DHS Announces Redesignation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status

Contributed by Aaron Hall, Partner

Realizing that the ongoing armed conflict in Syria continues to prevent Syrian nationals from safely returning, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Jeh Johnson has redesignated Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and extended the existing TPS designation for the country from April 1, 2015, through Sept. 30, 2016. This allows eligible nationals of Syria (or persons without nationality who last habitually resided in Syria) to register or re-register for TPS in accordance with the notice published today in the Federal Register.

Current Syrian TPS beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during a 60-day period that runs from Jan. 5, 2015, through March 6, 2015. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages beneficiaries to re-register as soon as possible once the 60-day period begins. USCIS will not accept applications before Jan. 5, 2015.

USCIS is automatically extending current TPS Syria EADs with a March 31, 2015, expiration date for an additional six months. These existing EADs are now valid through Sept. 30, 2015.

Those seeking to apply for the first time may be eligible if they have continuously resided in the U.S. since January 5, 2015 and have been physically present in the U.S. since April 1, 2015.

See the Federal Register Notice