The key fact: Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration benefit that allows nationals from designated countries affected by ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States. TPS does not lead directly to a green card, but it protects you from deportation while your country's designation is in effect.
The list of TPS-designated countries changes as the government reviews conditions. Always verify current designations at uscis.gov before applying or assuming you qualify.
Who Qualifies for TPS?
To be eligible for TPS, you generally must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be a national of a country currently designated for TPS (or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in that country)
- Have been continuously residing in the United States since the date specified for your country's designation
- Have been continuously physically present in the U.S. since the date specified for your country
- Not have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors in the U.S.
- Not be subject to certain bars such as certain criminal grounds of inadmissibility
Countries Currently Designated for TPS (2026)
As of June 2026, the following countries have active TPS designations. Consult uscis.gov for the most current list, as designations are subject to change:
| Country | Designation Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|
| El Salvador | Earthquakes / ongoing conditions | Active |
| Haiti | Earthquake, political instability | Active |
| Honduras | Hurricane / ongoing conditions | Active |
| Nicaragua | Hurricane / ongoing conditions | Active |
| Venezuela | Political/humanitarian crisis | Active |
| Ukraine | Armed conflict | Active |
| Myanmar | Political crisis / armed conflict | Active |
| Nepal | Earthquake aftermath | Active |
| Somalia | Ongoing armed conflict | Active |
| Sudan / South Sudan | Armed conflict | Active |
| Syria | Ongoing armed conflict | Active |
| Yemen | Ongoing armed conflict | Active |
Verify current designations and registration periods at uscis.gov/tps before applying.
What TPS Gives You
- Protection from deportation while your country's TPS designation is active
- Work authorization — you can apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- Ability to request travel authorization (advance parole) to travel outside the U.S. and return — though this has risks; consult an attorney before traveling
- No path to permanent residency by itself — TPS is temporary and does not automatically lead to a green card
Some TPS holders may be able to adjust to lawful permanent resident status through a family petition or employer sponsorship, depending on how they entered the U.S. and their individual circumstances. Consult an immigration attorney to explore your options.
How to Apply for TPS
Filing for TPS requires submitting the correct USCIS forms during an open registration or re-registration period. Here is the general process:
- Check if your country is designated and if registration is open. Go to uscis.gov/tps. Applying outside an open registration period is generally not accepted.
- Complete Form I-821 (Application for Temporary Protected Status). This is the primary TPS application form.
- Complete Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) if you want an EAD — which most applicants do.
- Gather supporting documents: passport or birth certificate proving nationality, evidence of continuous residence (leases, utility bills, school records, tax returns), two passport-style photos, and identity documents.
- Pay the filing fees and submit your package to the designated USCIS address (varies by country).
- Attend biometrics appointment if required by USCIS.
- Receive your EAD once approved, typically valid for the TPS designation period.
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Calculate My Fees →TPS Filing Fees
Fees for TPS applications as of 2026 depend on whether it is an initial application or re-registration, your age, and whether you qualify for a fee waiver:
| Form | Standard Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I-821 (Initial) | $50 | Waivable for financial hardship |
| I-821 (Re-registration) | $0 | No filing fee for re-registration |
| I-765 (EAD) | $520 | Waivable in some cases; required for work authorization |
| Biometrics (if required) | $85 | May be waived with approved fee waiver |
To request a fee waiver, file Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver) at the same time as your TPS application package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. TPS designations are temporary and must be renewed by the government for each country. If a designation ends and is not extended, TPS holders from that country lose their protected status and work authorization. You should re-register during every open re-registration period to maintain your TPS.
You may be able to travel if you receive an advance parole document (Form I-131). However, traveling without advance parole or traveling to your home country may result in loss of your TPS and could affect your ability to re-enter the U.S. Always consult an immigration attorney before traveling.
TPS by itself does not provide a path to a green card. However, some TPS holders may be eligible to adjust status to lawful permanent residency through a qualifying family relationship or employer sponsorship, depending on how they entered the U.S. Consult an attorney about your specific situation.
In some cases, late initial registration may be permitted if you can show "good cause" for the delay. This is evaluated case by case. Contact an immigration attorney or legal aid organization to discuss your options.
Lo esencial: El Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) es un beneficio migratorio que permite a ciudadanos de países designados —afectados por conflictos armados, desastres naturales u otras condiciones extraordinarias— vivir y trabajar legalmente en Estados Unidos de forma temporal. El TPS no conduce directamente a una green card, pero te protege de la deportación mientras la designación de tu país esté vigente.
La lista de países designados cambia según las revisiones del gobierno. Verifica siempre en uscis.gov/tps antes de aplicar o asumir que calificas.
¿Quién Califica para el TPS?
Para ser elegible para TPS, generalmente debes cumplir todas las siguientes condiciones:
- Ser nacional de un país con designación activa de TPS
- Haber residido continuamente en EE.UU. desde la fecha especificada para la designación de tu país
- Haber estado físicamente presente en EE.UU. desde la fecha especificada
- No haber sido condenado por ningún delito grave ni por dos o más delitos menores en EE.UU.
- No estar sujeto a ciertas causas de inadmisibilidad
¿Qué te da el TPS?
- Protección contra la deportación mientras la designación de tu país esté activa
- Autorización de trabajo — puedes solicitar un Documento de Autorización de Empleo (EAD)
- Posibilidad de solicitar autorización de viaje (advance parole), aunque esto tiene riesgos; consulta un abogado antes de viajar
- No es un camino directo a la residencia permanente — el TPS es temporal y no convierte automáticamente en green card
Cómo Aplicar para el TPS
- Verifica si tu país está designado y si el período de registro está abierto en uscis.gov/tps.
- Completa el Formulario I-821 (Solicitud de Estatus de Protección Temporal).
- Completa el Formulario I-765 (Solicitud de Autorización de Empleo) si quieres un EAD.
- Reúne los documentos de apoyo: pasaporte o acta de nacimiento, evidencia de residencia continua (contratos de arrendamiento, recibos, registros escolares, declaraciones de impuestos), dos fotos tamaño pasaporte.
- Paga las tarifas de presentación y envía tu paquete a la dirección de USCIS designada para tu país.
- Asiste a la cita de biometría si USCIS lo requiere.
- Recibe tu EAD una vez aprobado.
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| Formulario | Tarifa | Notas |
|---|---|---|
| I-821 (Inicial) | $50 | Se puede solicitar exención por dificultad económica |
| I-821 (Re-registro) | $0 | Sin tarifa para re-registro |
| I-765 (EAD) | $520 | Se puede solicitar exención; necesario para trabajar legalmente |
| Biometría (si aplica) | $85 | Se puede eximir con aprobación de exención de tarifa |
Preguntas Frecuentes
Sí. Las designaciones de TPS son temporales y deben ser renovadas por el gobierno para cada país. Si una designación termina y no se extiende, los titulares de TPS de ese país pierden su estatus protegido y autorización de trabajo. Debes hacer el re-registro durante cada período de re-registro abierto.
Es posible si recibes un documento de advance parole (Formulario I-131). Sin embargo, viajar sin este documento o viajar a tu país de origen puede resultar en la pérdida de tu TPS. Consulta siempre a un abogado de inmigración antes de viajar.
El TPS por sí solo no provee un camino a la green card. Sin embargo, algunos titulares de TPS pueden ser elegibles para ajustar su estatus a residencia permanente a través de un familiar calificado o patrocinio de un empleador, dependiendo de cómo entraron a EE.UU. Consulta a un abogado sobre tu situación específica.