5562 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 19 / Monday, January 29, 2024 / Notices 

33See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6). 

34Because the suspension of requirements under 

this notice applies throughout an academic term 

during which the suspension is in effect, DHS 

considers an F–1 nonimmigrant student who 

engages in a reduced course load or employment (or 

both) after this notice is effective to be engaging in 

a ‘‘full course of study,’’ see 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6), and 

eligible for employment authorization, through the 

end of any academic term for which such student 

is matriculated as of Sept. 30, 2025, provided the 

student satisfies the minimum course load 

requirements in this notice. 

specified in the filing instructions. At 

the same time, the F–1 nonimmigrant 

student may file a separate TPS 

application but must submit the Form I– 

821 according to the instructions 

provided in the Federal Register notice 

designating Syria for TPS. If the F–1 

nonimmigrant student has already 

applied for employment authorization 

under Special Student Relief, they are 

not required to submit the Form I–765 

as part of the TPS application. However, 

some nonimmigrant students may wish 

to obtain a TPS-related EAD in light of 

certain extensions that may be available 

to EADs with an A–12 or C–19 category 

code that are not available to the C–3 

category under which Special Student 

Relief falls. The F–1 nonimmigrant 

student should check the appropriate 

box when filling out Form I–821 to 

indicate whether a TPS-related EAD is 

being requested. Again, as long as the F– 

1 nonimmigrant student maintains the 

minimum course load described in this 

notice and does not otherwise violate 

the student’s nonimmigrant status, 

included as provided under 8 CFR 

214.1(g), the nonimmigrant will be able 

to maintain compliance requirements 

for F–1 nonimmigrant student status 

while having TPS. 

When a student applies simultaneously 

for TPS and benefits under this notice, 

what is the minimum course load 

requirement while an application for 

employment authorization is pending? 

The F–1 nonimmigrant student must 

maintain normal course load 

requirements for a ‘‘full course of 

study’’ 33 unless or until the 

nonimmigrant student receives 

employment authorization under this 

notice. TPS-related employment 

authorization, by itself, does not 

authorize a nonimmigrant student to 

drop below twelve credit hours, or 

otherwise applicable minimum 

requirements (e.g., clock hours for nontraditional academic programs). Once 

approved for a TPS-related EAD and 

Special Student Relief employment 

authorization, as indicated by the DSO’s 

required entry in SEVIS and issuance of 

an updated Form I–20, the F–1 

nonimmigrant student may drop below 

twelve credit hours, or otherwise 

applicable minimum requirements (with 

a minimum of six semester or quarter 

hours of instruction per academic term 

if at the undergraduate level, or for a 

minimum of three semester or quarter 

hours of instruction per academic term 

if at the graduate level). See 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(5)(v), (f)(6), and (f)(9)(i) and (ii). 

How does a student who has received 

a TPS-related EAD then apply for 

authorization to take a reduced course 

load under this notice? 

There is no further application 

process with USCIS if a student has 

been approved for a TPS-related EAD. 

The F–1 nonimmigrant student must 

demonstrate and provide 

documentation to the DSO of the direct 

economic hardship resulting from the 

current armed conflict and current 

humanitarian crisis in Syria. The DSO 

will then verify and update the 

student’s record in SEVIS to enable the 

F–1 nonimmigrant student with TPS to 

reduce the course load without any 

further action or application. No other 

EAD needs to be issued for the F–1 

nonimmigrant student to have 

employment authorization. 

Can a noncitizen who has been granted 

TPS apply for reinstatement of F–1 

nonimmigrant student status after the 

noncitizen’s F–1 nonimmigrant student 

status has lapsed? 

Yes. Regulations permit certain 

students who fall out of F–1 

nonimmigrant student status to apply 

for reinstatement. See 8 CFR 

214.2(f)(16). This provision may apply 

to students who worked on a TPSrelated EAD or dropped their course 

load before publication of this notice, 

and therefore fell out of student status. 

These students must satisfy the criteria 

set forth in the F–1 nonimmigrant 

student status reinstatement regulations. 

How long will this notice remain in 

effect? 

This notice grants temporary relief 

until September 30, 2025,34 to eligible 

F–1 nonimmigrant students. DHS will 

continue to monitor the situation in 

Syria. Should the special provisions 

authorized by this notice need 

modification or extension, DHS will 

announce such changes in the Federal 

Register. 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 

An F–1 nonimmigrant student seeking 

off-campus employment authorization 

due to severe economic hardship 

resulting from the current armed 

conflict and current humanitarian crisis 

in Syria must demonstrate to the DSO 

that this employment is necessary to 

avoid severe economic hardship. A DSO 

who agrees that a nonimmigrant student 

should receive such employment 

authorization must recommend an 

application approval to USCIS by 

entering information in the remarks 

field of the student’s SEVIS record. The 

authority to collect this information is 

in the SEVIS collection of information 

currently approved by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) under 

OMB Control Number 1653–0038. 

This notice also allows an eligible F– 

1 nonimmigrant student to request 

employment authorization, work an 

increased number of hours while the 

academic institution is in session, and 

reduce their course load while 

continuing to maintain F–1 

nonimmigrant student status. 

To apply for employment 

authorization, certain F–1 

nonimmigrant students must complete 

and submit a currently approved Form 

I–765 according to the instructions on 

the form. OMB has previously approved 

the collection of information contained 

on the current Form I–765, consistent 

with the PRA (OMB Control Number 

1615–0040). Although there will be a 

slight increase in the number of Form I– 

765 filings because of this notice, the 

number of filings currently contained in 

the OMB annual inventory for Form I– 

765 is sufficient to cover the additional 

filings. Accordingly, there is no further 

action required under the PRA. 

Alejandro Mayorkas, 

Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security. 

[FR Doc. 2024–01762 Filed 1–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–28–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services 

[CIS No. 2763–24; DHS Docket No. USCIS– 

2013–0001] 

RIN 1615–ZB72 

Extension and Redesignation of Syria 

for Temporary Protected Status 

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services (USCIS), 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS). 

ACTION: Notice of Temporary Protected 

Status (TPS) extension and 

redesignation. 

SUMMARY: Through this notice, the 

Department of Homeland Security 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 19 / Monday, January 29, 2024 / Notices 5563 

(DHS) announces that the Secretary of 

Homeland Security (Secretary) is 

extending the designation of Syria for 

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 

months, beginning on April 1, 2024, and 

ending on September 30, 2025. This 

extension allows existing TPS 

beneficiaries to retain TPS through 

September 30, 2025, if they otherwise 

continue to meet the eligibility 

requirements for TPS. Existing TPS 

beneficiaries who wish to extend their 

status through September 30, 2025, 

must re-register during the 60-day reregistration period described in this 

notice. The Secretary is also 

redesignating Syria for TPS. The 

redesignation of Syria allows additional 

Syrian nationals (and individuals 

having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Syria) who have 

been continuously residing in the 

United States since January 25, 2024, to 

apply for TPS for the first time during 

the initial registration period described 

under the redesignation information in 

this notice. In addition to demonstrating 

continuous residence in the United 

States since January 25, 2024, and 

meeting other eligibility criteria, initial 

applicants for TPS under this 

designation must demonstrate that they 

have been continuously physically 

present in the United States since April 

1, 2024, the effective date of this 

redesignation of Syria for TPS. 

