Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status provided to nationals of certain countries experiencing problems that place their nationals at risk if deported there or that would compromise the foreign government’s ability to absorb the return of its nationals. TPS has been a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of individuals already in the United States when problems in a home country suddenly make their departure or deportation untenable. This sheet summarizes how TPS designations are made, what benefits TPS confers, and how TPS beneficiaries apply for and regularly renew their status.

Congress created Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the Immigration Act of 1990. It is a temporary immigration status provided to nationals of specifically designated countries confronting an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. It provides a work permit and stay of deportation to foreign nationals from those countries in the United States when the U.S. government makes the designation.

A country may be designated for TPS for one or more of these reasons:

• An ongoing armed conflict (such as a civil war) that poses a serious threat to the personal safety to returning nationals;
• An environmental disaster, such as an earthquake, hurricane, or epidemic, resulting in a substantial, but temporary disruption of living conditions and the foreign state cannot adequately handle the return of its nationals; or
• Extraordinary and temporary conditions in the foreign state that prevent its nationals from returning to the state in safety (unless the U.S. government finds that permitting these nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the U.S. national interest).

The Secretary of Homeland Security may decide when a country merits a TPS designation. The Secretary must consult with other government agencies prior to deciding to designate a country—or part of a country—for TPS. Although these other agencies are not specified in the statute, these consultations usually involve the Department of State, the National Security Council, and occasionally the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Secretary’s decision whether to designate a country for TPS is not subject to judicial review, according to immigration law.

A TPS designation can be made for 6, 12, or 18 months at a time. At least 60 days prior to the expiration of TPS, the Secretary must decide whether to extend or terminate a designation based on the conditions in the foreign country. Decisions to begin, extend, or terminate a TPS designation must be published in the Federal Register. If an extension or termination decision is not published at least 60 days before expiration, the designation is automatically extended for six months. The law does not define the term “temporary” or otherwise limit the time for which a country can have a TPS designation.

To qualify for TPS, an individual must:

• be a national of the foreign country with a TPS designation (or if stateless, have last habitually resided in a country with a TPS designation);
• be continuously physically present in the United States since the effective date of designation;
• have continuously resided in the United States since a date specified by the Secretary of Homeland Security; and
• not be inadmissible to the United States or be barred from asylum for certain criminal or national security-related reasons, such as individuals convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors.

Nationals of a designated country do not automatically receive TPS but instead must register during a specific registration period and pay significant fees. In addition, an individual’s immigration status at the time of application for TPS does not affect one’s eligibility, nor does the previous issuance of an order of removal.

An individual eligible for TPS must register by applying to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency of the Department of Homeland Security. If a person demonstrates eligibility and USCIS grants TPS, that person receives a temporary stay of deportation and temporary authorization to work in the United States. TPS beneficiaries are also eligible for advance parole, which provides permission to travel abroad and return to the United States, but they must apply for it separately. Beneficiaries are not eligible for any public assistance by their TPS status.

As of November 1, 2017, these 10 countries have valid TPS designations:

• El Salvador
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Syria
• Yemen

Since TPS was created, these countries or parts of countries have had TPS designations now terminated:

• Angola
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Burundi
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Province of Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Liberia
• Montserrat
• Rwanda
• Sierra Leone

TPS does not provide beneficiaries with a separate path to lawful permanent residence (a green card) or citizenship. However, a TPS recipient who otherwise is eligible for permanent residence may apply for that status.

Generally, a person who entered the United States without inspection is not eligible to apply for permanent residence. As of August 2017, three federal appellate circuits have ruled on this issue:

Two federal appellate circuits (the Ninth and Sixth Circuits) ruled that a person with valid TPS status can adjust status to lawful permanent residence if otherwise eligible through a family-based or employment-based petition, even if he or she entered the United States without inspection.

The Eleventh Circuit ruled that a TPS recipient who entered without inspection is not eligible to adjust to permanent residence even if otherwise eligible. DHS’ position, applicable in all other circuits, is that a TPS holder is not eligible to adjust status within the United States. To gain permanent resident status, a TPS recipient must instead depart the country to have a visa processed at a consular post. For many TPS holders who originally entered the United States without inspection, a departure to have a visa interview would trigger bars to re-entry for up to 10 years.

TPS beneficiaries return to the immigration status that the person held prior to receiving TPS, unless that status has expired or the person has successfully acquired a new immigration status. TPS beneficiaries who entered the United States without inspection and who are not eligible for other immigration benefits, for example, would return to being undocumented at the end of a TPS designation and become subject to removal.