18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan (USCIS Update)

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Sudan from the current expiration of May 2, 2010 to the new expiration date of Nov. 2, 2011.  During the past year, DHS and the Department of State have reviewed the conditions in Sudan.  Based on this review, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has determined that an 18-month extension is warranted because the armed conflict is ongoing and the extraordinary and temporary conditions that prompted the last TPS designation of Sudan on Oct. 7, 2004 persist. 

Under the extension, individuals who have been granted TPS are eligible to re-register and maintain their status for an additional 18 months. There are approximately 700 nationals of Sudan and individuals who have no nationality who last resided in Sudan who may be eligible for re-registration. TPS does not apply to Sudanese nationals who entered the United States after Oct. 7, 2004.

Sudanese TPS beneficiaries are strongly encouraged to apply during the re-registration period from Dec. 31, 2009 until Mar. 1, 2010.  It is important to apply as soon as the re-registration period opens to allow sufficient time for USCIS to complete all routine security checks and further application processing.   Applications from Sudanese TPS beneficiaries will not be accepted prior to the opening of the re-registration period.

TPS beneficiaries must submit a Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, to re-register. Applicants seeking an extension of employment authorization through Nov. 2, 2011 must file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the required fee.  If he or she is only seeking to re-register for TPS, the applicant must still file Form I-765 for data-gathering purposes only and a filing fee is not required. Re-registrants ages 14 and older must submit the biometric service fee. Applicants, who are able to demonstrate an inability to pay, may request a fee waiver for the application or biometric service fees. Failure to submit the required application and biometric fees or a properly documented fee waiver request will result in the rejection of the re-registration application. For information on fee waivers visit the Fee Waiver Guidance Web page, see link to the right.

Further details on the extension of TPS for Sudan, including the application requirements and procedures, are available at www.uscis.gov and in the Federal Register. TPS forms are available online. For additional information applicants may also contact the USCIS Contact Center at (800) 375-5283.