DATES: Extension and Redesignation of 

the Designation of Syria for TPS begins 

on April 1, 2024, and will remain in 

effect for 18 months. For registration 

instructions, see the Registration 

Information section below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

• You may contact Rena ́ CutlipMason, Chief, Humanitarian Affairs 

Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services, Department of Homeland 

Security, by mail at 5900 Capital 

Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 

20746, or by phone at 240–721–3000. 

• For more information on TPS, 

including guidance on the registration 

process and additional information on 

eligibility, please visit the USCIS TPS 

web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps. 

You can find specific information about 

Syria’s TPS designation by selecting 

‘‘Syria’’ from the menu on the left side 

of the TPS web page. 

• If you have additional questions 

about TPS, please visit uscis.gov/tools. 

Our online virtual assistant, Emma, can 

answer many of your questions and 

point you to additional information on 

our website. If you cannot find your 

answers there, you may also call our 

USCIS Contact Center at 800–375–5283 

(TTY 800–767–1833). 

• Applicants seeking information 

about the status of their individual cases 

may check Case Status Online, available 

on the USCIS website at uscis.gov, or 

visit the USCIS Contact Center at 

https://www.uscis.gov/contactcenter. 

• You can also find more information 

at local USCIS offices after this notice is 

published. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Abbreviations 

BIA—Board of Immigration Appeals 

CFR—Code of Federal Regulations 

DHS—U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security 

DOS—U.S. Department of State 

EAD—Employment Authorization Document 

FNC—Final Nonconfirmation 

Form I–131—Application for Travel 

Document 

Form I–765—Application for Employment 

Authorization 

Form I–797—Notice of Action 

Form I–821—Application for Temporary 

Protected Status 

Form I–9—Employment Eligibility 

Verification 

Form I–912—Request for Fee Waiver 

Form I–94—Arrival/Departure Record 

FR—Federal Register 

Government—U.S. Government 

IER—U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights 

Division, Immigrant and Employee Rights 

Section 

IJ—Immigration Judge 

INA—Immigration and Nationality Act 

SAVE—USCIS Systematic Alien Verification 

for Entitlements Program 

Secretary—Secretary of Homeland Security 

TPS—Temporary Protected Status 

TTY—Text Telephone 

USCIS—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services 

U.S.C.—United States Code 

Registration Information 

Extension of Designation of Syria for 

TPS: The 18-month designation of Syria 

for TPS begins on April 1, 2024, and 

will remain in effect for 18 months, 

ending on September 30, 2025. The 

extension impacts existing beneficiaries 

of TPS. 

Re-registration: The 60-day reregistration period for existing 

beneficiaries runs from January 29, 2024 

through March 29, 2024. (Note: It is 

important for re-registrants to timely reregister during the re-registration period 

and not to wait until their Employment 

Authorization Documents (EADs) 

expire, as delaying reregistration could 

result in gaps in their employment 

authorization documentation.) 

Redesignation of Syria for TPS: The 

18-month redesignation of Syria for TPS 

begins on April 1, 2024, and will remain 

in effect for 18 months, ending on 

September 30, 2025. The redesignation 

impacts potential first-time applicants 

and others who do not currently have 

TPS. 

First-time Registration: The initial 

registration period for new applicants 

under the Syria TPS redesignation 

begins on January 29, 2024 and will 

remain in effect through September 30, 

2025. 

Purpose of This Action (TPS) 

Through this notice, DHS sets forth 

procedures necessary for nationals of 

Syria (or individuals having no 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in Syria) to (1) re-register for TPS and 

apply to renew their EAD with USCIS 

or (2) submit an initial registration 

application under the redesignation and 

apply for an EAD. 

Re-registration is limited to 

individuals who have previously 

registered for TPS under the prior 

designation of Syria and whose 

applications have been granted. If you 

do not re-register properly within the 

60-day re-registration period, USCIS 

may withdraw your TPS following 

appropriate procedures. See 8 CFR 

244.14. 

For individuals who have already 

been granted TPS under Syria’s 

designation, the 60-day re-registration 

period runs January 29, 2024, through 

March 29, 2024. USCIS will issue new 

EADs with a September 30, 2025, 

expiration date to eligible Syrian TPS 

beneficiaries who timely re-register and 

apply for EADs. Given the time frames 

involved with processing TPS reregistration applications, DHS 

recognizes that not all re-registrants may 

receive a new EAD before their current 

EAD expires. Accordingly, through this 

Federal Register notice, DHS 

automatically extends through March 

31, 2025, the validity of certain EADs 

previously issued under the TPS 

designation of Syria. As proof of 

continued employment authorization 

through March 31, 2025, TPS 

beneficiaries can show their EAD with 

the notation A–12 or C–19 under 

Category and a Card Expires date of 

March 31, 2024, September 30, 2022, or 

March 31, 2021. This notice explains 

how TPS beneficiaries and their 

employers may determine if an EAD is 

automatically extended and how this 

affects the Form I–9, Employment 

Eligibility Verification, E-Verify, and 

USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for 

Entitlements (SAVE) processes. 

Individuals who have a Syria TPS 

application (Form I–821) or Application 

for Employment Authorization (Form I– 

765) that was still pending as of January 

29, 2024, do not need to file either 

application again. If USCIS approves an 


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1The ‘‘continuous physical presence’’ date is the 

effective date of the most recent TPS designation of 

the country, which is either the publication date of 

the designation announcement in the Federal 

Register or a later date established by the Secretary. 

The ‘‘continuous residence’’ date is any date 

established by the Secretary when a country is 

designated (or sometimes redesignated) for TPS. See 

INA sec. 244(b)(2)(A) (effective date of designation); 

244(c)(1)(A)(i–ii) (continuous residence and 

continuous physical presence date requirements); 8 

U.S.C. 1254a(b)(2)(A); 1254a(c)(1)(A)(i–ii). 

2See Designation of Syrian Arab Republic for 

Temporary Protected Status, 77 FR 19026 (Mar. 29, 

2012). 

3See Extension and Redesignation of Syria for 

Temporary Protected Status, 78 FR 36223 (June 17, 

2013). 

4See Extension and Redesignation of the Syrian 

Arab Republic for Temporary Protected Status, 80 

FR 245 (Jan. 5, 2015). 

5See Extension and Redesignation of Syria for 

Temporary Protected Status, 81 FR 50533 (Aug. 1, 

2016). 

6See Extension of the Designation of Syria for 

Temporary Protected Status, 83 FR 9329 (Mar. 5, 

2018). 

7See Extension of the Designation of Syria for 

Temporary Protected Status, 84 FR 49751 (Sept. 23, 

2019). 

8See Extension and Redesignation of Syria for 

Temporary Protected Status, 86 FR 14946 (Mar. 19, 

2021). 

9See Extension and Redesignation of Syria for 

Temporary Protected Status, 87 FR 46982 (Aug. 1, 

2022). 

10 INA section 244(b)(1) ascribes this power to the 

Attorney General. Congress transferred this 

authority from the Attorney General to the Secretary 

of Homeland Security. See Homeland Security Act 

of 2002, Public Law 107–296, 116 Stat. 2135 (2002). 

The Secretary may designate a country (or part of 

a country) for TPS on the basis of ongoing armed 

conflict such that returning would pose a serious 

threat to the personal safety of the country’s 

nationals and habitual residents, environmental 

disaster (including an epidemic), or extraordinary 

and temporary conditions in the country that 

prevent the safe return of the country’s nationals. 

For environmental disaster-based designations, 

certain other statutory requirements must be met, 

including that the foreign government must request 

TPS. A designation based on extraordinary and 

temporary conditions cannot be made if the 

Secretary finds that allowing the country’s nationals 

to remain temporarily in the United States is 

contrary to the U.S. national interest. INA sec. 

244(b)(1); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1). 

individual’s pending Form I–821, 

USCIS will grant the individual TPS 

through September 30, 2025. Similarly, 

if USCIS approves a pending TPSrelated Form I–765, USCIS will issue 

the individual a new EAD that will be 

valid through the same date. 

Under the redesignation, individuals 

who currently do not have TPS may 

submit an initial application during the 

initial registration period that runs from 

January 29, 2024 through the full length 

of the redesignation period ending 

September 30, 2025. In addition to 

demonstrating continuous residence in 

the United States since January 25, 

2024, and meeting other eligibility 

criteria, initial applicants for TPS under 

this redesignation must demonstrate 

that they have been continuously 

physically present in the United States 

since April 1, 2024,1 the effective date 

of this redesignation of Syria, before 

USCIS may grant them TPS. DHS 

estimates that approximately 2,500 

individuals may become newly eligible 

for TPS under the redesignation of 

Syria. 

What Is Temporary Protected Status 

(TPS)? 

• TPS is a temporary immigration 

status granted to eligible nationals of a 

foreign state designated for TPS under 

the INA, or to eligible individuals 

without nationality who last habitually 

resided in the designated foreign state, 

regardless of their country of birth. 

• During the TPS designation period, 

TPS beneficiaries are eligible to remain 

in the United States, may not be 

removed, and are authorized to obtain 

EADs if they continue to meet the 

requirements of TPS. 

• TPS beneficiaries may also apply 

for and be granted travel authorization 

as a matter of DHS discretion. 

• To qualify for TPS, beneficiaries 

must meet the eligibility standards at 

INA section 244(c)(1)–(2), 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(c)(1)–(2). 

• When the Secretary terminates a 

foreign state’s TPS designation, 

beneficiaries return to one of the 

following: 

Æ The same immigration status or 

category that they maintained before 

TPS, if any (unless that status or 

category has since expired or 

terminated); or 

Æ Any other lawfully obtained 

immigration status or category they 

received while registered for TPS, if it 

is still valid beyond the date their TPS 

terminates. 

When was Syria designated for TPS? 

Syria was initially designated for TPS 

on March 29, 2012, on the basis of 

extraordinary and temporary conditions 

in Syria that prevented nationals of 

Syria from returning in safety.2

Following the initial designation, the 

Secretary extended and redesignated 

Syria for TPS three times based on 

ongoing armed conflict and 

extraordinary and temporary conditions: 

(1) from October 1, 2013, to March 31, 

2015; 3 (2) from April 1, 2015, to 

September 30, 2016; 4 and (3) from 

October 1, 2016, to March 31, 2018.5

Thereafter, the Secretary extended TPS 

for Syria from April 1, 2018, to 

September 30, 2019,6 and again on 

October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2021,7

based on ongoing armed conflict and 

extraordinary and temporary conditions. 

Most recently, the Secretary extended 

and redesignated TPS for Syria based on 

ongoing armed conflict and 

extraordinary and temporary conditions 

from March 31, 2021, to September 30, 

2022,8 and from October 1, 2022, to 

March 31, 2024.9

What authority does the Secretary have 

to extend the designation of Syria for 

TPS? 

Section 244(b)(1) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(1), authorizes the Secretary, 

after consultation with appropriate 

agencies of the U.S. Government, to 

designate a foreign state (or part thereof) 

for TPS if the Secretary determines that 

certain country conditions exist.10 The 

decision to designate any foreign state 

(or part thereof) is a discretionary 

decision, and there is no judicial review 

of any determination with respect to the 

designation, termination, or extension of 

a designation. See INA sec. 244(b)(5)(A), 

8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(5)(A). The Secretary, 

in their discretion, may then grant TPS 

to eligible nationals of that foreign state 

(or individuals having no nationality 

who last habitually resided in the 

designated foreign state). See INA sec. 

244(a)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A). 

At least 60 days before the expiration 

of a foreign state’s TPS designation or 

extension, the Secretary, after 

consultation with appropriate U.S. 

Government agencies, must review the 

conditions in the foreign state 

designated for TPS to determine 

whether they continue to meet the 

conditions for the TPS designation. See 

INA sec. 244(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(3)(A). If the Secretary 

determines that the foreign state 

continues to meet the conditions for 

TPS designation, the designation will be 

extended for an additional period of 6 

months or, in the Secretary’s discretion, 

12 or 18 months. See INA sec. 

244(b)(3)(A), (C), 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(3)(A), (C). If the Secretary 

determines that the foreign state no 

longer meets the conditions for TPS 

designation, the Secretary must 

terminate the designation. See INA sec. 

244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B). 

What is the Secretary’s authority to 

redesignate Syria for TPS? 

In addition to extending an existing 

TPS designation, the Secretary, after 

consultation with appropriate 

Government agencies, may redesignate a 

country (or part thereof) for TPS. See 

INA sec. 244(b)(1), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1); 

see also INA sec. 244(c)(1)(A)(i), 8 

U.S.C. 1254a(c)(1)(A)(i) (requiring that 

‘‘the alien has been continuously 


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11The extension and redesignation of TPS for 

Syria is one of several instances in which the 

Secretary and, before the establishment of DHS, the 

Attorney General, have simultaneously extended a 

country’s TPS designation and redesignated the 

country for TPS. See, e.g., Extension and 

Redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected 

Status, 76 FR 29000 (May 19, 2011); Extension and 

Re-designation of Temporary Protected Status for 

Sudan, 69 FR 60168 (Oct. 7, 2004); Extension of 

Designation and Redesignation of Liberia Under 

Temporary Protected Status Program, 62 FR 16608 

(Apr. 7, 1997). 

