USCIS Issues Reminder Regarding Filing of Forms Associated with Temporary Protected StatusWASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds its customers that only the Oct. 17, 2007 version of the Application for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)(Form I-821) will be accepted. Additionally, only the May 27, 2008 or later version of the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) will be accepted; USCIS will reject all applications using previous editions. USCIS published a Notice in the Federal Register on May 28, 2008, informing the public that after June 27, 2008, the agency would no longer accept editions of Form I-821 with revision dates prior to Oct. 17, 2007. The Oct. 17, 2007 version of the form includes additional questions that enhance USCIS’ ability to determine an applicant’s eligibility for TPS that were not contained in previous versions. Form I-821 is used to apply for TPS for the first time, or to re-register. Authority to designate a country for TPS lies with the Homeland Security Secretary. TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals of designated countries who are temporarily unable to safely return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. TPS beneficiaries may remain in the United States and may obtain work authorization during the period for which a country has been designated for the program. Form I-765 allows certain aliens in the United States to request employment authorization and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Form I-821 must be accompanied by Form I-765 regardless of whether the applicant is requesting an EAD. If the applicant is not requesting an EAD, the applicant does not need to submit a fee with Form I-765 and should not check any of the three boxes in response to the question “I am applying for…” For additional information regarding TPS, please see our Web site at www.uscis.gov.
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