Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in District of Columbia in DC — Immigration Legal Guide | CGMIMM

## Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in District of Columbia **Temporary Protected Status (TPS)** is a federal immigration status granted to nationals of designated countries facing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions. District of Columbia TPS recipients receive temporary protection + work authorization. ## Designated countries **Currently designated (subject to change):** - El Salvador - Haiti - Honduras - Nicaragua - Somalia - South Sudan - Sudan - Syria - Yemen - Venezuela - Burma (Myanmar) - Ukraine - Cameroon - Ethiopia - Lebanon - Specific to current designations **Always check current designations** — DHS adjusts periodically. ## Eligibility **To qualify:** **Country of origin:** - Currently designated TPS country - Specific designation period - Specific to country **Continuous physical presence:** - Continuously in US since specific date - Specific to country designation - Brief, casual, innocent absences OK - Specific to circumstances **Continuous residence:** - Continuously residing in US since specific date - Specific to country - Specific to circumstances **Filed within registration period:** - Specific to country designation - Specific re-registration periods - Late initial filing rules - Specific procedures **No disqualifying convictions:** - No felonies - No 2+ misdemeanors - No security threats - Specific to circumstances ## What TPS provides **Benefits:** **Protection from removal:** - Cannot be deported during designation - Specific to status - Continuing during designation **Employment authorization:** - EAD card - Specific to TPS - Renewable - Standard work authorization **Travel:** - Advance parole sometimes - Specific procedures - Re-entry permitted - Specific to circumstances **Driver's license:** - Most states allow - Specific to ${s.name} - Specific procedures - TPS recipients eligible **Some federal benefits:** - Limited - Specific to programs - Specific eligibility - Specific exceptions ## Limitations of TPS **Not a path to permanent status:** - Temporary by definition - Cannot apply to green card through TPS alone - Specific limitations - Continuing political uncertainty **Sanchez v. Mayorkas (2021):** - TPS doesn't satisfy lawful entry requirement - Major Supreme Court ruling - Limits adjustment of status - Significant impact **Travel risk:** - Pre-2021 TPS travel could create lawful entry - Post-Sanchez complications - Specific to circumstances - Strategic considerations ## Application process **Initial application:** **1. Form I-821 + I-765:** - TPS application - Work authorization application - Filed together - Specific fees **2. Documentation:** - Identity (passport, etc.) - Nationality (birth certificate, etc.) - Continuous presence (records) - Continuous residence (records) - Specific to country **3. Biometrics:** - Fingerprints - Photograph - Background check - Specific procedures **4. USCIS review:** - 6-12 months typical - Sometimes faster (administrative) - RFEs possible - Specific to case **5. Approval / denial:** - Specific decision - Specific to circumstances - Appeal options limited **Re-registration:** - Periodic (varies) - Specific to designation - Specific procedures - EAD renewal - Continuing eligibility ## Costs **Filing fees (2025):** - I-821 (initial): $50 - I-821 (re-registration): $0 fee but biometrics fee - I-765 (employment authorization): $470 - Biometrics: $85 - Total typical: $500-$600 per cycle **Attorney fees:** - $500-$2,000 typical for application - Specific to complexity - Specific to ${s.name} - Some pro bono available **Re-registration:** - Lower costs typically - Specific to circumstances - Specific procedures ## Country-specific considerations **Major TPS country issues:** **Haiti:** - Significant TPS population - Continuing crisis - Specific designation - Specific procedures **El Salvador:** - Largest TPS population - Periodic threats to terminate - Specific litigation history - Continuing protection **Venezuela:** - Recent designation - Specific procedures - Specific to circumstances - Continuing crisis **Ukraine:** - Recent designation - Specific procedures - Specific to crisis - Recent expansions **Other countries:** - Specific to designation - Specific procedures - Specific to circumstances - Always check current ## Termination + extension **DHS authority:** - Designate / extend / terminate - Specific procedures - 18-month maximum periods - Discretionary - Subject to legal challenges **Termination process:** - 60-day notice typically - Specific procedures - Wind-down period - Specific to circumstances **Litigation:** - TPS holders + advocates often sue - Specific to terminations - Specific litigation history - Sometimes successful ## Long-term path **Limited options:** **Marriage to USC:** - May provide path - Specific to circumstances - Specific to entry / status - Strategic considerations **Asylum:** - 1-year filing deadline (with exceptions) - Specific to country conditions - See asylum guide - Specific eligibility **Cancellation of removal:** - 10-year continuous presence - Specific requirements - See cancellation guide **Employment-based:** - Specific limitations - Specific employer sponsorship - Specific to circumstances **Family-based (other paths):** - Specific to circumstances - Specific procedures - Specific complications ## Strategic considerations **For TPS holders:** **Maintain status:** - Re-register on time - Maintain documentation - Specific to country - Continuing eligibility **Plan for future:** - Look for permanent path - Specific to family situation - Specific to employment - Strategic considerations **Don't travel without advance parole:** - Specific procedures - Specific to current law - Strategic considerations - Specific risks **Document everything:** - Continuous presence - Continuous residence - All records - Specific to renewals ## ${s.name} state benefits **State-level benefits:** - Driver's license access - Specific to ${s.name} - Some state benefits - Specific procedures **Sanctuary cities / states:** - Limited cooperation with ICE - Specific to ${s.name} - Specific to local jurisdictions - Specific procedures ## Common issues **Documentation problems:** - Specific to country - Specific to crisis - Original documents difficult - Specific to circumstances **Continuous presence proof:** - Records sometimes hard - Specific to country of origin - Specific to evidence - Witness affidavits sometimes **Late initial registration:** - Limited circumstances - Specific procedures - Specific to circumstances - Specific exceptions **Out-of-status periods:** - Specific impacts - Specific to circumstances - Specific to procedures - Strategic considerations ## Resources **Free legal help:** - AILA pro bono program - Catholic Charities - Lutheran Immigration - ${s.name}-specific organizations - Country-specific programs - University clinics **Specific to country:** - Country-specific organizations - Specific consulates - Specific to circumstances - Specific resources ## What you should do If you're TPS-eligible in District of Columbia: apply during registration period, hire immigration attorney if possible (or use free legal help). Maintain status meticulously. Plan long-term path strategically. Many District of Columbia immigration attorneys handle TPS. Don't travel without advance parole. Specific to country designations. --- *This guide is general information about US federal immigration law as of mid-2026 and is not legal advice. TPS is technical + politically sensitive. Talk to a licensed immigration attorney about your specific situation.*