USCIS has issued revised guidance for beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from Somalia and Syria, updating employment authorization instructions for employers and TPS holders. The new announcements supersede guidance released on July 17, 2026, and reflect ongoing litigation surrounding the termination of TPS designations and related work authorization benefits.
These updates follow a series of recent court-ordered extensions affecting multiple TPS-designated countries. As EIG previously reported, USCIS has been issuing short-term employment authorization extensions while federal courts continue to consider the impact of the Supreme Court’s June 2026 decision in Mullin v. Doe.
Somalia TPS: EAD Validity Extended Through July 29, 2026
USCIS announced that Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under Somalia’s TPS designation remain valid pursuant to a federal court order.
Covered EAD Expiration Dates
The court-ordered extension applies to Somalia TPS EADs bearing original expiration dates of:
- March 17, 2023
- September 17, 2024
- March 17, 2026
Updated Form I-9 and E-Verify Guidance
For employers completing Form I-9:
- Employees should enter “as per court order” in Section 1.
- Employers should enter July 29, 2026 in Section 2.
- Employers should include an explanatory note in the Additional Information section.
For E-Verify purposes, employers should use July 29, 2026 as the employment authorization expiration date.
Syria TPS: EAD Validity Extended Through July 27, 2026
USCIS also released updated guidance for TPS beneficiaries from Syria.
Covered EAD Expiration Dates
The automatic extension applies to Syria TPS EADs with original expiration dates of:
- March 31, 2021
- September 30, 2022
- March 31, 2024
- September 30, 2025
Updated Form I-9 and E-Verify Guidance
USCIS instructs employers to:
- Enter “as per court order” in Section 1 of Form I-9.
- Enter July 27, 2026 as the expiration date in Section 2.
- Record an explanation in the Additional Information field.
For E-Verify cases, employers should use July 27, 2026 as the employment authorization expiration date.
Erickson Insights and Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.