12 International Blue Crescent, Kahramanmaras ̧

Earthquakes Situation Report, Apr. 6, 2023, 6, 

available at https://reliefweb.int/report/turkiye/ 

devastating-earthquakes-southern-turkiye-andnorthern-syria-april-6th-2023-situation-report-20- 

entr (last visited Oct. 10, 2023). 

13The World Bank, Syria Earthquake 2023 Rapid 

Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), Mar. 2023, 

48, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/syrianarab-republic/syria-earthquake-2023-rapid-damageand-needs-assessment-rdna-enar (last visited Nov. 

9, 2023). 

14See U.S. Dep’t of State, 2022 Country Report on 

Human Rights Practices: Syria, Mar. 20, 2023, 

available at https://www.state.gov/reports/2022- 

country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/syria/ 

#:∼:text=As%20of%20December%2C%20

the%20SNHR,Directorate%2C%20Air%20

Force%20Intelligence%20Directorate%2C (last 

visited Oct. 5, 2023). 

15U.N. Gen. Assembly Human Rights Council, 

Report of the Independent International 

Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab 

Republic, Aug. 14, 2023, available at https://

www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/iici-syria/reportcoi-syria-september2023 (last visited Nov. 27, 

2023). 

16 Inst. for Economics and Peace, Global Peace 

Index 2023: Measuring Peace in a Complex World, 

June 2023, 28, available at http://visionofhumanity.

org/resources (last visited Oct. 26, 2023). 

17UNHCR, Situation Syria Regional Refugee 

Response, lasted updated Nov. 30, 2023, available 

at https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria (last 

visited Dec. 13, 2023). 

18UNHCR, Syria: UNHCR Operational Update, 

September 2023, Oct. 18, 2023, 1, available at 

https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/ 

syria-unhcr-operational-update-september-2023- 

enar (last visited Oct. 27, 2023). 

19UNOCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview: 

Syrian Arab Republic, 12 (Dec. 22, 2022), available 

at hno_2023-rev-1.12_1.pdf 

(humanitarianresponse.info) (last visited Oct. 5, 

2023). 

20The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 

Regime-controlled areas in January 2023 Nearly 190 

fatalities in acts of violence . . . 12 assassinations 

and attacks in three provinces . . . escalating living 

crises, Feb. 9, 2023, available at https://www.

syriahr.com/en/288096/ (last visited Oct. 6, 2023). 

21UNOCHA, Joint Statement by the United 

Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian 

Coordinator for Syria, Mr. Adam Abdelmoula, and 

the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the 

Syria Crisis, Mr. Muhannad Hadi, on the renewed 

hostilities in northern Syria, Oct. 6, 2023, available 

at https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/ 

joint-statement-united-nations-residentcoordinator-and-humanitarian-coordinator-syriamr-adam-abdelmoula-and-regional-humanitariancoordinator-syria-crisis-mr-muhannad-hadirenewed-hostilities-northern-syria-enar (last visited 

Oct. 6, 2023). 

22UNOCHA, North-west Syria: Escalation of 

Hostilities—Flash Update No. 3, Oct. 13, 2023, 

available at https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arabrepublic/north-west-syria-escalation-hostilitiesflash-update-no3-13-october-2023-enar (last visited 

Oct. 26, 2023). 

23 Id. 

physically present since the effective 

date of the most recent designation of 

the state’’) (emphasis added).11

When the Secretary designates or 

redesignates a country for TPS, the 

Secretary also has the discretion to 

establish the date from which TPS 

applicants must demonstrate that they 

have been ‘‘continuously resid[ing]’’ in 

the United States. See INA sec. 

244(c)(1)(A)(ii), 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(c)(1)(A)(ii). The Secretary has 

determined that the ‘‘continuous 

residence’’ date for applicants for TPS 

under the redesignation of Syria will be 

January 25, 2024. Initial applicants for 

TPS under this redesignation must also 

show they have been ‘‘continuously 

physically present’’ in the United States 

since April 1, 2024, which is the 

effective date of the Secretary’s 

redesignation of Syria. See INA sec. 

244(c)(1)(A)(i), 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(c)(1)(A)(i). For each initial TPS 

application filed under the 

redesignation, USCIS cannot make the 

final determination of whether the 

applicant has met the ‘‘continuous 

physical presence’’ requirement until 

April 1, 2024, the effective date of this 

redesignation for Syria. USCIS, 

however, will issue employment 

authorization documentation, as 

appropriate, during the registration 

period in accordance with 8 CFR 

244.5(b). 

Why is the Secretary extending the TPS 

designation for Syria and 

simultaneously redesignating Syria for 

TPS through September 30, 2025? 

DHS has reviewed country conditions 

in Syria. Based on the review, including 

input received from DOS and other U.S. 

Government agencies, the Secretary has 

determined that an 18-month TPS 

extension is warranted because the 

ongoing armed conflict and 

extraordinary and temporary conditions 

supporting Syria’s TPS designation 

remain. The Secretary has further 

determined that redesignating Syria for 

TPS under INA section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 

U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C) is warranted and 

is changing the continuous residence 

and continuous physical presence dates 

that applicants must meet to be eligible 

for TPS. 

Overview 

The ongoing civil war in Syria is in 

its thirteenth year and has involved 

large-scale destruction of infrastructure, 

widespread civilian casualties, and 

human rights abuses and violations. The 

humanitarian consequences are dire, 

including mass displacement of 

civilians, high levels of food insecurity, 

and limited access to healthcare and 

clean water. These impacts have been 

compounded by the February 6, 2023 

earthquake, which resulted in the 

further destruction of infrastructure and 

has contributed to the further 

breakdown of the economy and strained 

an already overburdened healthcare 

system.12 13

Armed Conflict and Security Situation 

The armed conflict in Syria continues 

to include numerous local and 

international actors, such as the Syrian 

regime, foreign states, opposition 

groups, and terrorist groups, like 

ISIS.14 15 Syrian civilians are suffering 

with 61 percent of Syria’s pre-war 

population displaced, and Syria remains 

the third least peaceful country in the 

world according to the Global Peace 

Index (GPI).16 The United Nations High 

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 

reports 5,183,140 Syrian refugees in 

neighboring countries,17 and 6.8 million 

people internally displaced (IDPs) 

within Syria—the highest in the 

world.18

The conflict and its levels of violence 

are regularly in flux. Ongoing hostilities 

in several parts of the country include 

‘‘artillery shelling, air strikes and land 

mines, [and] continue to threaten the 

lives of civilians and hamper 

humanitarian activities.’’ 19 In January 

2023, regime-controlled areas 

experienced ‘‘an alarming escalation of 

violence, worsening living conditions, 

tightening security grip and ongoing 

arbitrary arrests.’’ 20 On October 5, 2023, 

northern Syria experienced renewed 

hostilities with reports of multiple 

attacks by regime-forces that killed 

civilians and damaged vital civilian 

infrastructure across the region.21 Since 

October 5, 2023, parties to the conflict 

have engaged in continuous shelling 

and airstrikes, which have struck more 

than 1,400 locations, including frontline 

and residential areas, in Idlib and 

western Aleppo.22 As of October 13, at 

least 53 people in affected areas have 

been killed, including 11 women and 15 

children, and 303 others injured as 

reported by local health authorities 

since the start of the incidents on 

October 5.23

Since the conflict began, civilian 

casualty counts have varied among 

media sources and human rights groups, 

in part due to the large number of 

missing and forcibly disappeared 

Syrians. Human rights groups estimate 

more than 550,000 people have been 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
5566 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 19 / Monday, January 29, 2024 / Notices 

24U.S. Dep’t of State, 2022 Country Report on 

Human Rights Practices: Syria, Mar. 20, 2023, 

available at https://www.state.gov/reports/2022- 

country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/syria/ 

#:∼:text=As%20of%20December%2C%20

the%20SNHR,Directorate%2C%20Air%

20Force%20Intelligence%20Directorate%2C (last 

visited Dec. 7, 2023). 25Syrian Network for Human Rights, Most 

Notable Human Rights Violations in Syria in May 

2023, June 5, 2023, available at https://reliefweb.int/ 

report/syrian-arab-republic/most-notable-humanrights-violations-syria-may-2023 (last visited Oct. 

10, 2023). 26 Id. 27Syrian Network for Human Rights, 501 

Civilians, Including 71 Children, 42 Woman, and 20 

Individuals Who Died due to Torture Documented 

Killed in Syria, in the First Half of 2023, July 2, 

2023, 7, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/ 

syrian-arab-republic/501-civilians-including-71- 

children-42-woman-and-20-individuals-who-dieddue-torture-documented-killed-syria-first-half-2023 

(last visited Oct. 5, 2023). 

28Syrian Network for Human Rights, 12th Annual 

Report—Most notable violations in 2022, 6–7, Jan. 

24, 2023, available at https://snhr.org/blog/2023/01/ 

24/snhrs-12th-annual-report-most-notable-humanrights-violations-in-syria-in-2022/ (last visited Oct. 

5, 2023). 

29The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 

Regime-controlled areas in January 2023 Nearly 190 

fatalities in acts of violence . . . 12 assassinations 

and attacks in three provinces . . . escalating living 

crises, Feb. 9, 2023, available at https://

www.syriahr.com/en/288096/ (last visited Oct. 6, 

2023). 

30Syrian Network for Human Rights, 501 

Civilians, Including 71 Children, 42 Woman, and 20 

Individuals Who Died due to Torture Documented 

Killed in Syria, in the First Half of 2023, July 2, 

2023, 13, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/ 

syrian-arab-republic/501-civilians-including-71- 

children-42-woman-and-20-individuals-who-dieddue-torture-documented-killed-syria-first-half-2023 

(last visited Oct. 5, 2023). 

31UNHCR, Syria: UNHCR Operational Update, 

September 2023, Oct. 18, 2023, available at https:// 

reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syriaunhcr-operational-update-september-2023-enar 

(last visited Oct. 27, 2023). 

32UNICEF, Humanitarian Action for Children 

2023—Syria, June 2023, available at https://

www.unicef.org/media/143511/file/2023-HACSyrian-Arab-Republic-revised-June.pdf (last visited 

Nov. 27, 2023). 

33European Commission, European Civil 

Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, Syria, 

last updated Nov. 24, 2023, available at https://civilprotection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/where/ 

middle-east-and-northern-africa/syria_en (last 

visited Oct. 6, 2023). 

34World Food Programme, Syria—Market Price 

Watch Bulletin July 2023, Aug. 23, 2023, available 

at https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/ 

syria-market-price-watch-bulletin-july-2023 (last 

visited Sept. 27, 2023). 

35Reuters, Syria slashes gasoline subsidy, boosts 

public-sector salaries, Aug. 16, 2023, available at 

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syriaslashes-gasoline-subsidy-boosts-public-sectorsalaries-2023-08-16/ (last visited Oct. 6, 2023). 

36BBC News, Syria doubles public-sector pay and 

cuts subsidies as economy sinks, Aug. 16, 2023, 

available at https://www.bbc.com/news/worldmiddle-east-66526132 (last visited Oct. 6, 2023). 

37UN News, More than half of all Syrians going 

hungry: WFP, Mar. 14, 2023, available at https://

news.un.org/en/story/2023/03/1134567 (last visited 

Oct. 6, 2023). 38 Id. 39 Id. 40Erol Yayboke, Shattered Relief: A 7.8- 

Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Turkey and Syria, 

CSIS, Feb. 7, 2023, available at https://

www.csis.org/analysis/shattered-relief-78- 

magnitude-earthquake-strikes-turkey-and-syria (last 

visited Oct. 10, 2023). 41 International Blue Crescent, Kahramanmaras ̧

Earthquakes Situation Report, Apr. 6, 2023, 2, 

available at https://reliefweb.int/report/turkiye/ 

devastating-earthquakes-southern-turkiye-andnorthern-syria-april-6th-2023-situation-report-20- 

entr (last visited Oct. 10, 2023). 42 Id. 43Middle East Monitor, UN Chief says 90% of 

Syrians live below poverty line, Jan. 14, 2022, 

available at https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/ 

20220114-un-chief-says-90-of-syrians-live-belowpoverty-line/ (last visited Oct. 10, 2023). 44 International Blue Crescent, Kahramanmaras ̧

Earthquakes Situation Report, Apr. 6, 2023, 6, 

available at https://reliefweb.int/report/turkiye/ 

devastating-earthquakes-southern-turkiye-andnorthern-syria-april-6th-2023-situation-report-20- 

entr (last visited Oct. 10, 2023). 45 Id. 46UN News, Almost $15 billion needed for 

earthquake recovery in Syria, May 8, 2023, available 

at https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136452 

(last visited Oct. 6, 2023). 

