Temporary Protected Status (TPS) lets eligible nationals of certain countries stay and work in the United States when returning home is unsafe (e.g., due to armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions). TPS is temporary and country-specific—each designation comes with its own dates and instructions. Always check your country’s page on USCIS for the latest details. 

Who Qualifies for TPS?

You may be eligible if you:

• Are a national of a TPS-designated country (or last habitually resided there if stateless), and
• File during the open registration or re-registration window (or you meet a late-filing condition), and
• Have continuously resided in the U.S. since the country-specific date and maintained continuous physical presence since the effective date (limited exceptions exist for brief, casual, and innocent trips). 

Important ineligibilities (criminal/security bars): You are not eligible if you have any felony or two or more misdemeanors in the U.S., are inadmissible on certain grounds, or are subject to mandatory asylum bars (e.g., persecutor, terrorism). 

What Does TPS Provide?

• Protection from removal (not deportable while TPS is valid).
• Work authorization (EAD)—you may request an Employment Authorization Document.
• Travel authorization (with advance permission).

TPS does not by itself lead to a green card, but you may pursue other immigration options (family, employment) if you independently qualify. 

Travel notes: TPS beneficiaries must apply for travel authorization (Form I-131) before leaving. If granted, USCIS issues a TPS travel document; returning in accordance with the authorization results in inspection and admission into TPS. Travel without authorization can result in denial or loss of TPS. 

Adjustment of status nuance: After authorized travel and readmission “into TPS,” some beneficiaries may be considered “inspected and admitted” for purposes of INA 245(a), which can matter in certain family-based cases. This is highly case-specific—consult counsel. 

2025 Fees & Affordability

• There is a filing fee for initial TPS registration with Form I-821; no fee for re-registration. Related fees (EAD, biometrics, any needed inadmissibility waiver) vary by case. As of July 22, 2025, USCIS implemented new fees, including increasing the maximum cost to register with Form I-821 to $500. Always confirm the current amount on USCIS’s Fee Schedule. 
  
  
• If you cannot afford the fees, you may request a fee waiver using Form I-912 (or a written request), with evidence of inability to pay. 

How to Apply (Step-by-step)

1. Confirm your country’s designation and dates. Go to the TPS page and select your country to see the continuous residence/physical presence dates, (re)registration window, and any EAD auto-extension notices. 
   
   
2. Gather evidence (initial filers):
   • Identity/nationality (passport, birth certificate + photo ID, national ID).
   • Date of entry and continuous residence (I-94, leases, bills, school/medical/church records, etc.). 
     
     
3. File your forms (online filing available for most):
   • Form I-821 (Application for TPS).
   • Form I-765 (EAD) — file with I-821 to get work authorization sooner if eligible; you can also file it later.
   • Form I-601 if you know you need a waiver of inadmissibility (only for waiver-eligible grounds). 
     
     
4. Pay fees (or include Form I-912 for a fee waiver request), and sign your forms. Rejections are common for incorrect fees or missing signatures. 
   
   
5. Attend biometrics (ASC appointment) or watch for reuse of prior biometrics as instructed by USCIS. 
   
   
6. Work authorization & auto-extensions:
   • If USCIS finds you prima facie eligible, it may issue an interim EAD while your TPS is pending (category C19). Approved TPS EADs are A12.
   • Under 2025 rules, A12/C19 EAD renewal applications filed on/after July 22, 2025 may be automatically extended up to 1 year (or through the TPS period, if shorter), per USCIS guidance and any country-specific Federal Register notice. 
     
     
7. Re-register on time whenever your country’s TPS is extended. If you miss the window, USCIS can accept late re-registration for good cause—include a brief letter explaining why. 
   
   

Late Initial Filing (First-time Applicants)

If you did not apply during the original initial registration period, you may still file during an extension of your country’s designation if you meet one of the specific conditions, such as having had a pending asylum/adjustment application, being in another lawful status (or voluntary departure), being a parolee, or being the spouse/child of a TPS-eligible person during an initial registration period (with special timing rules for former “children”). Review the exact list of conditions on USCIS before filing. 

Common Pitfalls

• Criminal history: Even two minor misdemeanors can bar TPS. Get a certified court disposition for every arrest/charge and speak with a qualified attorney. 
  
  
• Traveling without authorization: Leaving the U.S. without approved TPS travel (or advance parole if your case is pending) can lead to denial or loss of TPS and problems reentering. 
  
  
• Assuming TPS = green card: TPS alone doesn’t confer permanent residence or another status, though some TPS holders later adjust status if they independently qualify; authorized travel/readmission may affect eligibility in certain cases. 
  
  

(FAQ)

Is TPS a path to a green card?
No. TPS is temporary. Some beneficiaries may later qualify to adjust status (for example, through a family or employment petition) if they meet all § 245(a) requirements—including having been inspected and admitted or paroled—and are otherwise eligible. 

Can I file I-821 and I-765 online?
Yes. All TPS designations now allow online filing of I-821, and you may submit I-765 with it or later. 

What evidence should I include?
Identity/nationality, entry, and proof of CR/CPP since your country’s dates; include court records for any arrests. 

What if I missed re-registration?
USCIS can accept a late re-registration for good cause—but don’t rely on it. File as soon as possible and explain the reason. 

How have EAD auto-extensions changed in 2025?
For TPS categories A12/C19, the auto-extension is up to 1 year (or through the TPS period). Employers must follow the FRN and M-274 instructions for I-9. 

Quick Tps Application Checklist

• ✅ Form I-821 (online or paper) after your country’s FRN publishes
• ✅ Form I-765 (optional, for EAD)
• ✅ Fees per G-1055 Fee Schedule (plus any required additional fees)
• ✅ Identity/nationality, entry, CR/CPP evidence
• ✅ Court dispositions for any arrests/charges
• ✅ Form I-131 for TPS travel authorization (if you need to travel)