Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is an important form of humanitarian relief for people from certain designate countries that have experience arm conflict. Natural disaster, or other conditions that prevent them from returning safely to their home country.

The US government may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resid in the designate. Country may also be grant TPS.

To be eligible for TPS, you must:

– Be a national of a country designate for TPS,
– File during the open initial registration or re-registration period (or meet the requirements for late initial filing during any extension of country’s TPS designation)
– Have been continuously physically present in the United States since the effective date of the most recent designation date of the country; and
– Have been continuously residing in the United States since the date specified for the country.

You may NOT be eligible for TPS or to maintain your existing TPS if you:
– Have been convict of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States,
– Are found inadmissible as an immigrant under applicable grounds in INA section 212(a), including non-waivable criminal and security-relate grounds,
– Are subject to any of the mandatory bars to asylum, or
– Fail to meet the continuous physical presence and continuous residence in the United States requirements.

Delays in Immigration Case Processing