United States | DHS extends Haiti’s TPS for 18 months

The Department of Homeland Security announced the extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from Aug. 4, 2024, to Feb. 3, 2026.

Key Points:

• Haitian nationals who have been continuously residing in the U.S. since June 3, 2024, and continuously physically present in the U.S. since Aug. 4, 2024, can apply or re-register for TPS.
• The TPS redesignation makes it possible for approximately 309,000 additional Haitian nationals who meet eligibility requirements to file initial TPS applications.
• The validity of certain Employment Authorization Documents previously issued under Haiti’s TPS designation will be automatically extended through Aug. 3, 2025. To obtain an EAD that is valid after Aug. 3, 2025, through Feb. 3, 2026, Haitian nationals must re-register for TPS and file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
• More information about registering for TPS as a new or current beneficiary under Haiti’s extension and redesignation — including eligibility criteria, timelines, procedures and instructions for EAD filings — can be found in the Federal Register notice.

Additional Information: After consultation with interagency partners, DHS determined an 18-month extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS was warranted because of ongoing urgent humanitarian needs and that doing so was not contrary to U.S. national interests. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will continue to process pending applications filed under previous TPS designations for Haiti. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-765 as of July 1, 2024, do not need to refile.

This extension and redesignation does not apply to anyone who was not already in the United States on June 3, 2024, and consequences continue to be enforced on those attempting to cross unlawfully or without authorization into the United States.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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