CONGRESSMAN SERRANO, SENATOR SCHUMER WELCOME EXTENSION OF TPS REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM EBOLA-AFFECTED NATIONS
Rep. Serrano, Sen. Schumer Advocated for this Extension in a Letter sent to the Secretary of Homeland Jeh Johnson
Congressman José E. Serrano applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security’s decision to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
registration deadline for eligible individuals from Guinea, Liberia, and
Sierra Leone – the three ebola-affected nations.
In a letter sent in May this year, Congressman Serrano and Senator Schumer,
along with 9 other Members of the New York delegation, urged Secretary
Jeh Johnson to extend the May 20, 2015 deadline to ensure everyone eligible
was able to apply and take advantage of the policy. Members of the community
had expressed concerns over the DHS’s lack of outreach to let people
know about their eligibility and the still fragile situation in the region.
With this announcement, the deadline has been extended from May 20, 2015,
to Aug. 18, 2015.
“This is great news for the people from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone currently living in New York City and the rest of the United States
who were not able to learn about and submit their applications for Temporary
Protected Status previously. TPS is an important humanitarian tool, and
this announcement will help provide relief for many individuals from ebola-affected
nations who won’t be forced to return to a still fragile region.
I am glad Secretary Johnson has heeded our call and extended the deadline,
so that more people can take advantage of it. For those who qualify, make
sure to submit your application byAugust 18,” said Congressman Serrano.
“It’s good news that the TPS registration period was extended
for ebola-wracked countries like Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. This
critical extension will ensure that no one falls through the cracks while
these countries are getting back on their feet following the ebola outbreak,”
said Senator Schumer.
More information on eligibility, how to register and costs of applying for the program from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announcement:
Eligibility
To be eligible for TPS, you must demonstrate that you meet all eligibility criteria, including that you have been “continuously residing” in the United States since Nov. 20, 2014, and “continuously physically present” in the United States since Nov. 21, 2014. You must also undergo thorough security checks. Individuals with certain criminal records or who pose a threat to national security are not eligible for TPS.
Additionally, you may apply for TPS even if you are a Liberian national currently covered under the two-year extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) based on President Obama’s Sept. 26, 2014 memorandum. If you are a DED-covered Liberian national and you have an EAD or have applied for an EAD, you do not need to apply for another EAD related to this TPS designation. However, if you are granted TPS, you may request a TPS-related EAD at a later date as long as the TPS designation for Liberia remains in effect.
Registering
To register, you must submit:
- Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status.
- The Form I-821 application fee (or a fee-waiver request).
- The biometrics services fee (or a fee-waiver request) if you are 14 years old or older.
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, regardless of whether you want an EAD.
- The Form I-765 application fee (or a fee-waiver request), but only if you want an EAD. If you do not want an EAD, no application fee is required. There is no Form I-765 fee for initial applicants under the age of 14, or 66 and over; these applicants may receive their initial EAD cards for free.
Fees and Fee Waivers
If you cannot pay the fee, you may request that we waive the Form I-821 application fee, Form I-765 application fee and biometrics services fee. However, you must file Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or submit a written request. You must also send in supporting documentation with your fee-waiver request. We will reject your TPS application if you do not submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee-waiver request.
Additional information about TPS for Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone – including guidance on eligibility, the application process and where to file – is available at uscis.gov/tps.