The Department of Homeland Security announced the extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from Aug. 4, 2024, through Feb. 3, 2026, with a notice in the Federal Register.
- The extension of TPS for Haiti allows current beneficiaries to re-register to retain TPS through Feb. 3, 2026, if they otherwise continue to meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. Existing TPS beneficiaries who wish to extend their status through Feb. 3, 2026, must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period from July 1, 2024, through Aug. 30, 2024.
- The redesignation of Haiti for TPS allows additional Haitian nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) to file initial applications for TPS if they were continuously residing in the United States on or before June 3, 2024.
DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants who apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) may receive it before their current EAD expires and is automatically extending through Aug. 3, 2025, the validity of certain EADs previously issued under Haiti’s TPS designation. Regardless of the country of birth, the EAD is automatically extended through Aug. 3, 2025, if the EAD is based on TPS Haiti with a Category of A-12 or C-19 and a Card Expires date of:
- Aug. 3, 2024;
- June 30, 2024;
- Feb. 3, 2023;
- Dec. 31, 2022;
- Oct. 4, 2021;
- Jan. 4, 2021;
- Jan. 2, 2020;
- July 22, 2019;
- Jan. 22, 2018; or
- July 22, 2017.
To obtain an EAD valid after Aug. 3, 2025, holders of these EADs must re-register for TPS and file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, following the instructions in the Federal Register notice extending and redesignating Haiti for TPS until Feb. 3, 2026. If USCIS approves the newly filed Form I-765, they will issue an EAD valid through Feb. 3, 2026.
DHS will continue to process pending applications filed under previous TPS designations for Haiti. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, as of July 1, 2024, do not need to file either application again. If DHS approve a pending Form I-821 or Form I-765 filed under the previous designation of TPS for Haiti, they will grant the individual TPS through Feb. 3, 2026, and issue an EAD valid through the same date.
The Federal Register notice explains the procedures necessary for an individual to re-register under the extension or submit an initial application under the redesignation and to apply for an EAD.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
This may be the final time DHS will automatically extend EADs based on TPS Haiti with a Card Expires date of Dec. 31, 2022; Oct. 4, 2021; Jan. 4, 2021; Jan. 2, 2020; July 22, 2019; Jan. 22, 2018; or July 22, 2017. Regardless of such automatic EAD extension, TPS beneficiaries must re-register between July 1, 2024, and Aug. 30, 2024, if they want to keep their TPS and employment authorization.
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.