Extension and Re-designation of TPS for Venezuela and Afghanistan Announced 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Sept. 20, 2023, that it will extend and redesignate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18-months. The extension will allow current TPS recipients to re-register and maintain their status beyond the previous designation’s expiration on March 10, 2024. Redesignation will allow newly eligible Venezuelans who were in the United States before July 31, 2023, to seek TPS for the first-time. Additional information on specific eligibility requirements for TPS for Venezuela and instructions for applying will be published in a forthcoming Federal Register Notice.   

On Sept. 21, 2023, DHS also announced the 18-month extension and redesignation of Afghanistan for TPS, from Nov. 21, 2023, to May 20, 2025. The redesignation of Afghanistan will allow Afghans who have continuously resided in the United States since Sept. 20, 2023, to apply for TPS for the first time during the initial registration period. In addition, first time applicants will also need to show that they have been continuously physically present in the United States since Nov. 21, 2023. The corresponding Federal Register notice provides instructions on how to register as a new or current beneficiary. 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to process pending applications filed under the previous TPS designations for Venezuela and Afghanistan. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, as of the date each respective Federal Register notice is published, 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 Venezuela or Afghanistan, USCIS will grant the individual TPS and issue an EAD valid through the extended date. 

Registration Periods Extended for Several Other Countries 

DHS announced on Sept. 8, 2023, that it would extend the 60-day TPS re-registration periods for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan for the full 18-month designation period for each country. The extended registration periods for each country are below: 

• El Salvador: Sept. 10, 2023, through March 9, 2025  
• Haiti: Jan. 26, 2023, through Aug. 3, 2024 
• Honduras: Nov. 6, 2023, through July 5, 2025  
• Nepal: Oct. 24, 2023, through June 24, 2025 
• Nicaragua: Nov. 6, 2023, through July 5, 2025 
• Sudan: Aug. 21, 2023, through April 19, 2025   

Extensions of TPS for South Sudan, Ukraine, and Sudan 

DHS extended TPS for 18-months for the following countries: 

• South Sudan, from Nov. 4, 2023, through May 3, 2025  
• Ukraine, from Oct. 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025 
• Sudan, from Oct. 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025 

The extension allows those who have previously been granted TPS to re-register in order to maintain their status. Since these countries were not redesignated for TPS, first-time applicants are not eligible to register. See the Federal Register Notices linked above for details on eligibility, the applicable re-registration periods, instructions on how to re-register, and information on maintaining employment authorization. 

For additional TPS related resources, including FAQs on TPS eligibility and the application process, visit CLINIC’s TPS resource page.