Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

TPS Application

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is an immigration program set up by the federal government that allows citizens of certain countries to stay in the U.S. and receive a work permit, a social security number, and the ability to temporary travel abroad. There are currently 16 countries designated for TPS, all of which have suffered drastic humanitarian crises, such as Ukraine, Haiti, Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Cameroon, and Venezuela. As long as an applicant’s TPS status has not expired, they are protected from being forced to return to the dangerous situation in their home country.

TPS Requirements

Citizens of designated TPS countries must submit their application by the deadline set by USCIS. USCIS usually provides a 60-day filing window during which applicants must file. TPS is usually approved for 18 months at a time, during which the TPS holder can receive a work authorization card and travel document. At the end of those 18 months, USCIS will announce another re-registration window, during which applicants must file another application to renew their TPS status.

Applicants can file for TPS by submitting forms I-821 (TPS application) and I-765 (application for a work authorization card) to USCIS through the mail. Applicants can also file online using their My USCIS account, which is usually faster and more convenient.

Most adults requesting an EAD (work authorization card) with their TPS application can expect to pay either $495 for a renewal, or $545 if they are applying for the first time.

TPS Advance Parole

TPS allows for the extraordinary benefit of being able to apply for a travel permit, known as “advance parole” or an I-512L document. Traveling with advance parole allows the TPS holder to visit their family or for any other reason, and safely return to the U.S. Applicants must pay $575 to apply with USCIS using form I-131.

Advance parole is particularly helpful for applicants who originally immigrated to the U.S. without a visa and who have since married an American citizen. Traveling with advance parole may allow the TPS holder to adjust status, that is, apply for a marriage green card within the U.S., rather than being forced to attend their green card interview at a U.S. embassy abroad.

TPS to Green Card

In addition to TPS opening the door to a marriage green card, employment-based sponsorship can also be an option. Traveling with TPS advance parole, for example, can reset one’s immigration history to an extent by giving the immigrant a clean, authorized entry into the U.S. The employer may then be able to file a PERM (Labor Certification Application) to sponsor the employee’s green card.

TPS Lawyer New York

If you need help applying for TPS or advance parole, or anything else, please contact us today: +1 845.288.2435 / beaconimmigrationlawyer@gmail.com.

 

Beacon Immigration PLLC is a law firm located in the Hudson Valley of New York at 6 Eliza Street, Suite 5, Beacon, NY 12508 (Dutchess County).