In order to apply for TPS, you will need to prove three things:

Proof of Nationality

• Passport, birth certificate with photo identification, OR national identity document from an approved country with your photo and/or fingerprint.

Proof of Date of Entry (before the specified date for your country)

• Passport entry stamp, I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, OR other documents that prove your entry to the U.S.

Proof of residence in the U.S. from on or before the specified date for your country up to the time of your application. Proof can include things like:

• Employment records (pay stubs, W-2 forms, IRS tax transcripts, state verification of filing state taxes, letters from your employer, statements from banks with whom you have done business).
• Rent receipts, utility bills (gas, electric, phone, etc.), receipts, or letters from companies showing dates you received service.
• School records (report cards, letters, etc.) from schools you or your children attended in the U.S., showing names of the schools and dates of attendance.
• Hospital or medical records for treatment you or your children received, showing name of the medical facility or physician and the dates of treatment or hospitalization.
• Attestations by churches, unions or other organizations, concerning your residence and identifying you by name.
• Other miscellaneous documents, such as birth certificates of your children born here, dated bank transactions and wire transfers, letters, U.S. Social Security card, driver’s license, Selective Service card, contracts, mortgages, insurance policies, etc.

In order to renew your TPS registration, you will need proof that you had registered and were approved, and are renewing during the re-registration period for your country.

To apply for TPS, you will need to file at least Form I-821. If you would like an employment authorization document (work permit), you will need to also file Form I-765. If you would like to request a fee waiver, you will need to file Form I-912 (or ask for a fee waiver in writing). You might need to file Form I-601, if certain “inadmissibility grounds” apply in your case.

The forms can all be downloaded for free from the USCIS website, but there are filing fees that must be paid, unless the fees are waived.

No. You are ineligible for TPS if:

• You have not continuously resided in the U.S. from the date specified for your country.
• You have been convicted of any felony or 2 or more misdemeanors committed in the United States.
  • If you have ever been arrested, cited or convicted of an offense, you should obtain a Certificate of Disposition for each matter, and you should speak to an immigration law expert before applying for TPS.
• You have been “firmly resettled” in a third country (meaning a country other than your home country or the United States).

If TPS for your country is not extended or redesignated, you will lose your legal right to live and work in the United States, unless you have some other status here. Once TPS ends for your country, your TPS-related work permit will no longer be valid. Depending on your immigration history, you may no longer have any lawful status in the U.S. and may be in danger of being deported.

The government may start removal (deportation) proceedings against you, in Immigration Court. They may also try to reinstate a past Immigration Court removal order against you. You should speak with an experienced immigration attorney if you have a past removal order.

If you have applied for asylum, you are protected from deportation while the application is pending. If it is approved, you would have asylum status and the right to work here. If it is denied, you could be at risk of deportation.

To find out the status of your Immigration Court case, you can call 800-898-7180 and follow the directions, in English or Spanish. Have your Alien Registration Number (A-Number) ready.

You can also check online at acis.eoir.justice.gov Enter your “A number” in the boxes.

If your TPS ends, you will return to the immigration status you had before receiving TPS, unless that status has expired or you successfully acquired a new immigration status. If you entered the U.S without inspection and are not eligible for other immigration benefits, for example, you will return to being undocumented and may be in danger of being deported from the United States.

You may be eligible for other immigration status, such as asylum, a green card through a family member, or something else. Who can qualify for what sort of status varies case by case. We strongly recommend speaking with an experienced immigration attorney to explore your options and get the best guidance for your specific situation.

If you live in New York City, you can call The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 or call 311 and say “Immigration Legal”, between 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, for free immigration legal help. You can also visit their website for more detailed information. Due to high demand and the limited number of immigration attorneys available, you may need to try multiple times to secure an appointment. Keep trying! 

The information in this document has been prepared by The Legal Aid Society for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. You should not act upon any information without retaining professional legal counsel.