TPS Registration Period Extended for Venezuela, Burma, and Syria

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it is extending the registration period for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people from Burma, Syria, and Venezuela. This will extend the original 180-day registration period to 18 months, giving people from these countries three times as long to begin the process of seeking TPS protections. However, anyone who does want these protections should not wait long, just in case they miss out on their opportunity to obtain Temporary Protected Status.

What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

TPS is a program created to protect immigrants from countries that are currently undergoing some kind of serious problems that make it dangerous to return to their country of origin. When a country has been designated as being eligible for Temporary Protected Status, it allows certain eligible residents to obtain legal immigration status, which allows them to legally live and work in the United States. Common reasons for granting TPS status include armed conflict, civil unrest, and natural disasters, among others.

Why Were These Countries Granted TPS?

Each of the three countries were considered eligible for TPS for a variety of reasons.

• Burma is in the midst of ongoing civil unrest as a result of a military coup that overthrew the civilian government in February. Prior to that, the country was already destabilized due to systemic oppression and displacement of the Rohingya, a minority Muslim group.
• Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, leading to an ongoing humanitarian crisis. As a result, people have fled the country, seeking safety from both the oppressive government and anti-government militant groups.
• Venezuela has been in an ongoing state of crisis since 2010, due to government corruption and severe economic problems. Its people have suffered from poverty, starvation, and a collapse of public infrastructure, leading to mass emigration.

What Does Extending the Registration Period for TPS Mean?

Normally, in order for someone to benefit from TPS protection, they must submit an application within a 180 day period of their country being designated as eligible for TPS. Anyone who misses this deadline may face additional difficulties getting the benefits of TPS, and is significantly more likely to be denied. However, this extension gives immigrants from Burma, Venezuela and Syria a much greater opportunity to seek legal immigration status through the TPS program. Anyone from these countries who wants to obtain TPS benefits should still act as soon as possible to begin benefitting from TPS much sooner.

For more than forty years, the Drucker Law Firm has been providing personal and quality legal services to individuals, universities, and corporations throughout the New York City and Tri-State area. We have represented three generations of clients in immigration and nationality matters, as well as personal injury, family law, criminal law, and general litigation matters. If you have a legal issue related to immigration law, please give us a call at (718) 458-1489 to schedule a consultation or visit our contact page.