Temporary Protect Status

Temporary protected status, or TPS, is available to those foreign nationals requiring a safe haven due to an ongoing armed conflict or natural disasters which have disrupted living conditions in their home countrys. There must be extraordinary and temporary conditions in the foreign state that prevent foreign nationals from returning to their country.

The Haitian earthquake is a good example of conditions so extreme that the United States ceased deportation of out-of-status Haitians present in the United States prior to January 12, 2010 (the date of the earthquake) and offered them the opportunity to apply for TPS.

Status is granted for 6 to 18 month periods of time and allows for work authorization. In order to qualify for TPS, the following must be met and proved with supporting evidence:

 
  • Applicant must be from a designated country.

  • Applicant must be physically present and continuously residing in the United States as of the designated date.

  • Applicant must have no felony convictions and no more than one misdemeanor as classified under federal immigration law.

  • Applicant must register within the designated registration period. It is possible to apply outside of the designated period if the registrant applies within 60 days of expiration of such status.

  • Applicant must maintain registration.

Please contact our Firm if you need assistance registering for temporary protected status. We keep our fees very low for this process in order to be of assistance to those most in need.