Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allows citizens of certain countries that are suffering from natural disasters, humanitarian crises, or wide-spread warfare to apply to legally remain in the United States and obtain a work permit regardless of how they entered the country or how long they have been here.
In order to obtain TPS, the applicant must be in the United States when TPS is awarded to the national's country, not have a serious criminal record, and must register during the "Initial Registration Period", which is a time period typically between six months to a year during which all applicants must apply.
Recently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that they are offering TPS to citizens of four countries due to the natural disasters and humanitarian crises occurring there.
First, after the devastating earthquake in Nepal two months ago, USCIS has just announced that it will grant TPS to all Nepalese citizens who are currently within the United States.
In addition, due to the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, USCIS has also announced that citizens of Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone who are currently present in the United States may also apply for TPS.
As we mentioned above, however, citizens of these countries cannot wait long to apply, or else they will miss the registration period. For citizens of Nepal, they must apply by December 21, 2015, and for citizens of Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone, they must apply by August 18, 2015.
If you or someone you know is from one of these countries and cannot go back right now due to the situation in the country, please contact Grzeca Law Group at (414) 342-3000 or visit our website at www.grzecalaw.com.
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