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Pathway

U.S. Temporary Protected Status

United States Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may let eligible people from a designated country stay and work temporarily in the United States. It is for people already in the U.S. by the dates set for that country. Some people without citizenship who last regularly lived there can also qualify.

Location
People already in the United States
Requirements
A currently designated country, the required US presence dates, timely registration or an exception, and standard eligibility checks
Limits
Temporary Protected Status does not create permanent residence, erase past violations, or guarantee a later green card.

Summary

TPS is a temporary protection route for people from countries the United States has designated because of conditions such as armed conflict, disaster, or other extraordinary circumstances. Designations and deadlines change, so current country-specific rules matter.

Country coverage and deadlines can change quickly, including because of court decisions. Start with the USCIS TPS page, then check the current page and official notice for your country.

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Eligibility

An applicant generally must:

Two misdemeanors or one felony in the United States generally disqualify a person. Some reasons for refusing immigration permission allow an exception; others do not.

Use the current dates for your country
  1. Check the country's current coverage Read its immigration agency page, alerts, and notices about court cases.
  2. Document residence and time in the U.S. Check both timelines against the dates required for that country.
  3. Check filing rules and eligibility Confirm the registration period and any reasons the person could be disqualified.

TPS is temporary and depends on current rules. Another country's dates do not apply to your case.

What This Route Allows

While TPS is valid, a person with TPS generally cannot be removed based solely on immigration status, is authorized to work, and may request an employment-authorization document. A person with TPS may request travel authorization, but approval is decided case by case and travel can have other immigration consequences.

TPS can coexist with another immigration status or application if the person independently qualifies.

What This Route Is Not

TPS does not itself create lawful permanent residence, erase unlawful presence or other violations, or guarantee a later green card. When a designation ends, the person returns to the status held before TPS, if that status remains valid, or to another immigration status legally obtained while holding TPS.

An automatically extended employment-authorization document can have a different end date from the designation. Do not infer current work authorization from the card's printed date alone; check the country notice and USCIS automatic-extension guidance.

Next Steps

  1. Open the current USCIS page for the specific country and read its alerts, dates, registration rules, and litigation notices.
  2. Save evidence of nationality, entry, continuous residence, and continuous physical presence.
  3. Get certified records showing the outcome of every arrest or charge, including cases that were dismissed.
  4. Use the current Form I-821 and Form I-765 instructions and fee rules.
  5. Before travel, or when a designation is ending, review other status or relief options with a qualified immigration lawyer.

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Sources