United States expands Syria TPS eligibility through redesignation

Policy effect

DHS redesignated Syria for Temporary Protected Status for October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2015, opening eligibility to additional Syrian nationals and stateless persons who last habitually resided in Syria. Applicants had to have continuously resided in the United States since June 17, 2013 and been continuously physically present since October 1, 2013, and meet the other TPS eligibility requirements. The initial registration window was June 17–December 16, 2013. Initial applications still pending from the original designation were treated under redesignation without a new Form I-821. USCIS could issue appropriate EADs during registration, but could not finally determine continuous physical presence before October 1; eligible applicants could receive EADs through March 31, 2015. Fee waivers remained available. If a fee waiver requested with a timely initial application was denied with fewer than 45 days remaining before the deadline or after it passed, the application could be refiled within 45 days of the denial notice. This record counts the expanded eligibility under redesignation. The same notice’s extension for existing beneficiaries is retained as renewal context, not an additional counted change; existing EADs were not automatically extended.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: DHS redesignated Syria for Temporary Protected Status for October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2015, opening eligibility to additional Syrian nationals and stateless persons who last habitually resided in Syria.; Applicants had to have continuously resided in the United States since June 17, 2013 and been continuously physically present since October 1, 2013, and meet the other TPS eligibility requirements.; USCIS could issue appropriate EADs during registration, but could not finally determine continuous physical presence before October 1; eligible applicants could receive EADs through March 31, 2015.; Fee waivers remained available.; If a fee waiver requested with a timely initial application was denied with fewer than 45 days remaining before the deadline or after it passed, the application could be refiled within 45 days of the denial notice.; This record counts the expanded…

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Federal Register, Volume 78 Issue 116 (Monday, June 17, 2013) [Federal Register Volume 78, Number 116 (Monday, June 17, 2013)] [Notices] [Pages 36223-36229] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2013-14101] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [CIS No. 2535-13; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2013-0001] RIN 1615-ZB22 Extension and Redesignation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Through this Notice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is extending the existing designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2015, and redesignating Syria for TPS for 18 months, effective October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2015. The extension allows currently eligible TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS through March 31, 2015 so long as they otherwise continue to meet the terms and conditions of TPS status. The redesignation of Syria allows additional individuals who have been continuously residing in the United States since June 17, 2013 to obtain TPS, if otherwise eligible. The Secretary has determined that an extension and redesignation are warranted because the extraordinary and temporary conditions in Syria that prompted the 2012 TPS designation have not only persisted, but have deteriorated, and because there is now an on- going armed conflict in Syria that would pose a serious threat to the personal safety of Syrian nationals if they were required to return to their country. Through this Notice, DHS also sets forth procedures necessary for nationals of Syria (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Syria) either to: (1) Re-register under the extension if they already have TPS and to apply for renewal of their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); or (2) submit an initial registration application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD. For individuals who have already been granted TPS under the original Syria designation, the 60-day re-registration period runs from June 17, 2013 through August 16, 2013. USCIS will issue new EADs with a March 31, 2015 expiration date to eligible Syrian TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register [[Page 36224]] and apply for EADs under this extension. Under the redesignation, individuals who currently do not have TPS (or an initial TPS application pending) may submit an initial application during the 180-day initial registration period that runs from June 17, 2013 through December 16, 2013. In addition to demonstrating continuous residence in the United States since June 17, 2013 … other eligibility criteria, initial applicants for TPS under this redesignation must demonstrate that they have been continuously physically present in the United States since October 1, 2013, the effective date of the redesignation of Syria, before USCIS can finally grant them TPS. TPS applications that were filed during the original Syria designation that opened on March 29, 2012, and remain pending on June 17, 2013 will be treated as initial applications under the redesignation. Therefore, individuals who have a pending TPS application will not need to file a new Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821). DHS provides additional instructions in this Notice for individuals whose TPS applications remain pending and who would like to obtain an EAD valid through March 31, 2015. DATES: Extension of Designation of Syria for TPS: The 18-month extension of the TPS designation of Syria is effective October 1, 2013, and will remain in effect through March 31, 2015. The 60-day re- registration period runs from June 17, 2013 through August 16, 2013. Redesignation of Syria for TPS: The redesignation of Syria for TPS is effective October 1, 2013, and will remain in effect through March 31, 2015, a period of 18 months. The 180-day initial registration period for new applicants under the Syria TPS redesignation runs from June 17, 2013 through December 16, 2013. Further Information For further information on TPS, including guidance on the application process and additional information on eligibility, please visit the USCIS TPS Web page at http://www.uscis.gov/tps. You can find specific information about this extension and redesignation of Syria for TPS by selecting ``TPS Designated Country: Syria'' from the menu on the left of the TPS Web page. You can also contact the TPS Operations Program Manager at the Family and Status Branch, Service Center Operations Directorate, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529-2060; or by phone at (202) 272-1533 (this is not a toll-free number). Note: The phone number provided here is solely for questions regarding this TPS Notice. It is not for individual case status inquiries. Applicants seeking information about the status of their individual cases can check Case Status Online, available at the USCIS Web site at http://www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). Service is available in English and Spanish. Further information will also be available at local USCIS offices upon publication of this Notice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Abbreviations BIA--Board of Immigration Appeals DHS--Department of Homeland Security DOS--Department of State EAD--Employment Authorization Document FSA--Free Syrian Army Government--U.S. Government IDP--Internally Displaced Persons IJ--Immigration Judge INA--Immigration and Nationality Act OSC--U.S. Department of Justice, Offi …

Review method

Source-based draft with independent Gemini 3.8 Flash verification

Other United States changes operative in 2013

• 2013-03-04Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers of Inadmissibility for Certain Immediate Relatives
• 2013-05-03South Sudan TPS redesignation expands eligibility
• 2013-05-30Comprehensive EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Adjudications Guidance
• 2013-06-26Extension of Immigration and Naturalization Benefits to Same-Sex Spouses