Attention Hondurans and Nicaraguans who are in the Temporary Protected Status program!
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today pre-announced the extension of TPS for its countries.
Persons from Honduras and Nicaragua will be able to remain under the protection of the program for another 18 months, from July 6, 2016 to January 5, 2018. The government reaffirmed that it will automatically extend the validity of work permits under TPS that expire on July 5, 2016 until January 5, 2017.
The re-enrollment period begins on Monday, May 16 and ends on Friday, July 15, 2016.
Hondurans and Nicaraguans currently enrolled in TPS must re-enroll in the program to continue under its protection.
It is estimated that there are approximately 57,000 Hondurans and 2,550 Nicaraguans currently protected under TPS who may be eligible for TPS re-registration.
DHS will publish an official notice on Monday, May 16, in the Federal Register for each country and will provide instructions on the re-registration process. You can read a copy of the notice that will be published on Monday. for Honduras here and for Nicaragua here.
Hondurans and Nicaraguans never before registered for TPS may be eligible for late registration if they meet certain requirements.
Please consult with an immigration attorney to evaluate your immigration status as soon as possible.
TPS is a temporary immigration status. It is granted to people who cannot return to their home countries because their lives would be in danger due to an ongoing armed conflict, environmental catastrophe, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions.
People with TPS can live and work legally in the United States. But the program does not lead to permanent residency. If the government ever eliminates TPS for one of the countries currently under its protection, beneficiaries revert to the same immigration status they had before. In other words, if they were undocumented before TPS, they will become undocumented again.
It is very important that anyone who is registered for TPS consult with an immigration attorney to see if they have any other avenues to obtain permanent residency in the United States.
