(CNN Spanish) — The Temporary Protected Statusl (TPS, for its acronym in English) is a temporary immigration benefit established by the United States government for people of certain nationalities who cannot return to their countries of origin safely, either due to an ongoing armed conflict, a natural disaster and other extraordinary conditions of a temporary nature.
TPS beneficiaries, as well as people who are eligible during the initial review of their cases, are not removed from the US and will not be detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Beneficiaries can also seek work in the US using the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and obtain travel authorization.
TPS status is granted for periods of 6, 12 or 18 months at a time, periods that can be extended if the country of origin continues to meet the necessary conditions for its designation. However, as its name implies, TPS status is temporary, so it is not a precedent for seeking lawful permanent residence or US citizenship.
By March 2022, approximately 354,625 foreign nationals from 12 countries were protected by TPS. A majority of beneficiaries come from El Salvador, followed by Honduras, Haiti and Venezuela, according to data from the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
More about immigration:
Who is eligible for TPS?
To be a beneficiary of TPS, it is necessary to be a citizen of a country designated under that category or a person without nationality whose last residence was a country designated for TPS. In addition, you must have been physically present in the US since the most recent effective date of the program, as well as have continuously resided in the US since the date specified by DHS. These are the differences between continuous residence and physical presencecited by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
In the case of citizens of Venezuelathey are required to have continuously resided in the US since March 8, 2021, while for citizens of El Salvador It is February 13, 2001.
They will not be eligible to apply for or maintain TPS status:
- People convicted of one felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the US.
- If it is found inadmissible under the provisions of the section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
- If you are subject to any of the impediments to obtaining asylum.
- If you do not re-register for TPS, as required.
How do I apply for TPS?
If you are eligible, you must submit the form I-821 and you can also apply for Employment Authorization through the form I-765. At the time of making your initial application, you must present the following documents:
- Evidence of identity and nationality
- Evidence of date of entry into the US
- Evidence of continuous residence
How much does it cost to apply for TPS?
According to a government official who spoke with journalists to provide them with reference information, the TPS application has a cost of US$50. In addition, a biometric examination fee of US$85 must be paid, and if a work authorization is required, which costs Additional $410. In total, applying for TPS has a cost of US$545. The cost for minors is US$50.
What countries have TPS in the United States?
A dozen countries have Temporary Protected Status in the US due to conditions in those nations that make it unsafe for nationals to return to those countries. The reasons may be armed conflict, natural disasters, or extraordinary temporary conditions.
According to him USCIScitizens of these countries can access TPS:
- Afghanistan (designated until November 20, 2023)
- Burma (designated until November 25, 2022)
- Cameroon (designated until December 7, 2023)
- El Salvador (while the preliminary injunction in the Ramos case remain valid)
- Haiti (continued) until February 3, 2023 for beneficiaries who obtained TPS under the designation of the August 3, 2021. Beneficiaries of the designation made in 2011 will continue under TPS while preliminary court orders in the Ramos case and in the Saget case remain in force)
- Honduras (termination will not take effect “until further notice”)
- Nepal (termination will not take effect “until further notice”)
- Nicaragua (as long as the preliminary injunction in the Ramos case remains in force)
- Somalia (extended until the March 17, 2023)
- Sudan (continued until October 19, 2023 for beneficiaries who obtained TPS under the designation of the April 19, 2022)
- South Sudan (andxextended until November 3, 2023)
- Syria (andxextended until September 30, 2022)
- Ukraine (continues until October 19, 2023)
- Venezuela (extension valid until March 10, 2024)
- Yemen (exextended until March 3, 2023)
Previously, citizens of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone had Temporary Protected Status.
Can I get a green card under TPS?
Although TPS is a temporary benefit, registering for TPS does not preclude filing an Adjustment of Status Application. However, eligibility for such an adjustment depends on the “admission” of the beneficiary. The government of US defines as “admission” to “the lawful entry of an alien into the United States after inspection and clearance by an immigration officer.”
For this reason, non-citizens who are beneficiaries of TPS and who entered the country illegally could not apply for a green card. However, thanks to a new travel authorization document For TPS beneficiaries, it is that some people may be eligible for an adjustment of status, in order to later apply for residency.
Timeline of Important TPS Facts
Julio 2022: DHS extended the TPS for citizens of Venezuela. The 18-month extension for Venezuela takes effect on September 10 and runs until March 10, 2024.
Julio 2022: Beginning July 1, 2022, USCIS will issue a new travel authorization document (Form I-512T) to TPS beneficiaries.
March 2022: The Secretary of National Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, designated Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan and South Sudan to receive TPS for 18 months in response to the current conflicts.
September 2021: DHS announced that beneficiaries from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan will retain their TPS as long as the court orders issued by the federal district courts in the Ramos, Bhattarai, and Saget court cases remain in effect, and as long as they are not withdrawn TPS due to individual ineligibility. DHS automatically extended the validity of their EADs and other TPS-related documents through December 31, 2022.
Julio 2021: The Secretary of National Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, designated Haiti to receive the TPS for 18 months in response to current conflicts. In accordance with USCISpeople of Haitian origin who have been continuously residing in the US since July 29, 2021, will be able to submit their application for TPS registration from August 3, 2021 to February 3, 2023.
Julio 2021: USCIS announced that TPS applicants who are eligible nationals of Burma, Syria, Somalia, Venezuela, or Yemen—or nonnationals whose last habitual residence was in those countries—can apply online, if this is their first time. make. “USCIS is currently working on making online filing available to re-registrants and initial applicants for all future TPS designations,” the government agency said.
June 2021: The Supreme Court of the United States ruled against immigrants with TPS status who seek to obtain permanent residence preventing them from applying for a green card if they entered illegally to the country.
March 2021: The administration of President Joe Biden granted the TPS to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans with which it is expected that some 300,000 people will apply and be able to remain legally in the US for at least 18 months.
December 2020: The DHS extended the documentation related to TPS until October 4, 2021 for people from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and other countries.
October 2019: The US government announced the decision to extend one more year the permit to live and work without risk of being deported, extending the validity of work permits until January 4, 2021.
January 8, 2018: DHS announced its decision to terminate TPS for El Salvador after an 18-month transition period. TPS for El Salvador was scheduled to end on September 9, 2019, but the termination has not gone into effect due to a legal challenge.
November 2017: DHS announced that TPS for Nicaragua would end on January 5, 2019 because “recovery efforts related to Hurricane Mitch have been largely completed.”
End of 2017: The Donald Trump administration decided to revoke TPS status for Nicaragua and El Salvadorand put a final decision for Honduras on hold.
2001: The George W. Bush administration granted TPS status to Salvadoran citizens after two earthquakes that shook the country. Both the Bush and Barack Obama administrations extended TPS to Central Americans from El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, considering that these countries were unsafe for their citizens due to the alteration of living conditions caused by natural disasters.
2001: Before leaving office in January 2001, President Bill Clinton said his administration would temporarily suspend deportations to El Salvador due to a major earthquake.
January 5, 1999: The Ministry of Justice granted TPS status to Honduras and Nicaragua due to the “serious flooding and associated damage” and “substantial alterations in living conditions” caused by Hurricane Mitch.
November 1998: As a result of Hurricane Mitchthe then Secretary of Justice Janet Reno announced that she would temporarily suspend the deportation of citizens from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
1990: TPS status was established by Congress as part of the Immigration Act of 1990. El Salvador was the first country to be a beneficiary of TPS.