On Wednesday, June 24, 2015, the Department of Homeland security designated Nepal for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for a period of 18 months, effective June 24, 2015 through December 24, 2016, based on the conditions resulting from the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, and the subsequent aftershocks. As a result, eligible nationals of Nepal residing in the United States may apply for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”).
The TPS designation means that, during the designated period, eligible nationals of Nepal (and people without nationality who last habitually resided in Nepal) will not be removed from the United States, and may receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to allow them to work. The 180-day TPS registration period begins June 24, 2015 and runs through December 21, 2015.
To be eligible for TPS, applicants must demonstrate that they satisfy all eligibility criteria, including that they have been both “continuously physically present” and “continuously residing” in the United States since June 24, 2015. Applicants must also undergo thorough security checks.
In addition to the announcement of initial TPS for citizens of Nepal, the Department of Homeland Security also announced an extension of the initial registration deadline for citizens of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone (and people without nationality who last habitually resided in one of those three countries). TPS applications will now be accepted through August 18, 2015.
We strongly encourage eligible TPS applicants from these countries to apply as soon as possible because applications will only be accepted for a limited time. Please contact any member of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP’s immigration team for assistance in applying for TPS.
For more information, please contact Mechelle Zarou at 419.321.1460 or mzarou@slk-law.com.