Temporary protected status or TPS is a temporary immigration status that is granted to nationals of certain countries due to so-called extraordinary conditions which prevent them from returning to their countries of origin without risk due to continuous armed conflicts, an environmental catastrophe or other extraordinary conditions.
During the designated period, TPS beneficiaries or those who have been declared eligible during an initial review of their cases:
- They cannot be deported from the United States
- They can get a work permit (EAD)
- They can get a travel permit
Under TPS, a beneficiary cannot be detained because of their immigration status in the United States.
Obtaining TPS does not lead to permanent resident status. When a country TPS designation concludes, beneficiaries revert to the same immigration status they had before TPS or to any other status they might have acquired during TPS enrollment. If an alien had illegal status prior to receiving TPS and did not obtain any status during the time it is in effect, they will revert to illegal status at the time that TPS designation ends.
TPS beneficiary countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Syria.
To find out if you may be eligible for TPS, call IACO at 973-472-4648
More information about TPS, visit the page of the Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS.