Sept. 23, 2019: Federal Register Notice for Syria TPS 18-Month Extension Published

Last Updated

September 23, 2019

Key information:

  • Syria received an 18-month extension of its Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, designation from Oct. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2021.
  • To maintain TPS through the 18-month period, Syrian TPS holders will need to re-register during the 60-day re-registration period, which runs from Sept. 23 to Nov. 22, 2019.
  • Current Syrian TPS holders with EADs with a Sept. 30, 2019 expiration date receive an automatic extension of their work authorization for 180 days through March 28, 2020.
  • Syria TPS holders who have EADs with a March 31, 2018, expiration date who applied for a new EAD during the last re-registration period and have not yet received their new card are also covered by this 180-day automatic extension of work authorization, through March 28, 2020.
     

Procedures for re-registration:

  • The 60-day re-registration period for Syrian TPS holders runs from Sept. 23 to Nov. 22, 2019. TPS holders are encouraged to apply as early as possible during the re-registration period.
  • To re-register, current TPS holders who do not have a pending application must submit the TPS application, Form I-821. TPS holders DO NOT need to pay a filing fee with Form I-821.
  • Although TPS holders do not need to pay a filing fee for Form I-821, TPS holders over age 14 must submit a biometrics service fee, which is $85. Individuals unable to pay the biometrics fee may submit a request for a fee waiver, Form I-912. More information on fee waivers can be found here: www.uscis.gov/i-912.
  • Exception to re-registration: Syrian TPS holders who submitted an application during the previous re-registration period whose applications were still pending as of Sept. 23, 2019 (the publication date of the Federal Register Notice), do not need to file again. If the pending TPS application is approved, TPS will be granted through March 31, 2021.
     

Work authorization:

  • For current Syrian TPS holders, EADs with an expiration date of Sept. 30, 2019, are automatically extended for 180 days through March 28, 2020.
  • Additionally, Syrian TPS holders with an EAD with a March 31, 2018, expiration date who applied for an EAD during the last re-registration period but have not yet received it are covered by the 180-day automatic extension of work authorization, through March 28, 2020.
  • Syrian TPS holders who do not have an application pending from the previous re-registration period and who wish to receive work authorization through the entire TPS designation period (through March 31, 2021) must file an Employment Authorization Form, I-765, and pay the $410 fee and the $85 biometrics service fee, or request a fee waiver. More information on fee waivers can be found here: www.uscis.gov/i-912
  • Syrian TPS holders who submitted a TPS application, Form I-821, and work authorization application, Form I-765, still pending as of Sept. 23, 2019 (the publication date of the Federal Register Notice), do not need to file either application again. If the pending applications are approved, the individual will be granted TPS and work authorization through March 31, 2021.
  • Syrian TPS holders who do not have pending applications from the last re-registration period and are seeking work authorization through March 31, 2021, are encouraged to submit Form I-765 when they submit their Form I-821 and biometrics fee as soon as possible during the 60-day re-registration period.
  • Syrian TPS holders may file for work authorization through March 31, 2021, at a later time (after the 60-day re-registration period closes on Nov. 22, 2019), but risk having gaps in employment authorization.
     

 Avoiding legal services fraud:

  • TPS holders should seek qualified legal assistance regarding re-registration and beware of fraud. More information about avoiding legal services scams is available here: cliniclegal.org/notario.