Pending desperate people at the Dadaab refugee camp where thousands of Somalians wait for help because of hunger on August 07, 2011, in Dadaab, Somalia. (Shutterstock)
WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice (FRN) extending and redesignating Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from Sept. 18, 2021, through March 17, 2023. Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas made the decision to extend and redesignate Somalia for TPS after consultation with interagency partners and careful consideration of the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Somalia.
The extension of TPS for Somalia allows approximately 447 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through March 17, 2023, so long as they meet TPS eligibility requirements. The redesignation of Somalia for TPS allows an estimated 100 additional Somali nationals (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia), who have been continuously residing in the United States since July 19, 2021, and continuously physically present in the United States since Sept. 18, 2021, to file initial applications to obtain TPS, if they are otherwise eligible.
Current beneficiaries re-registering under the extension of TPS for Somalia must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day registration period that runs from July 22, 2021, through September 20, 2021, to ensure they keep their TPS and work authorization without a gap.
Under the redesignation of Somalia, eligible individuals who do not have TPS may submit an initial Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the initial registration period that runs from July 22, 2021, through the full length of the redesignation period ending March 17, 2023. Applicants may also apply for TPS-related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and for travel authorization.
The FRN explains the procedures necessary to re-register or submit an initial registration application and apply for an EAD.