TPS Comprehensive Guide

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is granted to eligible nationals of designated countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. This guide covers the 2026 landscape of TPS designations and requirements.

Current Designations (March 2026)

Active and Court-Protected Countries

Country	Designation Status	Expiration Date	Notes
El Salvador	Active	September 9, 2026
Haiti	Court-protected	February 3, 2026	Termination stayed (D.D.C.)
Honduras	Court-protected	September 8, 2025	Terminated; vacatur stayed (9th Cir.)
Lebanon	Active	May 27, 2026
Nepal	Court-protected	August 5, 2025	Terminated; vacatur stayed (9th Cir.)
Nicaragua	Court-protected	September 8, 2025	Terminated; vacatur stayed (9th Cir.)
Somalia	Court-protected	March 17, 2026	Termination stayed (D. Mass.)
South Sudan	Court-protected	January 5, 2026	Termination stayed (D. Mass.)
Sudan	Active	October 19, 2026
Syria	Court-protected	November 21, 2025	Termination paused by court
Ukraine	Active	October 19, 2026
Venezuela	Mixed	October 2, 2026	2023 cohorts active; 2021 cohort terminated
Yemen	Active	May 4, 2026	Ending May 4, 2026
Burma (Myanmar)	Court-protected	January 26, 2026	Termination postponed (N.D. Ill.)
Ethiopia	Court-protected	February 13, 2026	Termination stayed (D. Mass.)

What TPS Provides

Benefits

Benefit	Details
Protection from removal	Cannot be deported while TPS active
Work authorization	Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
Travel authorization	Form I-512T for international travel
Driver's license	Eligible in all states

What TPS Does NOT Provide

NOT Included	Explanation
Permanent status	TPS is temporary
Direct path to green card	Must qualify through other means
"Admission" for EWI holders	Sanchez v. Mayorkas ruling
Public benefits	Ineligible for most federal benefits

Eligibility Requirements

General Requirements

Requirement	Details
Nationality	National of designated country
Physical presence	In U.S. on designation date
Continuous residence	Since date specified for country
Timely registration	During 60-day registration window

Criminal Bars

Conviction	Effect
Any felony	Statutorily ineligible
Two or more misdemeanors	Statutorily ineligible
Certain inadmissibility grounds	May require waiver

Inadmissibility Waivers

Concurrent Form I-601 can waive certain grounds:

Health-related grounds
Some criminal grounds
Unlawful presence (for TPS purposes)

Registration and Renewal

Registration Windows

TPS registration occurs during strictly defined 60-day windows published in the Federal Register.

Phase	Action Required
Initial registration	File during designation window
Re-registration	File during each re-registration period
Continuous residence	Maintain since required date

Missing the Deadline

Scenario	Consequence
Missed without good cause	TPS status withdrawn
Work authorization	Lost
"Good cause" exception	Must demonstrate compelling reason

Good cause examples:

Severe medical emergency
Natural disaster
Administrative error by USCIS
Military deployment

Late Filing

USCIS accepts late re-registration with good cause documentation:

Medical records
Hospitalization proof
Other compelling evidence
Detailed explanation letter

2026 Fees

Current Fee Structure (Effective January 1, 2026)

Form	Purpose	Fee
I-821 (Initial)	TPS application	$510
I-821 (Re-registration)	Renewal	$0
I-765 (Initial EAD)	Work authorization	$560
I-765 (Renewal EAD)	EAD renewal	$280
I-131 (Travel)	Advance parole	Varies
Biometrics	Fingerprinting	$85

Fee Waivers

Fee waivers available for:

Financial hardship (Form I-912)
Income below 150% poverty level
Government benefits recipients

Work Authorization

EAD Details

Feature	Details
Category code	A-12 or C-19
Validity	Matches TPS designation period
Automatic extensions	Available in many cases

Automatic Extensions

When USCIS extends TPS and announces automatic EAD extensions:

What's Extended	Duration
EAD validity	Up to 540 days past printed date
Based on	Federal Register Notice
Documentation	I-797C receipt notice

I-9 Reverification

To continue working during automatic extension:

Provide employer with I-797C receipt notice
Reference Federal Register Notice
Employer updates I-9 with extension information

Travel Authorization

Form I-512T

TPS holders can obtain travel authorization to leave and return to the U.S.

Feature	Details
Form	I-512T (TPS travel document)
Purpose	Authorized departure and return
Critical benefit	Creates "admission" upon return

Why Travel Matters: Adjustment of Status

The Supreme Court ruled in Sanchez v. Mayorkas (2021) that TPS does not constitute an admission for adjustment purposes.

Entry Type	Can Adjust Domestically?
Entered with visa	Yes
Entered without inspection (EWI)	No - unless create admission
EWI + TPS travel + return	Yes - travel creates admission

Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly

TPS holders who travel internationally and return using I-512T are deemed "inspected and admitted." This:

Satisfies INA § 245(a) requirements
Allows domestic adjustment of status
Avoids triggering unlawful presence bars

Travel Risks

Risk	Details
Other inadmissibility grounds	Travel doesn't forgive all grounds
Multiple unlawful entries	May trigger permanent bar
Criminal issues	May face problems at port of entry

Transitioning from TPS

When TPS Ends

Scenario	Options
Designation terminated	Seek other relief or depart
Wind-down period	Usually 6-18 months
Court stays	Continue status during litigation

Green Card Pathways

Pathway	Requirements
Family-based	USC/LPR spouse, parent, or adult child
Employment-based	Employer sponsorship, labor certification
Diversity Visa	Lottery if from eligible country
Asylum	Fear of persecution
U-visa	Crime victim, cooperation

Adjustment of Status Requirements

Requirement	How TPS Holders Qualify
Inspected and admitted	Travel with I-512T and return
Immediately available visa	Approved petition, current priority date
Admissible	No bars, or waiver approved

For Those Who Entered Without Inspection

Step	Action
1	Obtain approved immigrant petition (I-130, etc.)
2	Apply for and receive I-512T travel document
3	Travel internationally and return
4	Return creates "admission"
5	File I-485 adjustment of status

Caution: Travel doesn't forgive other inadmissibility grounds. Consult attorney before traveling.

Court Challenges and Stays

Current Injunctions

Multiple federal courts have issued stays preventing TPS terminations:

Court	Countries Covered
Ninth Circuit	Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua
D.D.C.	Haiti
D. Mass.	Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia
N.D. Ill.	Burma

What Stays Mean

Status	Effect
Stay in effect	TPS continues; can re-register
Stay lifted	Termination proceeds
Wind-down period	Time to depart or find alternative

Preparing for TPS Termination

Documentation to Organize

[ ] All I-797 approval notices
[ ] EADs (current and past)
[ ] Travel documents (I-512T)
[ ] Tax returns
[ ] Employment records
[ ] Proof of continuous residence
[ ] Evidence for alternative relief

Explore Alternative Relief

Relief	Eligibility
Family petition	USC/LPR family member sponsor
Asylum	Fear of persecution in home country
U-visa	Crime victim
VAWA	Domestic violence victim
Cancellation of removal	10 years presence, hardship

Resources

Registration Assistance

Organization	Services
CLINIC	TPS registration support
Local legal aid	Case assistance
Community organizations	Fee assistance, form help

Country-Specific Resources

Country	Organizations
El Salvador	CARECEN, Salvadoran American organizations
Haiti	Haitian Bridge Alliance
Honduras	Honduran advocacy groups
Venezuela	Venezuelan American organizations

Related Resources

Last updated: March 24, 2026