Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Application Change

A message from United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS):

As of Nov. 29, all applicants eligible to file for TPS under one of the current designations may file Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online. The following countries are currently designated for TPS:

  • Burma (Myanmar)
  • El Salvador
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Nepal
  • Nicaragua
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen

First-time TPS applicants and TPS beneficiaries who are re-registering may apply for TPS online. Applicants can request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) by submitting a completed Form I-765 with their Form I-821, or may submit their Form I-765 separately later. However, filing both forms together may help applicants receive their EAD more promptly.

To file Form I-821 online, eligible TPS applicants should visit our myUSCIS page to log into or create a USCIS online account. This free account offers a variety of features, including the ability to communicate with us about their application through a secure inbox.

Background
Previously, the option to file Form I-821 online was only available to initial TPS applicants from certain countries. Offering online filing for all TPS applicants allows us to continue making the process of applying for immigration benefits more efficient, secure, and convenient for more applicants.

Applicants who file a paper Form I-821, or any other USCIS form, may still create an online account to track the status of their form throughout the adjudication process, even if they did not file the form online. Applicants who file by paper can reference the Account Access Notice that we mailed to them for details on how to link their cases to their online account.

For the most current information related to TPS, visit our TPS page. For more information on the 12 forms available to file online, visit our Forms Available to File Online page.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on TwitterInstagramYouTubeFacebook and LinkedIn.