On Monday, July 19, 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. This extension and redesignation will be in effect from Sept. 18, 2021, through March 17, 2023.
What is the Impact?
- The extension of Somalia for TPS allows approximately 447 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through March 17, 2023, as long as they meet TPS eligibility requirements.
- The re-designation of TPS for Somalia allows an estimated 100 additional Somalian nationals (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) who have been continuously residing in the United States since July 19, 2021, to file initial applications to obtain TPS, if they are otherwise eligible.
- Current beneficiaries re-registering under the extension of TPS for Somalia should re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day registration period.
- Under the re-designation of Somalia, eligible individuals who do not have TPS may submit an initial Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the initial registration period that will run from the publication date of the Federal Register notice, through the full length of the re-designation period ending March 17, 2023. Applicants are also eligible to apply for TPS-related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and for travel authorization.
A Federal Register notice explaining the procedures necessary to re-register or submit an initial registration application and apply for an EAD will be published shortly.
Background
Currently, the following countries are designated for TPS: Burma (Myanmar), El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen.