United States: DHS Extends Filing Deadline for Initial TPS Applicants from Venezuela, Syria and Burma (Myanmar)
August 3, 2021
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At a glance
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending the initial registration periods for applications under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Venezuela, Syria and Burma (Myanmar), from 180 days to 18 months.
- The registration period for eligible individuals to submit initial TPS applications will now run through September 9, 2022 for Venezuela, September 30, 2022 for Syria, and November 25, 2022 for Burma.
- Eligible applicants will also be able to apply for TPS-related employment authorization documents (EADs) and travel permissions during this time.
The issue
Foreign nationals eligible to file initial (new) applications under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Venezuela, Syria and Burma (Myanmar), will now have up to 18 months to submit their requests, up from 180 days, according to a Federal Register notice that will be published tomorrow. The registration periods, which were to expire this fall, are being extended by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an effort to ensure that eligible applicants have an opportunity to obtain TPS and to reduce operational burdens on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by spreading out applications over a period of time.
The new 18-month filing periods align with the TPS designation for each country and are in keeping with the filing periods recently allotted in the Haiti, Somalia and Yemen TPS designations.
Filing periods for initial applications
The extended registration periods for initial applications are now as follows:
- Venezuela: March 9, 2021 through September 9, 2022
- Syria: March 19, 2021 through September 30, 2022
- Burma (Myanmar): May 25, 2021 through November 25, 2022
All eligible applicants may submit TPS-related employment authorization documents (EADs) and travel permissions during this time. USCIS will accept online submissions for Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Document.
Only applicants filing for an initial grant of TPS are eligible for the extended filing period and online filing benefit. Foreign nationals who were eligible to file for TPS extensions do not benefit from the announcement.
Looking ahead
The extended TPS filing periods for Venezuela, Syria and Burma (Myanmar) means that beneficiaries who submit a timely application and receive an approval may remain in and work in the United States through September 9, 2022, September 30, 2022, and November 25, 2022, respectively. Prior to the conclusion of their TPS designations, the DHS Secretary will review conditions to determine whether their TPS designations should be extended or terminated.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
