Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: South Sudan

On January 9, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the redesignation of South Sudan for TPS and that eligible South Sudanese nationals (and persons without nationality who last habitually resided in South Sudan) in the United States may apply for TPS.

When to File for TPS

If you currently have TPS for South Sudan and would like to keep your TPS status, you must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from January 9, 2013 through March 11, 2013. We encourage you to register as soon as possible after the 60-day re-registration period opens.

If you do not currently have TPS for South Sudan, you may file an initial application to register for TPS for South Sudan under the recent re-designation. In order to register for TPS status, you must file your TPS package during the 180-day registration period that runs from January 9, 2013 through July 8, 2013. We encourage you to register as soon as possible within the 180-day initial registration period. 

Go to the TPS Web page for information about what you need to file to re-register for TPS or to register for the first time. 

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

Special Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Instructions

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; and 
• 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.

Where to File 

If you are filing for re-registration or filing an initial application or re-registering for TPS, please follow instructions below. E-filing is not currently available for TPS for South Sudan. You must send your TPS package by mail or courier to the appropriate address in the table below: 

For more information on TPS eligibility requirements, what to file, and step by step instructions on submitting a re-registration or initial TPS application package go the TPS Web page.