On September 5, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an extension and redesignation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months through May 3, 2025 due to, among other things, ongoing armed conflict and humanitarian crises. This means that certain individuals are eligible to apply for TPS in the first instance, and current TPS beneficiaries must re-register their status during the 60-day re-registration period.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also announced, through a Federal Register Notice, that the validity of certain employment authorization documents (EAD or Form I-766) has been extended for one year. EADs showing category code A12 or C19, listing Sudan as the country, and an expiration date of October 19, 2023, have been automatically extended until November 3, 2024.
TPS beneficiaries with an EAD showing category code A12 or C19 can also qualify for the 540 day extension by proffering their EAD and Form I-797C (which shows a Form I-765 was filed in either A12 or C19 category code no later than May 3, 2025).
The Federal Register notice is available here, and more information on EAD extensions for TPS beneficiaries is available here.
Posted: September 5, 2023