Somalia TPS Re-Registration Period Opens

At a glance

• Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia is extended for 18 months, from September 18, 2018, through March 17, 2020.
• Current Somali TPS beneficiaries have until October 26, 2018 to re-register to maintain status through March 17, 2020.
• Current Somali TPS employment authorization documents with an expiration date of September 17, 2018 will automatically be extended through March 16, 2019.

The situation

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia for 18 months, from September 18, 2018, through March 17, 2020. Current Somali TPS beneficiaries will have 60 days, or until October 26, 2018, to request an 18-month extension of status and work authorization while they seek another immigration status or prepare to depart the country, according to a notice published in today’s Federal Register.

Re-registering for TPS

• Who may re-register: Re-registration is limited to those who previously registered for and were granted TPS under the designation of Somalia.
• When to re-register: To obtain an 18-month extension of status, current Somali TPS beneficiaries must submit Form I-821 with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) within the 60-day re-registration period. Applicants need not pay the filing fee but may be required to pay the biometrics fee.
• Extending employment authorization: Beneficiaries who wish to extend their employment authorization for 18 months must also submit a timely Form I-765 application for an employment authorization document (EAD) and the applicable fees (or a fee waiver application).
• Automatic EAD Extensions: DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants will be able to file and receive new EADs before their current employment authorization expires on September 17, 2018. Accordingly, DHS will automatically extend the validity of all EADs issued under the TPS designation of Somalia for 180 days, through March 16, 2019.
• Beneficiaries with Pending TPS applications: Applicants who have a Form I-821 or a Form I-765 pending as of August 27, 2018, need not re-file the pending form. Approved applications will be granted validity dates through March 17, 2020.​

I-9 eligibility verification

For Form I-9 employment eligibility verification purposes, through March 16, 2019, employers may accept a TPS-related EAD with an expiration date of September 17, 2018, or March 17, 2017 (for those who applied for a new EAD during the last re-registration period but have not yet received a new EAD), along with a copy of the August 27, 2018 Federal Register notice or a USCIS Form I-797C receipt notice indicating that the TPS-related EAD is automatically extended through March 16, 2019.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.