Temporary Protected Status Extended for Salvadorans

The Department of Homeland Security has extended temporary protected status (TPS) for eligible nationals of El Salvador for an additional 18 months, beginning September 10, 2013, and ending March 9, 2015. Current Salvadoran beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that began May 30, 2013, and ends July 29, 2013. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is encouraging beneficiaries to register as soon as possible.

The 18-month extension also allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new employment authorization document (EAD). Eligible Salvadoran TPS beneficiaries who re-register during the registration period will receive a new EAD with an expiration date of March 9, 2015. USCIS recognizes that some re-registrants may not receive their new EADs until after their current EADs expire. Therefore, USCIS is automatically extending current TPS El Salvador EADs bearing a September 9, 2013, expiration date for an additional six months. These existing EADs are now valid through March 9, 2014.

To re-register, current TPS beneficiaries must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. All TPS re-registrants must also submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, but no Form I-765 application fee is required if the re-registrant does not want an EAD. Re-registrants do not need to pay the Form I-821 application fee, but they must submit the biometric services fee, or a fee waiver request, if they are age 14 or older. TPS re-registrants requesting an EAD must submit the I-765 application fee, or a fee waiver request.

TPS applicants may request that USCIS waive any or all the fees by filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or by submitting a personal letter requesting that these fees be waived. Failure to submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee waiver request will result in the rejection of the TPS application, USCIS noted.

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