DHS Announces 18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
For Nationals of Somalia
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Somalia until March 17, 2008. Under this extension, those who already have TPS are eligible to live and work in the United States for an additional 18 months while maintaining their status. DHS also automatically extended the validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for eligible Somalis an additional six months until March 17, 2007. There are approximately 250 nationals of Somalia (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) who may be eligible for re-registration.
The extension of SomaliaÂ’s TPS designation is effective September 17, 2006, and will remain in effect until March 17, 2008. Current nationals of Somalia with TPS must re-register for the 18-month extension during the 60-day re-registration period, which begins on July 27, 2006 and will remain in effect until September 25, 2006. Individuals are encouraged to re-register as soon as possible following the start of the 60-day re-registration period.
To re-register for TPS under the extension, a TPS beneficiary must submit Form I-821 (Application for Temporary Protected Status) without the filing fee and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization). 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 but is not required to submit the I-765 filing fee. All applicants seeking an extension of employment authorization until March 17, 2008 must submit a $180 filing fee with Form I-765. The $70 biometrics fee must be submitted by all re-registrants age 14 and older, as well as re-registrants under age 14 who are requesting an EAD. Applicants may request a fee waiver in accordance with the regulations. The biometric fees, however, cannot be waived. Failure to submit the required filing fees will result in the rejection of the re-registration application.
More information is available from the USCIS National Customer Service Center toll-free at 800-375-5283. TPS forms are available from the USCIS Forms line at 800-870-3676, or from the USCIS Web site at www.uscis.gov.
– USCIS –
On March 1, 2003, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services became one of three legacy INS components to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. USCIS is charged with fundamentally transforming and improving the delivery of immigration and citizenship services,
while enhancing our nation's security.
