The Department of Homeland Security released guidance for individuals seeking to register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Ethiopia’s 18 month designation, which will begin on December 12, 2022 until June 12, 2024.
This guidance comes after the DHS announced Ethiopia’s designation due to the country’s ongoing armed conflict, severe food insecurity, flooding, drought, large-scale displacement, and outbreaks of disease–all of which prevent Ethiopian nationals from returning to their home country safely.
Only Ethiopian nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Ethiopia) that have continuously resided in the United States since October 20, 2022, and have continued to be physically present in the United States since December 12, 2022 are eligible to apply for TPS. Ethiopian nationals that entered the United States after October 20, 2022 are not eligible for TPS and may be subject to removal if the individual has no other authorization to be in the United States.
To apply for TPS, individuals must file Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status from December 12, 2022 through June 12, 2024. Applicants may also file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with their TPS application to request for an Employment Authorization Document. Both applications can be completed and submitted online or mailed as a paper application.
If you have any questions regarding Ethiopia’s designation for TPS and the registration process, or about any other immigration-related matter, please do not hesitate to contact KILO Immigration, a Sacramento law firm, by filling out this contact form.