What's New

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas extended and redesignated Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from March 18, 2023, through Sept. 17, 2024.  

This announcement provides information about documentation and the SAVE verification process for individuals paroled into the United States under the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, which permits nationals of these countries and their immediate family members to be paroled on a case-by-case basis for up to two years.

On Jan. 30, USCIS announced new designs for tamper-resistant Form I-551, Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards), and Form I-766, Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). USCIS began issuing the redesigned cards on Jan. 30, 2023. Some Permanent Resident Cards and EADs issued after Jan. 30, 2023, may still display the previous design format. The introduction of new card designs does not mean that previously issued cards are invalid. Cards remain valid until their expiration date (unless otherwise noted, such as through an automatic extension of the validity period of the Permanent Resident Card or EAD as indicated on a Form I-797, Notice of Action, or in a Federal Register notice). Also, some older Permanent Resident Cards do not have an expiration date. These older Permanent Resident Cards without an expiration date remain valid.

On Jan. 26, 2023, President Biden issued a memorandum extending and expanding eligibility for Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Hong Kong residents. The president also directed the secretary of homeland security to provide certain Hong Kong residents continued work authorization through Feb. 5, 2025. For this reason, certain Hong Kong residents are employment authorized incident to DED. In addition, USCIS has automatically extended through Feb. 5, 2025, DED-related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) with a Card Expires date of Feb. 5, 2023.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas extended and redesignated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for 18 months, from Feb. 4, 2023, through Aug. 3, 2024.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas extended and redesignated Yemen for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen for 18 months, from March 3, 2023, through Sept. 3, 2024.  

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas has designated Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, effective Dec. 12, 2022, through June 12, 2024. Ethiopian nationals and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ethiopia may submit an initial registration application under the designation of Ethiopia for TPS and apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) during the 18-month registration period that begins Dec. 12, 2022, and ends June 12, 2024.

USCIS recently announced that, effective Nov. 21, 2022, certain Ukrainian and Afghan parolees are employment authorized incident to their parole. This means that they do not need a Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document, to be employment authorized.