TPS - Temporary Protected Status
Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, is a temporary
immigration status
granted to eligible nationals of designated countries. TPS is available
to aliens in the United States who are temporarily unable to safely
return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, an
environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary
conditions.
During the period for which a country has been
designated for TPS, TPS
beneficiaries may remain in the United States and may obtain work
authorization. However, TPS does not lead to permanent resident status.
When the Secretary terminates a TPS designation, beneficiaries revert
to the same immigration status they maintained before TPS (unless that
status had since expired or been terminated) or to any other status
they may have acquired while registered for TPS. Accordingly, if an
alien had unlawful status prior to receiving TPS and did not obtain any
status during the TPS designation, the alien reverts to unlawful status
upon the termination of that TPS designation.
Countries that are Currently Designated for TPS
| Designated
Country |
Most
Recent Designation Date |
Current
Expiration Date |
Current
Re-Registration Period |
EAD
Automatically Extended Through |
| El
Salvador |
March 9, 2001
|
September 9, 2010
|
October 1, 2008 to December 30, 2008
|
September 9, 2009
|
| Haiti |
January 21, 2010
|
July 22, 2011
|
—
|
—
|
| Honduras |
January 5, 1999
|
July 5, 2010
|
October 1, 2008 to December 30, 2008
|
July 5, 2009
|
| Nicaragua |
January 5, 1999
|
July 5, 2010
|
October 1, 2008 to December 30, 2008
|
July 5, 2009
|
| Somalia |
September 4, 2001
|
March 17, 2011
|
July 27, 2009 to September 24, 2009
|
March 17, 2010
|
| Sudan |
October 7, 2004
|
November 2, 2011
|
December 31, 2009 to March 1, 2010
|
NO Automatic Extension
|
Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)
Deferred Enforced Departure Extended for Certain
Liberians
USCIS Automatically Extends Employment
Authorization Documents Through September 2009 ~March 26,
2009 USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
today
automatically extended the employment authorization for six months,
through Sept. 30, 2009, for qualified Liberians and those persons
without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia, who are
covered under Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). This action
was taken
in response to President Obama’s announcement extending DED for certain
qualified Liberians through March 31, 2010. This information will soon
appear in a Federal Register Notice with instructions for Liberian
nationals who are covered under DED to obtain employment authorization
for the remainder of the 12-month DED extension, through March 31, 2010.
This
automatic extension of employment authorization will allow sufficient
time for eligible DED beneficiaries to receive new Employment
Authorization Documents (EAD) without any lapse in employment
authorization. The Notice also explains how these individuals may
request an EAD extension through March 31, 2010.
How do I know if I am covered by the extension of
DED?
With certain exceptions, you are eligible for an
extension of DED if
you are present in the United States and are covered under DED as of
March 31, 2009. Generally, if you held Temporary Protected
Status
(TPS) as of Sept. 30, 2007, then you are covered by Liberian DED and
the 12-month extension applies to you.
How many Liberian nationals are currently covered
under DED?
Approximately 3,600 Liberian nationals are
currently protected under
DED and are eligible to receive employment authorization in the United
States.
How do I determine if I am not covered by DED?
You are not eligible for DED under the president’s
determination if
- you are ineligible for TPS for the reasons
provided in section
244(c)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
- your removal
is determined to be in the interest of the United States
- the
Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe your presence or
activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse
foreign policy consequences for the United States
- you have
voluntarily returned to Liberia or your last habitual residence outside
the United States
- you were deported, excluded, or removed prior
to
the date of this memorandum
- you are subject to extradition
If I am covered by DED, how long will this
extension of DED allow me to remain in the United States?
Under this extension, you will continue to be
covered by DED for 12 months from April 1, 2009, through March 31, 2010.
Do I need to apply or register to receive an
extension of DED?
No. DED is automatic. However, if you
would like to receive work
authorization, you must file an Application for Employment
Authorization, Form.
Contact Malee about your situation to
discuss TPS or DED.
Malee Ketelsen is a US Immigration attorney
practicing law in Minnesota and all over the world.
