Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: South Sudan

Special Filing Instructions

TPS Sudan Beneficiaries Who Are Now Applying for TPS Under South Sudan

If you are a current Sudan TPS beneficiary, but are now filing under South Sudan TPS because you are now a national of South Sudan, you:

• Do not need to pay the TPS application fee (Form I-821)
• Do need to pay the $85 biometrics services fee if you are age 14 or older
• Must pay the $380 EAD fee, if you want an EAD

 Additional information if you have a an initial pending Sudan TPS Application

When to File for TPS

In order for you to maintain TPS status, you must re-register during the 180-day re-registration period that runs from October 13, 2011 through April 10, 2012. We encourage you to register as soon as possible after the 180-day re-registration period opens. 

 Where to File 

Automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Extension

If you requested an EAD with your prior TPS Sudan application and you have received that EAD, you need to pay the $380 EAD fee if you want a new EAD under the South Sudan designation.

If you have a pending Form I-765 requesting an EAD under Sudan TPS and you are now registering under South Sudan TPS, you do not have to pay the $380 EAD fee again, provided that USCIS has not sent you the EAD yet. You must submit:

• the Form I-765 with the Form I-821, but do not check any of the boxes at the top of the Form I-765
• a letter explaining that you have a pending Form I-765 under Sudan TPS

USCIS will then automatically put the pending Form I-765 with the Form I-821 you submit for South Sudan TPS together.

USCIS has automatically extended the validity of EADs issued under the last extension of TPS Sudan for an additional 6 months, through May 2, 2012. If you have a valid TPS Sudan EAD, you are covered by this automatic extension and may continue to work.

To continue to work, you may show the following documentation to your employer and government agencies:

• Your TPS-related EAD with an November 2, 2011 expiration date
• A copy of the Federal Register notice 

Your employer may rely on the Federal Register notice as evidence of the continuing validity of your EAD. Go to the ‘Documentation Employers May Accept and Temporary Protected Status Beneficiaries May Present as Evidence of Employment Eligibility'  Factsheet for more information.

If USCIS approves your TPS re-registration application and you requested an EAD, you will be issued a new EAD bearing the expiration date of May 2, 2013.

For more information on TPS eligibility requirements, what to file, and step by step instructions go the TPS Web page.