May 30 2008

USCIS Updates Form for Temporary Protected Status Applicants

USCIS reported this week that it has revised Form I-821, the Application for Temporary Protected Status. The new, revised form will be effective on June 27, 2008. Form I-821 is used by nationals of countries designated with Temporary Protected Status, or TPS. People applying for TPS for the first time and people applying to re-register for TPS use this form. The new form will include additional questions that will help USCIS better determine an applicant’s eligibility for TPS.

Previous editions of Form I-821 will be accepted through June 26, 2008. On and after June 27, only the revised form (with an October 17, 2007 revision date) will be accepted; all other versions of the form will be rejected.

TPS is a temporary immigrant status given to eligible nationals of certain countries who are temporarily unable to safely return to their home country due to either armed conflict, an environmental disaster or another extraordinary, temporary situation. Beneficiaries of this status may stay and work in the U.S. as long as their country of origin remains under TPS.