The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine for 18 months, from October 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent individuals from safely returning. In addition, DHS announced a redesignation of TPS for Ukraine for the same reason, allowing Ukrainian nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine) residing in the United States as of August 16, 2023, to be eligible for TPS.
Accompanying this announcement is a Special Student Relief notice for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Ukraine so the students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain F-1 status through the TPS designation period.
The extension allows approximately 26,000 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through April 19, 2025, if they continue to meet TPS eligibility requirements. An estimated 166,700 additional individuals may be eligible for TPS under the redesignation of Ukraine. This population includes nationals of Ukraine (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Ukraine) in the United States in nonimmigrant status or without lawful immigration status.
Current beneficiaries who wish to extend their temporary protected status must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period from August 21, 2023 through October 20, 2023 to ensure they keep their TPS and employment authorization without a gap. Recognizing that not all re-registrants may receive a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before their current EAD expires, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is automatically extending EADs previously issued through October 19, 2024.
USCIS will continue to process pending applications filed under previous TPS designations for Ukraine. Individuals with a pending I-821 and I-765 applications do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves a pending Form I-821 or Form I-765 filed under the previous designation of TPS for Ukraine, USCIS will grant the individual TPS through April 19, 2025, and issue an EAD valid through the same date.
Initial, first-time applicants for TPS under the redesignation of Ukraine must submit Form I-821 Application for Temporary Protected States, during the initial registration period that runs from August 21, 2023 through April 19, 2025. When filing a TPS application, applicants can also request an EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization, with their Form I-821, or separately later.
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