On June 28, 2024 the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that Haiti’s designation as a country covered under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be extended for an additional 18 months from its scheduled end date. The new end date is February 3, 2026. Current TPS beneficiaries from Haiti will be able to retain their special status through February 3, 2026, so long as they re-register between July 1, 2024 through August 30, 2024.
In addition, TPS re-registrants who have submitted their re-registration will have their work permits extended through August 3, 2025.
The 18-month extension of TPS for Haiti is due to ongoing conditions in Haiti that involve flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters that have overlapped with continuous widespread food insecurity and problems with violence.
What does the TPS redesignation mean?
This redesignation will permit an additional 309,000 Haitian nationals (and those without nationality who last resided in Haiti) to obtain Temporary Protected Status.This redesignation will expand eligibility to those that were not previously eligible so long as they established residence in the U.S. before June 3, 2024.
Individuals who have never had TPS can now register during the initial registration period that runs from July 1, 2024 through February 3, 2026.
What are the benefits of TPS?
The benefits of Temporary Protected Status are manifold. They include:
- Protection from deportation: TPS holders cannot be detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and slated for removal proceedings solely based on their immigration status.
- Work authorizations: TPS holders can apply for and receive Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and travel authorizations. Under the extension, new TPS applicants will be able to re-apply for new work permissions, and their current EADs will be extended through Aug. 3, 2025, while they wait.
- Travel authorizations: TPS holders can obtain travel authorizations that will permit them to travel abroad in a limited fashion and still lawfully return to the United States.
It is important to remember, however, that TPS does not create a direct path to lawful permanent residency or U.S. citizenship. Immigrants who hope to permanently remain in this country need experienced legal guidance to help them adjust their status. Temporary Protected Status is just one of the many humanitarian relief avenues that are broadly available for immigrants in need. Learning more about your options can help you carve a successful path forward.