On January 31, 2018, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced her determination that the conditions supporting Syria’s TPS designation continue. The secretary made her decision after reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies. Before the 18-month extension ends, the secretary will review conditions in Syria to determine whether its TPS designation should be extended again or terminated.
On March 5, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security published a Federal Register notice regarding the Secretary’s extension of the designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months from April 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. The Federal Register notice sets forth the procedures necessary for nationals of Syria (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Syria) to re-register for TPS and to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for new EADs with a September 30, 2019 expiration date. The USCIS website contains a copy of the Federal Register notice and re-registration information. Current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Syria’s designation who want to maintain their status through September 30, 2019 must re-register between March 5, and May 4, 2018.
The Federal Register notice also states that EADs issued under the TPS designation of Syria with the expiration date of March 31, 2018, are automatically being extended for 180 days, through September 27, 2018 and USCIS has also announced the automatic extension. Individuals previously issued such EADs do not need to apply for a new EAD in order to benefit from this 180-day automatic extension. However, to obtain a new EAD valid through September 30, 2019, an Application for Employment Authorization must be filed.
Individuals with interest in the Syria TPS designation extension and procedures should consult the Federal Register notice and the USCIS website for details.
