The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the extension and redesignation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months from Nov. 21, 2023, through May 20, 2025. DHS also posted a Federal Register notice for public inspection.
The extension of TPS for Afghanistan allows current beneficiaries to re-register to retain TPS through May 20, 2025, if they otherwise continue to meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. Existing TPS beneficiaries who wish to extend their status through May 20, 2025, must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period.
The redesignation of Afghanistan for TPS allows additional Afghan nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan) who have continuously resided in the United States since Sept. 20, 2023, and been continuously physically present in the United States since Nov. 21, 2023, to file initial applications to obtain TPS.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to process pending applications filed under the previous TPS designation for Afghanistan. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, as of Sept. 25, 2023, do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves a pending Form I-821 or Form I-765 filed under the previous designation of TPS for Afghanistan, we will grant the individual TPS through May 20, 2025, and issue an EAD valid through the same date.
Afghan nationals paroled into the United States can apply for TPS as well as other immigration benefits, they may be eligible for.
The Federal Register notice explains the procedures necessary for an individual to re-register under the extension or submit an initial application under the redesignation and to apply for an Employment Authorization Document.
