U.S. Government Gives More Time for Hondurans and Nicaraguans to Apply for TPS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced an extension of time for citizens and nationals of Nicaragua and Honduras to re-register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Citizens and nationals of Nicaragua and Honduras now have more time to re-register and maintain their status under TPS for 18 more months. Initially, citizens and nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua had 60 days to renew their status under TPS. This time began on October 1, 2008 and ended on December 1, 2008. This new registration period is being extended until December 30, 2008. In addition, USCIS has automatically extended the validity of employment authorization documents (EADS or work permit) for Hondurans and Nicaraguans who are beneficiaries or eligible for TPS. The extension of the EAD is for six months until July 5, 2009. This will allow sufficient time for TPS recipients to re-register and receive an EAD without any delay in employment authorization. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously published Notices in the Federal Register on October 1, 2008, announcing that TPS for Hondurans and Nicaraguans had been extended 18 months from January 6, 2009 to July 5, 2010. The extension will allow those who have already received TPS to re-register and maintain their status for an additional 18 months. There are approximately 3,500 citizens and nationals of Nicaragua and 70,000 of Honduras (and non-nationals who in the past habitually resided in Honduras or Nicaragua) who are eligible to register for TPS. TPS does not apply to Nicaraguans or Hondurans who entered the United States after December 30, 1998. Nicaraguans and Hondurans who are TPS beneficiaries must apply as soon as possible to renew their TPS status by December 30, 2008. The TPS extension for Nicaragua and Honduras will take effect on January 6, 2009 and will remain in effect until July 5, 2010. TPS beneficiaries must file the Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821, without the application fee and application for employment authorization, Form I-765, in order to re-register TPS. Payment for biometric services (fingerprints) or an application to avoid having to pay the cost, must be submitted by registrants who are 14 years of age and older. If the applicant is only trying to re-register for TPS and is not seeking an extension of employment authorization, he or she must file Form I-765 for data collection only and is not required to pay the price of Form I-765. All applicants who want employment authorization through July 5, 2010 must file the application with the required payment of Form I-765 or an application an application so as not to have to pay the cost with proper documentation. If the applicant does not submit the required payment or application so as not to have to pay the cost, properly documented, their new registration application will be rejected at the risk of loss of protection under TPS status. If you need to apply to renew your TPS status, or if you believe you are eligible for TPS even though you never applied in the past, call our offices to begin the process of registering again or for a free consultation to determine if you are eligible for TPS.