Temporary Protected Status For Nationals Of Liberia
BCIS announced on August 6 that it
was extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Liberian nationals effective
from October 1, 2003 to October 1, 2004. Nationals of Liberia who have already
been granted TPS must reregister for the one-year extension during the sixty-day
re-registration period, which began on August 6 and ends October 6, 2003. Only
Liberians who have continuously resided and have been continuously present in
the U.S. since October 1, 2002 qualify for re-registration. Approximately 2,700
of Liberian nationals in the U.S. qualify for re-registration.
Section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows the Secretary of
Homeland Security to grant TPS to aliens of the U.S. who are nationals of
countries that are subject to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster or
extraordinary and temporary conditions. Due to the armed conflict in Liberia,
TPS status was designated for Liberian nationals on October 1, 2002. The
Secretary of Homeland Security has extended this TPS designation, as requiring
the return of Liberian nationals would be a serious threat to their physical
safety. When the Secretary terminates Liberia’s designation, the aliens will
return to the status they had before receiving TPS.
To re-register for extension, TPS applicants must submit Form I-821 (Application
for TPS), Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and two
identification photographs to the local BCIS district office. Applicants who are
seeking to reregister for TPS only, and not seeking an extension of employment
authorization, must still submit Form I-765, but do not have to pay the
application fee. All applicants seeking an extension of employment authorization
until September 17, 2004 must pay the $120 filing fee.
More information on the extension of TPS for Liberia is provided at:
http://www.bcis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/questsans/Liberia_TPSqa_080703.htm.
More information on general TPS is available at:
http://www.bcis.gov/graphics/services/tps_inter.htm.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk.