United States: DHS Announces End of Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan
May 12, 2025 | Updated May 13, 2025
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At a glance
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that she will not extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan after it expires on May 20, 2025, but beneficiaries will be granted a 60-day transition period through July 14, 2025.
- Beneficiaries will continue to be authorized to work during the 60-day transition period. DHS is automatically extending the validity of certain EADs previously issued under the TPS designation of Afghanistan through July 14, 2025.
A closer look
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. According to the Federal Register notice, TPS for Afghanistan expires on May 20, 2025, and beneficiaries will be granted a 60-day transition period, through July 14, 2025.
Afghanistan was initially designated for TPS on May 20, 2022, based on ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions. On September 25, 2023, DHS extended and newly designated Afghanistan for a period of 18 months, beginning on November 21, 2023, and ending on May 20, 2025.
According to Secretary Noem, economic and security improvements made since the original designation are such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety. Termination of the TPS designation has already been challenged in federal district court.
Employment authorization during 60-day transition period
DHS recognizes that Afghanistan TPS beneficiaries continue to be employment-authorized during the 60-day transition period. Accordingly, through the Federal Register notice, DHS automatically extends the validity of certain EADs previously issued under the TPS designation of Afghanistan through July 14, 2025, which is 60 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register.
As proof of continued employment authorization through July 14, 2025, TPS beneficiaries can present an EAD that has the notation A-12 or C-19 under Category and a “Card Expires” date of November 20, 2023, or May 20, 2025.
The DHS notice announcing the termination and transition period does not address Form I-9 employment eligibility verification obligations, but employers will need to reverify the employment eligibility of any employees who presented Afghanistan TPS EADs with a code A-12 or C-19 that expire on November 20, 2023, or May 20, 2025 as proof of work authorization, and update their records to indicate the new expiration date of July 14, 2025.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
