08/14/2008 USCIS Announces 18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Nationals of Sudan

[Immigration Office]

USCIS Announces 18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Nationals of Sudan


WASHINGTON –U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Sudan through May 2, 2010. The extension will offer those who have already been granted TPS an opportunity to re-register and maintain their status for an additional 18 months. TPS does not apply to Sudanese nationals who entered the United States after Oct. 4, 2007.

USCIS also automatically extended the validity of employment authorization documents (EADs) held by Sudanese nationals in current TPS status from Nov. 2, 2008 to May 2, 2009. This six-month extension will allow sufficient time for eligible TPS beneficiaries to receive their new EADs without a lapse.

The extension of TPS for Sudan is effective Nov. 3 and will remain in effect through May 2, 2010. Nationals of Sudan who have been granted TPS must re-register for the 18-month extension during the 60-day re-registration period from Aug. 14 until Oct. 14, 2008. Sudanese TPS beneficiaries are encouraged to apply as soon as possible following the start of the 60-day period. Applications will not be accepted prior to the opening of the re-registration period.

TPS beneficiaries must submit Form I-821 (Application for Temporary Protected Status) without the application fee and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) in order to re-register for TPS. If the applicant is only seeking to re-register for TPS and not seeking an extension of employment authorization, he or she must submit Form I-765 for data-gathering purposes only, and will not be required to submit the I-765 filing fee. All applicants seeking an extension of employment authorization through May 2, 2010 must submit the required application filing fee with Form I-765. A separate biometric service fee must be submitted by re-registrants, 14-years of age and older.

There are approximately 500 nationals of Sudan (or people having no nationality who last habitually resided in Sudan) who are eligible for re-registration. Applicants may request a fee waiver for any of the application or biometric service fees, in accordance with the regulations. Failure to submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee waiver request will result in the rejection of the re-registration application.

The TPS extension for Sudan and further details on application requirements and procedures under this extension are available in today’s Federal Register, or by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283. TPS forms are available by calling the toll-free USCIS forms line (800-870-3676).