killed since the start of the conflict.24

Armed actors, including those of the 

Syrian regime and its Russian allies, 

continue to strike civilians and civilian 

facilities.25 The Syrian Network for 

Human Rights (SNHR) reported that 

ground attacks and airstrikes ‘‘have 

caused the destruction of homes, 

schools, hospitals, shops and other 

structures, and that there are reasonable 

grounds to believe that the war crime of 

attacking civilians has been committed 

in many cases.’’ 26 In the first half of 

2023, through June, SNHR documented 

that parties to the conflict and 

controlling forces in Syria killed 501 

civilians, including 71 children and 42 

women.27

Human Rights Abuses and Civilian 

Deaths 

The Syrian regime and other armed 

actors continue to commit human rights 

abuses. There are documented reports of 

unjust killings, arbitrary arrests, 

enforced disappearances, forced 

displacements, seizures of land and 

properties, and rampant security 

instability that have ‘‘provided a ripe 

environment for many assassinations 

and bombings.’’ 28 During the January 

2023 escalation of violence in regimecontrolled areas, SNHR reported that 55 

civilians died, at least 42 civilians were 

arbitrarily arrested by regime forces and 

intelligence services, and 14 civilians 

were kidnapped.29 SNHR reported that, 

in the first half of 2023, 20 individuals, 

including civilians, died due to torture 

and that the Syrian regime was 

reportedly responsible for the deaths of 

30 percent of these individuals.30

Humanitarian and Economic Situation 

Since 2022, the number of people in 

Syria in need of humanitarian assistance 

has increased by five percent to 15.3 

million people, which is over two thirds 

of the population.31 Of those 15.3 

million people, there are 7 million 

children currently in need of 

humanitarian assistance.32 According to 

the European Union’s DirectorateGeneral for Civil Protection and 

Humanitarian Aid Operations, 85 

percent of households cannot meet their 

basic needs, over half the population 

lacks a stable water source, and more 

than 12 million people are food 

insecure.33

Food insecurity is of particular 

concern as the Syrian economy has been 

rapidly deteriorating.34 Syria is 

experiencing hyperinflation with a 

record depreciation of the Syrian 

pound, which has led to substantial 

food and fuel price hikes.35 36 About, 

12.1 million Syrians (almost 60 percent 

of the population) are considered food 

insecure, with an additional three 

million more Syrians at risk of food 

insecurity.37 After years of conflict, 

Syria is now one of six countries ‘‘with 

the highest food insecurity in the 

world.’’ 38 Over the course of the 

conflict ‘‘wheat production has declined 

by 75 per cent due to damaged 

infrastructure, the high cost of fuel, and 

drought-like conditions.’’ 39

The February 6, 2023 earthquake and 

subsequent aftershock that hit southern 

Turkey near the Syrian border also 

contributed to the worsening 

humanitarian situation and economic 

deterioration in Syria.40 According to 

the International Blue Crescent Relief 

and Development Foundation, the 

earthquake killed 8,476 people in 

Syria.41 In addition to the loss of life, 

the earthquake has also had devastating 

effects on Syria’s economy, 

infrastructure, and health sector.42 Prior 

to the earthquake, 90 percent of Syrians 

lived in poverty.43 The effect of the 

earthquake in the northern border 

region of Syria resulted in further 

economic hardships. An estimated 

170,000 employees lost their jobs 

because of the earthquake and 

approximately 35,000 micro, small, and 

medium sized businesses were 

damaged.44 As a result, Syria’s 

temporary loss of employment has been 

calculated to be a loss of labor income 

equal to at least 5.7 million dollars per 

month.45 The United Nations estimates 

that Syria needs almost 15 billion 

dollars to recover from the 

earthquakes.46

Healthcare Needs and Access to Water 

Over 15.3 million people in Syria 

need healthcare assistance, which is an 


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47World Health Organization, Health sector 

needs HNO 2023, Dec. 4, 2022, available at https:// 

reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/healthsector-needs-hno-2023 (last visited Oct. 12, 2023). 

48 Id. 

49World Health Organization, Syrian Arab 

Republic: Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA) 

Long-form, Aug. 18, 2022, 2, available at https://

reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/syrianarab-republic-public-health-situation-analysisphsa-long-form-last-update-18-august-2022 (last 

visited Oct. 12, 2023). 

50The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 

Regime-controlled areas in January 2023 Nearly 190 

fatalities in acts of violence . . . 12 assassinations 

and attacks in three provinces . . . escalating living 

crises, Feb. 9, 2023, available at https://

www.syriahr.com/en/288096/ (last visited Oct. 6, 

2023). 

51The Century Foundation, Cholera in the Time 

of Assad: How Syria’s Water Crisis Caused an 

Avoidable Outbreak, Jan. 24, 2023, available at 

https://tcf.org/content/report/cholera-in-the-timeof-assad-how-syrias-water-crisis-caused-anavoidable-outbreak/#:∼:text=According%20to

%20UN%20data%20collected,over%20

the%20past%20few%20years. (last visited Oct. 10, 

2023). 

52 Id. 

53 Id. 

54The World Bank, Syria Earthquake 2023 Rapid 

Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), Mar. 2023, 

48, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/syrianarab-republic/syria-earthquake-2023-rapid-damageand-needs-assessment-rdna-enar (last visited Nov. 

9, 2023). 

55 Id. 

56Maia C Tarnas, Naser Almhawish, Nabil Karah, 

Richard Sullivan, & Aula Abbara, Communicable 

diseases in northwest Syria in the context of 

protracted armed conflict and earthquakes, The 

Lancet Infectious Diseases, July 2023, ISSN 1473– 

3099, available at https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-

3099(23)00201-3 (last visited Oct. 6, 2023). 

57The World Bank, Syria Earthquake 2023 Rapid 

Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), Mar. 2023, 

49, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/syrianarab-republic/syria-earthquake-2023-rapid-damageand-needs-assessment-rdna-enar (last visited Oct. 

10, 2023). 

increase of 3.2 million people from 

2022.47 The World Health Organization 

reports that 41 percent of public 

hospitals and 43 percent of primary 

health care facilities are either partially 

functioning or not functioning at all.48

Further, up to 50 percent of healthcare 

workers have fled Syria since the start 

of the conflict.49 In January 2023, 

sources in regime-controlled areas 

reported a lack of medicine in 

pharmacies as well as a significant 

increase in the prices of medicine for 

heart disease, epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, 

and the flu.50

Access to clean water outside of 

northwest Syria continues to be a 

serious situation for many Syrians as 52 

percent of Syrians lack access to clean 

water and must turn to unsafe 

alternatives, such as polluted rivers or 

unregulated private companies 

providing unclean water.51 Before the 

war, 92 percent of Syrians had 

consistent access to clean water but over 

the last few years, Syria’s water 

infrastructure has deteriorated quickly, 

whether because of the conflict, climate 

change, Syria’s energy crisis, and/or 

conflict actors limiting access to water 

as a political pressure tactic.52 Without 

clean water, Syrians must forego basic 

hygiene and clean drinking water, 

which leaves Syrians at risk for 

infectious waterborne diseases.53

In February 2023, the earthquake 

exacerbated the health care system in 

northwest Syria, the area that saw most 

of the damage.54 The World Bank 

estimates that the total effect of both the 

damage and loss due to the earthquake 

on Syria’s health sector is 300.4 million 

dollars.55 Northwest Syria’s earthquakedamaged infrastructure includes water, 

sanitation, and hygiene, and healthcare 

facilities, raising health concerns related 

to contaminated water and an increased 

risk of waterborne illness.56 57

In summary, over a decade after the 

uprising that sparked the war, the 

Syrian conflict remains ongoing and 

detrimental impacts on the country 

continue. Armed actors continue to kill 

civilians and destroy vital civilian 

infrastructure, the economy is rapidly 

deteriorating, and Syrians cannot afford 

their basic needs, such as food and 

healthcare. Further, the lack of access to 

clean water has created a serious 

problem for those in most of the 

country. The February 2023 earthquake 

further complicated these issues. 

