U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that Salvadoran nationals who want to maintain their status through the effective termination date of Sept. 9, 2019, must re-register between Jan. 18, 2018 and March 19, 2018.

Key points:

  • The Trump administration decided earlier this month to end TPS for El Salvador but will permit the roughly 260,000 Salvadorans with TPS status to remain in the country until Sept. 9, 2019.
  • Salvadoran nationals who want to extend their TPS status until Sept. 9, 2019 must re-register for TPS using Form I-821 and must apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) using Form I-765 within the two-month period between Jan. 18, 2018 and March 19, 2018.
  • Given the short processing time frames and the fact that many Salvadoran nationals with TPS have EADs that are due to expire on March 9, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security will automatically extend the validity of EADs issued under the TPS designation of El Salvador for 180 days, through Sept. 5, 2018.
  • New EADs with a Sept. 9, 2019 expiration date will only be issued to eligible Salvadoran TPS beneficiaries who complete the re-registration process on time.

BAL Analysis: Salvadoran nationals who wish to extend their TPS status must re-register before March 19, 2018. TPS status for Salvadorans is due to expire Sept. 9, 2019, and DHS has advised Salvadorans with TPS to prepare for their departure from the U.S. or apply for other types of visas between now and that time.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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