If you are an eligible national of a country designated by the Department of Homeland Security as a "TPS country," then you may apply for a temporary immigration status. If granted temporary protected status, you will not be removable from the United States, may be granted travel authorization, and can obtain an employment authorization document. 

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security may designate a country for TPS due to the following temporary conditions in the country:

  • Ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war)
  • An environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic
  • Other extraordinary and temporary conditions

While TPS does not give you lawful permanent resident status or any other immigration status, you may still apply for non-immigrant status, file for adjustment of status, or other immigration benefits for which you are eligible. 

To be eligible for TPS, you must:

  • Be a national of a country designated for TPS, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in the designated country;
  • File during the open initial registration or re-registration period, or meet the requirements for late initial filing during any extension of your country’s TPS designation;
  • Have been continuously physically present in the United States since the effective date of the most recent designation date of your country; and 
  • Have been continuously residing in the United States since the date specified for your country

You may NOT be eligible for TPS or to maintain your existing TPS if you:

  • Have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States;
  • Are found inadmissible as an immigrant under applicable grounds in INA section 212(a), including non-waivable criminal and security-related grounds;
  • Are subject to any of the mandatory bars to asylum. These include, but are not limited to, participating in the persecution of another individual or engaging in or inciting terrorist activity;
  • Fail to meet the continuous physical presence and continuous residence in the United States requirements;  
  • Fail to meet initial or late initial TPS registration requirements; or
  • If granted TPS, you fail to re-register for TPS, as required, without good cause.

HERE is a link to the list of countries currently designated for TPS.