Temporary Protected Status - Burundi
Following a review of country conditions and consultations with the appropriate Government agencies, the Secretary of Homeland Security has determined that the TPS designation of Burundi should be terminated. Although the designation was due to expire on November 2, 2007, this termination will not take effect until 12:01 a.m. May 2, 2009, to provide for an orderly transition. All Burundian TPS beneficiaries must comply with re-registration requirements to maintain TPS benefits through May 1, 2009. TPS benefits include temporary protection against removal from the United States, as well as employment authorization, during the TPS designation period. Re-registration is limited to persons who have previously registered for TPS under the designation of Burundi and whose application was granted or remains pending. Burundians (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Burundi) who have not previously filed for TPS and been granted, or who do not already have a pending application for TPS under the designation for Burundi, may not file under late initial filing provisions. 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2). Late initial filings are only allowed during an extension of TPS designation. Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that were issued to persons with Burundian TPS and that contain an expiration date of November 2, 2007, are auto-extended to May 2, 2008.
TPS Extension Re-registration Deadline: 12/28/2007
EAD Automatic Extension Effective Until: 05/02/2008
TPS Expiration Date: 05/02/2009
Filing Location: The filing address depends on whether (1) you are re-registering during the registration period, (2) you are re-registering after the registration period, or (3) you were granted TPS by an Immigration Judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals.
(1) Re-registration during the Registration Period (October 29, 2007, to December 28, 2007): Submit your application to the USCIS Lockbox at:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: TPS Burundi
P.O. Box 6943
Chicago, IL 60680-6943
Or, for courier deliveries:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: TPS Burundi
131 S. Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
If one or more of the questions listed in Part 4, Question 2 of Form I-821 apply to you, you must provide an explanation on a separate sheet(s) of paper, and/or additional documentation with your application.
(2) Re-registration after the Registration Period ends (December 28, 2007): The USCIS Lockbox in Chicago cannot accept late re-registration applications from aliens from Burundi after the registration period has ended. If you believe you have good cause for your failure to timely file, you may submit your application with a letter explaining your situation to the Vermont Service Center at:
Vermont Service Center
Attn: TPS Good Cause Exception
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001
(3) If you were granted TPS by an Immigration Judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals: Send your application to the USCIS Lockbox at:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: TPS Burundi
P.O. Box 8677
Chicago, IL 60680-8677
Or, for courier deliveries:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: TPS Burundi
131 S. Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
If you were granted TPS by an Immigration Judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals, you must submit evidence of the grant of TPS (such as an order from the Immigration Judge) with your application. Your order must be final.
Aliens who are applying for re-registration and DO NOT need to submit supporting documentation with their applications may file electronically. To file your application electronically, follow the directions on this website.
Registration for TPS without employment authorization:
If you are only seeking to re-register for TPS and NOT requesting an EAD or applying for an extension of your EAD, you must still file the Form I-765, but should NOT check any of the following boxes on this form in response to the question “I am applying for:”
• Permission to accept employment
• Replacement
• Renewal of my permission to accept employment
If you are NOT applying for an EAD and incorrectly check any of these boxes without submitting applicable filing fee(s) with your I-765, the processing of your application may be delayed. No fee is required for the Form I-765 filed as part of TPS registration if employment authorization is not being requested. (Form I-821 has separate fee requirements.)
For minimal disruption of employment authorization while TPS re-registration applications are processed and new EADs (valid through May 1, 2009) are issued to eligible re-registrants, current EADs of Burundi TPS beneficiaries have been auto-extended through May 2, 2008.
Federal Register Notices
Termination 10/29/07 [72 FR 61172]
Announcements
Questions and Answers: DHS Terminates Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burundi, 10/29/2007
