Temporary Protected Status 18-Month Extension
Breaking News!
Temporary Protected Status Extended for Syrians
On January 31, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security announced that Syria’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation will be extended for 18 months. DHS Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen said, “It is clear that the conditions upon which Syria’s designation was based continue to exist; therefore, an extension is warranted under the statute.”
Currently, approximately 7,000 Syrians are TPS beneficiaries. The 18-month extension permits them to re-register for TPS and remain in the U.S. with work authorization through September 30, 2019.
New TPS Applications Will Not Be Accepted
Syrians who arrived in the U.S. after August 2016 will not be eligible under the new policy. This decision marks the first time the Department of Homeland Security will not also allow new immigrants to apply for the Temporary Protected Status program.
Eligibility Requirements for TPS Extensions
To be eligible for this 18-month extension, TPS beneficiaries must meet these requirements:
- Continuous Residence in U.S. – You must have continuously resided in the U.S. since August 1, 2016, and have been continuously physically present in the U.S. since October 2016. Anyone who has been here since the time of the previous designation may be eligible to seek other forms of immigration relief.
- Physical Presence in the U.S. – You must have been continuously physically present in the U.S. since the effective date your country was designated or re-designated for TPS.
- No Serious Criminal Record – If you have been convicted of a felony or of two or more misdemeanors in the U.S., you will not be eligible for TPS benefits.
The Rights of TPS Beneficiaries
Temporary Protected Status for Syria was first enacted in 2012 and shields recipients from deportation while authorizing them to work in the U.S. Once granted TPS status, an individual cannot be detained by DHS on the basis of his or her immigration status in the United States. TPS is a temporary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent resident status or give any other type of immigration status. However, as we have recently mentioned, TPS status is considered an admission into the united states. Therefore, you may be eligible to adjust your status through some other means, such as marriage to a US citizen.
“If you have any questions or concerns about your eligibility for extension of your TPS status, it is very important to work only with attorneys who concentrate exclusively on immigration cases,” said Sassoun A. Nalbandian, lead attorney for Nalbandian Law, a 5-star immigration firm in Los Angeles. Please note that we will advise you when USCIS indicates on its website that it has revised its forms and has started to accept applications.
If you are currently a Temporary Protected Status recipient from Syria, contact Nalbandian Law today – (818) 244-0310 – and schedule a consultation with Mr. Nalbandian. He will review your case carefully and help determine your eligibility for the 18-month TPS extension.