation, immigrants without legal status living in the U.S. as of January 1st, 2021 may have a direct path to a green card if they pass background checks, pay taxes, and meet other basic eligibility, and those with temporary protected status who meet certain other requirements could qualify for an expedited green card process.
Get started here or reach us by telephone or through our online forms to learn more.
The following countries are currently designated for TPS (as of 1/20/2021):
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Somalia
- Sudan
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen