Temporary Protected Status Extended for Nicaraguans

Released Nov. 4, 2011

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Nicaragua for an additional 18 months, beginning Jan. 6, 2012, and ending July 5, 2013.

Current Nicaraguan TPS beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from Nov. 4, 2011, through Jan. 5, 2012. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages beneficiaries to register as soon as possible when the 60-day re-registration period begins. Applications will not be accepted before Nov. 4, 2011.

This 18-month extension also allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Eligible Nicaraguan TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register will receive a new EAD with an expiration date of July 5, 2013. USCIS recognizes that all re-registrants may not receive their new EADs until after their current EADs expire. Therefore, USCIS is extending the current TPS Nicaragua EAD bearing a Jan. 5, 2012, expiration date for an additional six months, through July 5, 2012.

To re-register, current TPS beneficiaries must submit an Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821. TPS re-registrants must also submit an Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, regardless of whether they are applying for an EAD. Re-registrants do not need to pay the Form I-821 application fee, but they must submit the biometric services fee, or a fee waiver request, if they are age 14 or older. TPS re-registrants applying for an EAD must submit the Form I-765 application fee, or a fee waiver request.

TPS applicants may request that USCIS waive any or all fees by filing a Request for Fee Waiver, Form I-912, or by submitting a personal letter. Failure to submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee waiver request will result in the rejection of the TPS application.

Applicants can download free TPS forms from the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/forms. Applicants can also request free TPS forms by calling USCIS toll-free at 1-800-870-3676.

Additional information on TPS for Nicaragua, including guidance on the application process and eligibility, is available online at http://www.uscis.gov/tps. Further details on this extension of TPS for Nicaragua, including the application requirements and procedures, are in a Federal Register notice published on Nov. 4, 2011.

Applicants seeking information about the status of their individual cases can check My Case Status Online, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833).

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), and the USCIS blog The Beacon.