Department of Homeland Security Has Designated Yemen for Temporary Protected Status

Department of Homeland Security Has Designated Yemen for Temporary Protected Status

What is Temporary Protected Status?

Temporary Protected Status is an eighteen month status for people in the United States who cannot safely return home due to country conditions in their home country.

Who can register for Temporary Protected Status?

Yemen nationals can register for Temporary Protected Status if they prove that they:

  • Were physically in the United States on September 3, 2015.
  • Will continue to reside in the United States after September 3, 2015.
  • Do not pose a threat to the United States.

 

All applicants for Temporary Protected Status are fingerprinted and subject to background checks. People with serious criminal convictions or who are threats to the United States will not be granted Temporary Protected Status and will be placed in removal (deportation) proceedings.

Do I have to be in lawful status to apply for Temporary Protected Status?

No. You can apply for Temporary Protected Status even if you are out-of-status or entered the United States unlawfully (without inspection).

Can people from other countries apply for Temporary Protected Status?

Only people from countries designated for Temporary Protected Status can apply. Currently, only the following countries have been designated for Temporary Protected Status:

  • El Salvador
  • Guinea
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Liberia
  • Nicaragua
  • Nepal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Yemen

 

Each country has its own registration requirements, schedule, and deadlines. If you are from one of the above countries and you either did not register for Temporary Protected Status or you did not re-register for Temporary Protected Status, you should talk to an experienced immigration attorney. Most people cannot register for Temporary Protected Status if they miss the initial registration deadline or if they fail to re-register for an extension in time.

Is there a deadline to register for Temporary Protected Status?

Yes. Yemeni must register for Temporary Protected Status by March 1, 2016. If you do not register for Temporary Protected Status by that day, you are unlikely to ever be able to register for Temporary Protected Status.

What do I get with Temporary Protected Status?

People who register for Temporary Protected Status can apply for work permits and, generally speaking, will not be at risk of being deported while they have Temporary Protected Status.

Can I travel outside the United States with Temporary Protected Status?

Generally speaking, you cannot travel outside the United States without giving up your Temporary Protected Status. You can apply for an advance parole (a travel document) if there is a good reason to travel outside the United States. It usually takes several months for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to issue the advance parole.

Is it a path to getting a Green Card (lawful permanent residence)?

No, it is not a path to a Green Card. Temporary Protected Status only lasts for eighteen months. Department of Homeland Security often re-designates a country for Temporary Protected Status and extends the Temporary Protected Status period in eighteen month increments for long time periods. Some countries have been designated for Temporary Protected Status for over fifteen years.

When will I know if the Temporary Protected Status designation has been extended?

The Department of Homeland Security usually announces the re-designation a few months before the expiration of the current period of Temporary Protected Status. People are usually given several months to re-register for Temporary Protected Status.