Temporary Protected Status Registration Period Extended for Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending the initial registration deadline for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from May 20, 2015, to Aug. 18, 2015, for eligible nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone (and people without nationality who last habitually resided in one of those three countries). Further details about the extension of the initial registration period appear in a Federal Register notice published today.

We strongly encourage eligible TPS applicants from these three countries to apply as soon as possible because applications will only be accepted through August 18, 2015.

We began accepting TPS applications on Nov. 21, 2014, from applicants of these three countries when DHS announced the 18-month TPS designations for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, from Nov. 21, 2014, through May 21, 2016. If you submitted an application for one of these three countries and we previously returned the application based on the May 20, 2015 deadline, you may now resubmit your complete application by Aug. 18, 2015.

Eligibility

To be eligible for TPS, you must demonstrate that you meet all eligibility criteria, including that you have been “continuously residing” in the United States since Nov. 20, 2014, and “continuously physically present” in the United States since Nov. 21, 2014. You must also undergo thorough security checks. Individuals with certain criminal records or who pose a threat to national security are not eligible for TPS.

Additionally, you may apply for TPS even if you are a Liberian national currently covered under the two-year extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) based on President Obama’s Sept. 26, 2014 memorandum. If you are a DED-covered Liberian national and you have an EAD or have applied for an EAD, you do not need to apply for another EAD related to this TPS designation. However, if you are granted TPS, you may request a TPS-related EAD at a later date as long as the TPS designation for Liberia remains in effect.

Registering

To register, you must submit:

• Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status.
• The Form I-821 application fee (or a fee-waiver request).
• The biometrics services fee (or a fee-waiver request) if you are 14 years old or older.
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, regardless of whether you want an EAD.
• The Form I-765 application fee (or a fee-waiver request), but only if you want an EAD. If you do not want an EAD, no application fee is required. There is no Form I-765 fee for initial applicants under the age of 14, or 66 and over; these applicants may receive their initial EAD cards for free.

Fees and Fee Waivers

If you cannot pay the fee, you may request that we waive the Form I-821 application fee, Form I-765 application fee and biometrics services fee. However, you must file Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or submit a written request. You must also send in supporting documentation with your fee-waiver request. We will reject your TPS application if you do not submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee-waiver request.

Additional information about TPS for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone – including guidance on eligibility, the application process and where to file – is available at uscis.gov/tps.

This Web alert is also available in French.