Temporary Protected Status

Last updated 2/25/2026

What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allows individuals from certain countries to remain in the United States if it is unsafe for them to return to their home country due to a humanitarian emergency there. For example, the federal government may designate a country for TPS if there is an armed conflict (e.g., civil war) or a natural disaster (e.g., earthquake). TPS enables recipients to work in the United States lawfully and protects them from deportation as long as the TPS designation is in effect.

In order to receive TPS, applicants must prove that they have lived continuously in the United States since a date specified by the federal government. A country's TPS designation comes up for renewal at 6 to 18-month intervals, at which point the federal government again makes a determination about whether a given country can absorb its returning nationals safely.

Recipients must re-register for TPS if a TPS designation is extended, or in some cases ended. Visit the USCIS website for additional information about TPS.

Free Legal Help is Available

If you have questions about whether you or a loved one might be eligible for TPS, free legal help is available. The MOIA Immigration Legal Support Centers can provide free, safe immigration legal help in your community and in your language. You can call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365  or call 311 and say, "Immigration Legal," to get answers to immigration policy questions and information on how and where to find City-funded, free, and safe immigration legal help.

Hours of Operation

• Monday from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Tuesday from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Wednesday from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Thursday from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Friday from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Last Saturday of the month from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Countries Currently Designated for TPS

• Afghanistan: On Tuesday May 13, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security issued a notice officially terminating the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. TPS protections for Afghans ended on July 14, 2025.  Afghan TPS documents and accompanying work permits were revoked on Monday July 14, 2025. TPS holders should have received individual notices of their TPS revocation through their USCIS office. Consult an immigration attorney to understand your legal options. MOIA is monitoring the status of this TPS termination. For real time updates please visit the USCIS website for Afghanistan.


• Cameroon: On June 2, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security issued a notice officially terminating the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroon ended on August 4, 2025. Cameroonian TPS documents and accompanying work permits were revoked on Monday August 4, 2025.  TPS holders should have received individual notices of their TPS revocation through their USCIS office. Consult an immigration attorney to understand your legal options. For real time updates, please visit the USCIS webpage for Cameroon.


• El Salvador: On January 10, 2025, the federal government extended TPS for El Salvador through September 9, 2026. People who already have TPS must have applied to renew between January 17, 2025, and March 18, 2025 and apply to extend their TPS by March 9, 2026, to maintain their status. For real time updates, please visit the USCIS website for El Salvador.


• Ethiopia: A federal judge has issued a temporarily stay to block the Department of Homeland Security announcement of the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia. TPS protections and accompanying work permits will remain until further litigation. MOIA will continue to monitor the status of this TPS designation and any legal challenges. For real time updates, please visit the USCIS webpage for Ethiopia.


• Haiti: On February 2, 2026, a federal judge temporarily blocked the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti. Haitian TPS holders will continue to have their work permits and protections from deportation until further notice. MOIA will monitor future developments as the court case outcome still remains to be determined depending on likely appeals by the federal government. In the meantime, members of our Haitian community can utilize MOIA’s Haitian Response Initiative which provides services such as legal support.


• Honduras: On August 20th a judge issued a decision that allowed the government to end TPS for Honduras. Honduran TPS documents and accompanying work permits have been revoked as of Sunday September 8, 2025. TPS holders may receive individual notices of their TPS status through their USCIS office. For real time updates, please visit the USCIS webpage for Honduras.


• Lebanon: The federal government designated TPS forLebanon starting November 27, 2024. Applicants can register between November 27, 2024 and May 27, 2026. For real time updates, please visit the USCIS webpage for Lebanon.


• Myanmar (Burma): The federal government had previously announced that TPS for Burma would be terminated on January 26, 2026. However, on January 23, 2026, a federal judge in Illinois issued a stop order on the termination of TPS for Burma postponing the end of the designation. For now, Burmese TPS is still valid, but this may change as the case moves in the courts. For real time updates please visit the USCIS webpage for Myanmar.


• Nepal: On August 20th, a judge issued a decision that allowed the government to end TPS for Nepal. The federal government officially ended TPS for Nepal on August 20, 2025. Nepali TPS documents and accompanying work permits have been revoked as of Tuesday August 20, 2025. TPS holders may receive individual notices of their TPS status through their USCIS office. Consult an immigration attorney to understand your legal options. For real time updates, please visit the USCIS webpage for Nepal.


• Nicaragua: On August 20th, a federal judge decided the U.S. government may end TPS for Nicaragua. Nicaraguan TPS documents and accompanying work permits have been revoked as of Sunday, September 8, 2025, TPS holders may receive individual notices of their TPS status through their USCIS office. Consult an immigration attorney to understand your legal options. For real time updates, please visit the USCIS webpage for Nicaragua.


• Somalia: On July 19, 2024, the federal government redesignated TPS for Somalia though March 17, 2026. First-time applicants can apply between July 22, 2024 through March 17, 2026. must have applied to renew between July 22, 2024, and September 20, 2024, in order to maintain their status. For real time updates please visit the USCIS webpage for Somalia.


• Sudan: On January 17, 2025 the federal government extended TPS for Sudan through October 19, 2026. People who already have TPS must have applied to renew between January 17, 2025 and March 18, 2025 in order to maintain their status. For real time updates, please visit the USCIS webpage for Sudan.


• South Sudan: A court has temporarily blocked the federal administration from ending TPS protections for South Sudan. For now, TPS protections for South Sudan will remain valid until further notice. For real time updates please visit the USCIS website for South Sudan.
  TPS Update for South Sudan



• Syria: On September 19, 2025, DHS announced the Termination of Syrian TPS. Syrian TPS holders were going to will lose their TPS protections and accompanying work permits on November 21, 2025. However, on November 19, 2025, a federal court ruled that the Trump Administration must delay its termination of TPS for Syria. For now, Syrian TPS is still valid but this may change as the case moves in the courts. For real time updates please visit the the USCIS webpage for Syria.


• Ukraine: On January 10, 2025, the federal government extended TPS for Ukraine through October 19, 2026. People who already have TPS must have applied to renew by March 18, 2025 in order to maintain their status. For real time updates please visit the USCIS website for Ukraine.


• Venezuela:On October 3rd, the Supreme Court issued court order that announced that if an individual originally applied for TPS under the 2023 designation, their TPS has ended, while also ruling that if an individual originally applied for TPS under the 2021 designation, their TPS is valid through November 7, 2025.
  The ruling also includes some extensions for work permits for both the 2023 and 2021 cohorts. It is important to note the following:
  • If a Venezuelan TPS holder applied to re-register AND received an approval notice or work permit based on TPS between January 17, 2025, and February 5, 2025, their TPS will remain valid until October 2, 2026.
  • If a Venezuelan TPS holder applied to renew their work permit based on TPS AND received a work permit receipt notice with the automatic extension between January 17, 2025, and February 5, 2025, their work permit is extended until April 2, 2026.
  • This ruling does not extend a person's TPS protections, and work authorization alone does not provide protection against deportation or detention. For real time updates please visit the USCIS webpage for Venezuela.


• Yemen: On July 8, 2024, the federal government extended TPS for Yemen through March 3, 2026. First-time applicants can apply between July 10, 2024, through March 3, 2026. People who already have TPS must have applied to renew between July 10, 2024, and September 9, 2024, in order to maintain their status. For real time updates, please visit the USCIS webpage for Yemen.

Frequently Asked Questions