Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Somalia from the current expiration of March 17, 2011, through the new expiration date of Sept. 17, 2012. During the past year, DHS and the Department of State have reviewed the conditions in Somalia. Based on this review, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has determined that an 18-month extension is necessary because conditions that prompted the 2001 TPS re-designation of Somalia continue, and the return of individuals with TPS to Somalia would pose a serious threat to their personal safety.
Under the extension, individuals who have been granted TPS are eligible to re-register and maintain their status for an additional 18 months. There are approximately 300 nationals of Somalia (and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) who may be eligible for re-registration. TPS does not apply to Somali nationals who first entered the United States after Sept. 4, 2001.
To maintain TPS status, Somali TPS beneficiaries must re-register during the re-registration period from Nov. 2, 2010, until Jan. 3, 2011. It is important to re-register as soon as the re-registration period opens to allow sufficient time for USCIS to complete all the routine background checks and application processing. USCIS will not accept applications from Somali TPS beneficiaries before Nov. 2, 2010.
USCIS will issue a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to eligible TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for EADs.
TPS beneficiaries must submit an Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) to re-register. Applicants seeking an extension of employment authorization must file an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) with the required fee. If an individual does not want employment authorization, the applicant must still file Form I-765 for data-gathering purposes; the filing fee is not required. Re-registrants age 14 and older must submit the biometric fee. Applicants who are able to demonstrate an inability to pay may request a fee waiver for the application, biometric service fees or both. Failure to submit the required application and biometric fees or a properly documented fee waiver request will result in the rejection of the re-registration application. For information on fee waivers, visit the Fee Waiver Guidance Web page at www.uscis.gov.
Further details on the extension of TPS for Somalia, including the application requirements and procedures, are available at www.uscis.gov and in the Federal Register Notice. TPS forms are available online or by calling the toll-free USCIS Forms line, 800-870-3676. For additional information, applicants may also contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center toll-free number, 800-375-5283.
USA: 18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Somalia
Published: November 3, 2010
