USCIS Extents Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador
On July 8, 2016, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson extended Temporary Protect Status (TPS) for nationals of El Salvador, and those without nationality who last habitually resided in El Salvador, for an additional 18 months [see news release]. The extension was also printed in the Federal Register [see 81 FR 44645-44651]. According to the Federal Register notice, there are approximately 195,000 current El Salvador TPS beneficiaries who may be eligible to reregister for TPS.
El Salvadorians who are currently on TPS and want to extend their TPS must reregister during the 60-day reregistration period that runs from July 8, 2016, through September 6, 2016. The news release advises El Salvadorians who wish to extend their TPS to reregister as soon as possible.
An applicant who reregisters during the 60-day reregistration period may also request a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) explains that those who reregister during the 60-day period and who requested a new EAD will receive one with an expiration date of March 9, 2018.
Some re-registrants may not receive their new TPS EADs before their previous EADs expire. Accordingly, USCIS is automatically extending all current TPS El Salvador EADs with an expiration date of September 9, 2016, for six months. Those EADs will now be valid through March 9, 2017. Because the extension of the current EADs is automatic, El Salvadorians who are reregistering for TPS will not need to file a separate application to extend their current TPS EADs.
In order to reregister for TPS, a current El Salvadorian TPS beneficiary must submit the following forms:
Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status (no fee required for re-registrants);
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (this must be submitted whether the applicant wants an EAD or not, but the applicant must submit the Form I-765 with fee if he or she does want to apply for an EAD); and
The biometric services fee (or a Form I-912, Request for a Fee Waiver) if the applicant is 14 years or older.
Current El Salvadorian TPS beneficiaries must reregister during the 60-day reregistration period in order to retain their TPS. The Federal Register notice explains that if a reregistration applicant receives a denial of his or her fee-waiver request and is unable to refile by the deadline, he or she may still refile his or her application. A TPS beneficiary is advised to refile within 45 days of the date on his or her USCIS fee waiver denial notice. USCIS will review late refiled applications to determine whether the applicant established “good cause” for his or her late reregistration.
El Salvadorian TPS beneficiaries seeking to reregister may consult the following table from the Federal Register Notice for guidance on where to mail their required reregistration documentation:
| If… | Mail to… |
| Are applying for re-registration and you live in the following states/territories: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virgin Islands, Wisconsin, Wyoming. |
U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS El Salvador, P.O. Box 660864, Dallas, TX 75266. Non-U.S. Postal Delivery Service: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS El Salvador, 2501 S. State Highway, 121 Business Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067. |
| Are applying for re-registration and you live in the following states/territories: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia. |
U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS El Salvador, P.O. Box 8635, Chicago, IL 60680-8635. Non-U.S. Postal Delivery Service: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS El Salvador, 131 S. Dearborn—3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60603-5517. |
| Are applying for re-registration and you live in the following states: Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington. |
U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS El Salvador, P.O. Box 21800, Phoenix, AZ 85036. Non-U.S. Postal Delivery Service: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS El Salvador, 1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85034. |
| Are applying for the first time as a late initial registration (this is for all states/territories) |
U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS El Salvador, P.O. Box 8635, Chicago, IL 60680-8635. Non-U.S. Postal Delivery Service: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS El Salvador, 131 S. Dearborn—3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60603-5517. |
A TPS beneficiary should consult with an experienced immigration attorney for guidance with any issues involving reregistration. An experienced immigration attorney will also be able to provide counsel regarding other immigration situations involving TPS.
To learn about TPS in general, please see our full article [see article]. To learn about important information for using a TPS EAD while simultaneously maintaining a different nonimmigrant status, please see our full article [see article].