Based on this review and after 

consultation with appropriate U.S. 

Government agencies, the Secretary has 

determined that: 

• The conditions supporting Syria’s 

designation for TPS continue to be met. 

See INA sec. 244(b)(3)(A) and (C), 8 

U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A) and (C). 

• There continues to be an ongoing 

armed conflict in Syria and, due to such 

conflict, requiring the return to Syria of 

Syrian nationals (or individuals having 

no nationality who last habitually 

resided in Syria) would pose a serious 

threat to their personal safety. See INA 

sec. 244(b)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(1)(A). 

• There continue to be extraordinary 

and temporary conditions in Syria that 

prevent Syrian nationals (or individuals 

having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Syria) from 

returning to Syria in safety, and it is not 

contrary to the national interest of the 

United States to permit Syrian TPS 

beneficiaries to remain in the United 

States temporarily. See INA sec. 

244(b)(1)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(C). 

• The designation of Syria for TPS 

should be extended for an 18-month 

period, beginning on April 1, 2024, and 

ending on September 30, 2025. See INA 

sec. 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(3)(C). 

• Due to the conditions described 

above, Syria should be simultaneously 

extended and redesignated for TPS 

beginning on April 1, 2024, and ending 

on September 30, 2025. See INA sec. 

244(b)(1)(A) and (C) and (b)(2), 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(1)(A) and (C) and (b)(2). 

• For the redesignation, the Secretary 

has determined that TPS applicants 

must demonstrate that they have 

continuously resided in the United 

States since January 25, 2024. 

• Initial TPS applicants under the 

redesignation must demonstrate that 

they have been continuously physically 

present in the United States since April 

1, 2024, the effective date of the 

redesignation of Syria for TPS. 

• There are approximately 6,200 

current Syria TPS beneficiaries who are 

eligible to re-register for TPS under the 

extension. 

• It is estimated that approximately 

2,500 additional individuals may be 

eligible for TPS under the redesignation 

of Syria. This population includes 

Syrian nationals in the United States in 

nonimmigrant status or without 

immigration status. 

Notice of the Designation of Syria for 

TPS 

By the authority vested in me as 

Secretary under INA section 244, 8 

U.S.C. 1254a, I have determined, after 

consultation with the appropriate U.S. 

Government agencies, the statutory 

conditions supporting Syria’s 

designation for TPS on the basis of 

ongoing armed conflict and 

extraordinary and temporary conditions 

are met and it is not contrary to the 

national interest of the United States to 

allow Syrian TPS beneficiaries to 

remain in the United States temporarily. 

See INA sec. 244(b)(1)(A), (C); 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(1)(A), (C). On the basis of this 

determination, I am simultaneously 

extending the existing designation of 

Syria for TPS for 18 months, beginning 

on April 1, 2024, and ending on 

September 30, 2025, and redesignating 

Syria for TPS for the same 18-month 

period. See INA sec. 244(b)(1)(A), (C), 

and (b)(2); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A), (C), 

and (b)(2). 

Alejandro N. Mayorkas 

Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security. 


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58Find information about online filing at ‘‘Forms 

Available to File Online,’’ https://www.uscis.gov/ 

file-online/forms-available-to-file-online. 

59https://myaccount.uscis.gov/users/sign_up. 

Eligibility and Employment 

Authorization for TPS 

Required Application Forms and 

Application Fees To Register or ReRegister for TPS 

To register or re-register for TPS based 

on the designation of Syria, you must 

submit a Form I–821, Application for 

Temporary Protected Status. If you are 

submitting an initial TPS application, 

you must pay the application fee for 

Form I–821 (or request a fee waiver, 

which you may submit on Form I–912, 

Request for Fee Waiver). If you are filing 

an application to re-register for TPS, you 

do not need to pay the application fee. 

Whether you are registering as an initial 

applicant or re-registering, you may be 

required to pay the biometric services 

fee. If you can demonstrate an inability 

to pay the biometric services fee, you 

may request to have the fee waived. 

Please see additional information under 

the ‘‘Biometric Services Fee’’ section of 

this notice. 

TPS beneficiaries are eligible for an 

Employment Authorization Document 

(EAD), which proves their authorization 

to work in the United States. You are 

not required to submit Form I–765, 

Application for Employment 

Authorization, or have an EAD to be 

granted TPS, but see below for more 

information if you want an EAD to use 

as proof that you can work in the United 

States. 

Individuals who have a Syria TPS 

application (Form I–821) that was still 

pending as of January 29, 2024, do not 

need to file the application again. If 

USCIS approves an individual’s Form I– 

821, USCIS will grant the individual 

TPS through September 30, 2025. 

For more information on the 

application forms and fees for TPS, 

please visit the USCIS TPS web page at 

https://www.uscis.gov/tps. Fees for the 

Form I–821, the Form I–765, and 

biometric services are also described in 

8 CFR 103.7(b)(1) (Oct. 1, 2020). The 

instructions for Form I–821 and Form I– 

765 also provide more information on 

requirements and fees for both initial 

TPS applicants and existing TPS 

beneficiaries who are re-registering. 

How can TPS beneficiaries obtain an 

employment authorization document 

(EAD)? 

Everyone must provide their 

employer with documentation showing 

that they have the legal right to work in 

the United States. TPS beneficiaries are 

eligible to obtain an EAD, which proves 

their legal right to work. If you want to 

obtain an EAD, you must file Form I– 

765 and pay the Form I–765 fee (or 

request a fee waiver, which you may 

submit on Form I–912, Request for Fee 

Waiver). TPS applicants may file this 

form with their TPS application, or 

separately later, if their TPS application 

is still pending or has been approved. 

Beneficiaries with a Syria TPS-related 

Form I–765 that was still pending as of 

January 29, 2024 do not need to file the 

application again. If USCIS approves a 

pending TPS-related Form I–765, USCIS 

will issue the individual a new EAD 

that will be valid through September 30, 

2025. 

Refiling An Initial TPS Registration 

Application After Receiving a Denial of 

a Fee Waiver Request 

If USCIS denies your fee waiver 

request, you can resubmit your TPS 

application. The fee waiver denial 

notice will contain specific instructions 

about resubmitting your application. 

Filing Information 

You may file Form I–821 and related 

requests for EADs online or by mail. 

