Somalians living in the U.S. with Temporary Protected Status must re-register by Friday, Jul. 31 or risk losing their status and work authorization.
Somalians who re-register will get an 18-month extension on their status that runs from Sept. 18, 2015 through March 17, 2017.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a special humanitarian program for nationals of certain countries that are amidst dangerous conditions, such as war and environmental disasters. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may grant TPS to nationals of designated countries, who are already in the U.S.
Who is eligible for Somalia Temporary Protected Status (TPS) ?
If you currently have TPS for Somalia and would like to keep your TPS status, you must re-register before July 31, 2015.
If you have never been granted TPS, you may be eligible to file a late initial application. Go to the “Late Filing” section on the USCIS’s TPS Web page for more information.
How do you re-register for Somalia Temporary Protected Status?
To re-register, you will need to file USCIS Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. You may be able to file these forms online. Depending on your age and whether or not you are requesting to extend your work authorization, filing fees will vary from $0 to $465.
How can I make sure my application is accepted?
The USCIS gives the following advice to ensure your application is accepted.
- Remember to sign your forms.
- Submit the correct fees.
- File Form I-765 with your Form I-821, even if you are not requesting an Employment Authorization Document. Enter your name and address exactly the same way on both forms.
- On Form I-821, do not forget to complete the fields asking for: the type of application; your name; your address (mailing address must be a U.S. address); and your date of birth.
- On Form I-765, do not forget to complete the fields asking for: your name; your address; your date of birth; your eligibility category.