TPS for Venezuela

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, until September 2022. This allows Venezuelan nationals (and stateless people who last resided in Venezuela) who currently live in the US to file for TPS if otherwise eligible. USCIS estimates that there may be 323,000 Venezuelans living in the US who qualify for TPS.

The USCIS announcement states that "[t]his designation is due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Venezuela that prevent nationals from returning safely, including a complex humanitarian crisis marked by widespread hunger and malnutrition, a growing influence and presence of non-state armed groups, repression, and a crumbling infrastructure. TPS can be extended to a country with conditions that fall into one, or more, of the three statutory bases for designation: ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary and temporary conditions."

The requirements for TPS are:

1. Continuous residence in the US since March 8, 2021.
2. Continuous physical presence in the US since March 9, 2021.
3. File a Form I-821 application with USCIS between March 9 and  September 5, 2021. Applicants may also apply for EADs and for travel authorization during this time, by submitting the corresponding forms and fee(s) or fee waiver request.
4. Pass background and security checks.

TPS applicants may also apply for work authorization (EAD) and for travel authorization.

Details about the application process and forms are here.

For more information on this or any immigration topic, feel free to contact us.​
​

---