DHS EXTENDS AND REDESIGNATES TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR SUDAN AND UKRAINE

On August 18, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for both Sudan and Ukraine for 18 months, from October 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025. Additionally, DHS announced a redesignation of TPS for both countries, allowing Sudanese and Ukranian nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in either country) residing in the United States as of August 16, 2023, to be eligible for TPS. Redesignation enables additional eligible Sudanese and Ukranian nationals to apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). Accompanying this announcement is a Special Student Relief notice for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Ukraine or Sudan so the students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain F-1 status through the TPS designation period. SUDAN: The extension allows approximately 1,200 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through April 19, 2025, if they continue to meet TPS eligibility requirements. An estimated 2,750 additional individuals may be eligible for TPS under the redesignation of Sudan. This population includes nationals of Sudan (and individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in Sudan) in the United States in nonimmigrant status or without lawful immigration status. UKRAINE: The extension allows approximately 26,000 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through April 19, 2025, if they continue to meet TPS eligibility requirements. An estimated 166,700 additional individuals may be eligible for TPS under the redesignation of Ukraine. This population includes nationals of Ukraine (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Ukraine) in the United States in nonimmigrant status or without lawful immigration status. Current beneficiaries from either country who wish to extend their temporary protected status must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period from August 21, 2023, through October 20, 2023, to ensure they keep their TPS and employment authorization without a gap. Recognizing that not all re-registrants may receive a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before their current EAD expires, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is automatically extending EADs previously issued through October 19, 2024. USCIS will continue to process pending applications filed under previous TPS designations for Sudan. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves a pending Form I-821 or Form I-765 filed under the previous designation of TPS for Sudan, USCIS will grant the individual TPS through April 19, 2025, and issue an EAD valid through the same date. Initial, first-time applicants for TPS under the redesignation of Sudan must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the initial registration period that runs from August 21, 2023, through April 19, 2025. Applicants may file Form I-821 online. When filing a TPS application, applicants can also request an EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with their Form I-821, or separately at a later date. Applicants may also submit Form I-765 online. View USCIS news release for Sudan here. View USCIS news release for Ukraine here. If you or your company wants experienced immigration counsel, schedule a consultation today with one of our immigration attorneys at this link. Source Source