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May 8, 2001 (rev.)

**Extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)For Hondurans and Nicaraguans**

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals of designated countries. During the period for which the Attorney General has designated a country under the TPS program, TPS beneficiaries are not required to leave the United States and may obtain work authorization. **However, TPS does not lead to permanent resident status.**When the Attorney General terminates a country’s TPS designation, the alien will return to the status he or she had prior to TPS or to any other status they may have obtained while registered for TPS. 

**Who is eligible for re-registration?**

An alien who is a national of Honduras or Nicaragua (or in the case of a alien having no nationality, a person who last habitually resided in Honduras or Nicaragua) may re-register for TPS and an extension of employment authorization. Re-registration is limited to persons who registered during the initial registration period that ended on August 20, 1999 or who registered after that date under the late initial registration provision, and who timely re-registered during the previous 12-month extension. Those who have never registered for TPS may be eligible to register for late initial registration, as described below.

Individuals who have been convicted in the United States of either a felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States are not eligible for TPS. Likewise, individuals subject to certain criminal or security-related bars to asylum are ineligible for TPS. 

**How do I re-register for a TPS extension?**

If you already have been granted TPS through the Honduras/Nicaragua TPS Program, your TPS will expire on July 5, 2001. Persons previously granted TPS under the Honduras/Nicaragua program may apply for an extension during the 90-day re-registration period from May 8, 2001 through August 6, 2001 by submitting: 
- An Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821, 
- An Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765; and 
- Two identification photographs (1 1/2" x 1 1/2").

Applicants for an extension of TPS benefits do not need to submit new fingerprints and therefore do not need to submit a $25 fingerprint fee. Furthermore, attesting in part 1 of the Form I-821 to the continued maintenance of the conditions of eligibility will generally preclude the need for supporting documents or evidence. INS, however, reserves the right to request additional information and/or documentation on a case-by-case basis.

**Fees:**Applicants for re-registration need not submit the $50 fee along with Form I-821. If the applicant requests employment authorization, he or she must submit a $100 fee with Form I-765. An applicant who does not seek employment authorization need not submit the $100 fee, but nonetheless must submit the Form I-765. The applicant may request a fee waiver in accordance with the regulations. 

An alien may register for Temporary Protected Status as a late initial registrant if he or she: 
- Is a national of Honduras or Nicaragua ( or an alien who has no nationality and who last habitually resided in Honduras or Nicaragua); 
- Has been continuously physically present in the United States since January 5, 1999;
- Has continuously resided in the United States since December 30, 1998; 
- Is admissible as an immigrant, except as provided under 8 CFR 244.3; and
- Is not ineligible for TPS under 8 CFR 244.4 (criminal and security-related bars).

Additionally, a late initial registrant must demonstrate that during the initial registration period from January 5, 1999, through August 20, 1999, he or she: 
- Was a nonimmigrant or had been granted voluntary departure status or any relief from removal, 
- Had an application for change of status adjustment of status, asylum, voluntary departure or any relief from removal or change of status pending or subject to further review or appeal, 
- Was a parolee or had a pending request for reparole.

An applicant for late initial registration must register within a 60-day period immediately following the expiration or termination of the conditions described above. 

A spouse or child of an alien currently registered for TPS may apply for late initial registration at any time if he or she is otherwise eligible and `was so at the time of the initial registration period. 

**How do I apply for late initial registration?**
A late initial registrant must file a complete application package, including supporting documentation and all applicable fees, in accordance with the regulations. In addition to the requirements described above for re-registration under the extension, a late initial registrant must submit a $50 fee with Form I-821 and, if 14 years of age or older, a $25 fingerprint fee. The applicant may request a fee waiver in accordance with the regulations. 

**Where should I submit the application for an extension of TPS or for late initial registration?**

**Please do not go to an INS District Office. Local INS offices cannot accept TPS applications.** If applicants go to an INS District Office, they will be instructed to file their application with the INS Service Center that has jurisdiction over their place of residence. The following is a listing of INS Service Centers:

If you live in Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, DC, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico,Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or the Virgin Islands, mailyour application and applicable fees to:
Vermont Service CenterAttn: TPS75 Lower Welden StreetSt. Albans, VT 05479

If you live in Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii or Nevada, mail your application and applicable fees to:

California Service CenterAttn: TPSP.O. Box 10821Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-0821

If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas, mail your application and applicable fees to: 

Texas Service CenterP.O. Box 853062**Mesquite, TX 75185-3062**
If you live elsewhere in the United States, mail your application and applicable fees to:

Nebraska Service CenterP.O. Box 87821Lincoln, NE 68501-7821

**How long will the TPS extension last?**

The TPS extension for Hondurans and Nicaraguans is effective for a 12-month period, from July 5, 2001 through July 5, 2002.

**Specifically, what factors were considered in making the decision to grant a 12-month extension of TPS for Hondurans and Nicaragua?**
Since the date of the last extension of Honduras’ TPS designation, the Departments of Justice and State have continued to review conditions in Honduras. Prior to making a decision, the Attorney General had consultations with the Department of State to determine whether conditions warranting the TPS designation continued to exist. Despite indications of progress in recovery efforts, the Attorney General determined that sufficient damage from Hurricane Mitch persists and that Honduras remains temporarily unable to handle adequately the return of more than 100,000 nationals. 

For example, a review of Honduras’ current conditions revealed that 14,000 out of the approximate 50,000 victims of Hurricane Mitch remain in shelters. Further, out of 60,000 housing units needed after Hurricane Mitch, only about 18,000 have actually been constructed. Upon review of all available information, the Attorney General concluded that a 12-month extension of Honduras’ TPS designation is warranted.

Since the date of the last extension of Nicaragua’s TPS designation, the Departments of Justice and State have continued to review conditions in Nicaragua. Prior to making a decision, the Attorney General had consultations with the Department of State to determine whether conditions warranting the TPS designation continued to exist. Despite indications of progress in recovery efforts, the Attorney General determined that sufficient damage from Hurricane Mitch persists that makes Nicaragua temporarily unable to handle adequately the return of its nationals. For example, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization designated Nicaragua as one of only four countries in the Western Hemisphere experiencing a food emergency. In addition, recovery efforts continued to be hamstrung by the delayed delivery on international aid.

**Will Honduran and Nicaraguan nationals protected by TPS be permitted to travel abroad during the TPS period?**
Those granted TPS must receive advance permission to return to the United States before traveling abroad. This advance permission is called Advance Parole. Failure to obtain advance parole prior to traveling abroad may result in the withdrawal of your TPS and/or the institution or re-calendaring of removal proceedings. 

**Where may I find forms and additional information?**
Information concerning the TPS program for nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras or Nicaragua) is available at the INS Internet Web site, located at *www.ins.gov or* the INS National Customer Service Center, at 1-800-375-5283. Applicants may obtain forms from the INS web site or by contacting the INS Forms Line, 1-800-870-3676. 

– INS –
Last Modified 02/20/2003