However, if you request a fee waiver, 

you must submit your application by 

mail. When filing a TPS application, 

applicants may request an EAD by 

submitting a completed Form I–765 

with their Form I–821. 

Online filing: Form I–821 and Form I– 

765 are available for concurrent filing 

online.58 To file these forms online, you 

must first create a USCIS online 

account.59

Mail filing: Mail your completed Form 

I–821, Application for Temporary 

Protected Status; Form I–765, 

Application for Employment 

Authorization, if applicable; Form I– 

912, Request for Fee Waiver (if 

applicable); and supporting 

documentation to the proper address in 

Table 1-Mailing Addresses. 

TABLE 1—MAILING ADDRESSES

If you send your paper application via: Then, mail your application to: 

U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ..................................................................... USCIS, Attn: TPS Syria, P.O. Box 6943, Chicago, IL 60680–6943. 

FedEx, UPS, or DHL deliveries ................................................................ USCIS, Attn: TPS Syria (Box 6943), 131 S Dearborn 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60603–5517. 

If you were granted TPS by an 

immigration judge or the Board of 

Immigration Appeals (BIA) and you 

wish to request an EAD, please file 

online or mail your Form I–765 to the 

appropriate address in Table 1. If you 

file online, please include the fee. If you 

file by mail, please include the fee or fee 

waiver request. When you request an 

EAD based on an immigration judge or 

BIA grant of TPS, please include with 

your application a copy of the order 

from the immigration judge or BIA 

granting you TPS. This will help us 

verify your grant of TPS and process 

your application. 

Supporting Documents 

The filing instructions on Form I–821 

list all the documents needed to 

establish eligibility for TPS. You may 

also find information on the acceptable 

documentation and other requirements 

for applying (also called, registering) for 

TPS on the USCIS website at https://

www.uscis.gov/tps under ‘‘Syria.’’ 

Travel 

TPS beneficiaries may also apply for 

and be granted travel authorization as a 

matter of discretion. You must file for 

travel authorization if you wish to travel 

outside of the United States. If granted, 

travel authorization gives you 

permission to leave the United States 

and return during a specific period. To 

request travel authorization, you must 

file Form I–131, Application for Travel 

Document, available at https://

www.uscis.gov/i-131. You may file Form 

I–131 together with your Form I–821 or 

separately. When filing Form I–131, you 

must: 

• Select Item Number 1.d. in Part 2 

on the Form I–131; and 

• Submit the fee for Form I–131, or 

request a fee waiver, which you may 

submit on Form I–912, Request for Fee 

Waiver. 


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If you are filing Form I–131 together 

with Form I–821, send your forms to the 

address listed in Table 1. If you are 

filing Form I–131 separately based on a 

pending or approved Form I–821, send 

your form to the address listed in Table 

2 and include a copy of Form I–797 for 

the approved or pending Form I–821. 

TABLE 2—MAILING ADDRESSES

If you are . . . Mail to . . . 

Filing Form I–131 together with a Form I–821, Application for Temporary Protected Status.The address provided in Table 1. 

Filing Form I–131 based on a pending or approved Form I–821, and 

you are using the U.S. Postal Service (USPS): You must include a 

copy of the receipt notice (Form I–797 or I–797C) showing we accepted or approved your Form I–821.

USCIS Attn: I–131 TPS, P.O. Box 660167, Dallas, TX 75266–0867. 

Filing Form I–131 based on a pending or approved Form I–821, and 

you are using FedEx, UPS, or DHL: You must include a copy of the 

receipt notice (Form I–797 or I–797C) showing we accepted or approved your Form I–821.

USCIS Attn: I–131 TPS, 2501 S State Hwy. 121 Business, Ste. 400, 

Lewisville, TX 75067. 

Biometric Services Fee for TPS 

Biometrics (such as fingerprints) are 

required for all applicants 14 years of 

age and older. Those applicants must 

submit a biometric services fee. As 

previously stated, if you are unable to 

pay the biometric services fee, you may 

request a fee waiver, which you may 

submit on Form I–912, Request for Fee 

Waiver. For more information on the 

application forms and fees for TPS, 

please visit the USCIS TPS web page at 

https://www.uscis.gov/tps. USCIS may 

require you to visit an Application 

Support Center to submit biometrics. 

For additional information on the 

USCIS biometric screening process, 

please see the USCIS Customer Profile 

Management Service Privacy Impact 

Assessment, available at https://

www.dhs.gov/publication/dhsuscispia060-customer-profile-managementservice-cpms. 

General Employment-Related 

Information for TPS Applicants and 

Their Employers 

How can I obtain information on the 

status of my TPS application and EAD 

request? 

To get case status information about 

your TPS application, as well as the 

status of your TPS-based EAD request, 

you can check Case Status Online at 

uscis.gov or visit the USCIS Contact 

Center at https://www.uscis.gov/ 

contactcenter. If your Form I–765 has 

been pending for more than 90 days, 

and you still need assistance, you may 

ask a question about your case online at 

https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do 

or call the USCIS Contact Center at 800– 

375–5283 (TTY 800–767–1833). 

Am I eligible to receive an automatic 

extension of my current EAD through 

March 31, 2025, through this Federal 

Register notice? 

Yes. Regardless of your country of 

birth, if you currently have a Syria TPSbased EAD with the notation A–12 or C– 

19 under Category and a Card Expires 

date of March 31, 2024, September 30, 

2022, or March 31, 2021, this Federal 

Register notice automatically extends 

your EAD through March 31, 2025. 

Although this Federal Register notice 

automatically extends your EAD 

through March 31, 2025, you must 

timely re-register for TPS in accordance 

with the procedures described in this 

Federal Register notice to maintain your 

TPS and employment authorization. 

When hired, what documentation may 

I show to my employer as evidence of 

identity and employment authorization 

when completing Form I–9? 

You can find the Lists of Acceptable 

Documents on Form I–9, Employment 

Eligibility Verification, as well as the 

Acceptable Documents web page at 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/ 

acceptable-documents. Employers must 

complete Form I–9 to verify the identity 

and employment authorization of all 

new employees. Within three days of 

hire, employees must present acceptable 

documents to their employers as 

evidence of identity and employment 

authorization to satisfy Form I–9 

requirements. 

You may present any document from 

List A (which provides evidence of both 

identity and employment authorization) 

or one document from List B (which 

provides evidence of your identity) 

together with one document from List C 

(which provides evidence of 

employment authorization), or you may 

present an acceptable receipt as 

described in the Form I–9 Instructions. 

Employers may not reject a document 

based on a future expiration date. You 

can find additional information about 

Form I–9 on the I–9 Central web page 

at https://www.uscis.gov/I-9Central. An 

EAD is an acceptable document under 

List A. See the section ‘‘How do my 

employer and I complete Form I–9 using 

my automatically extended EAD for a 

new job?’’ of this Federal Register 

notice for more information. If your 

EAD states A–12 or C–19 under 

Category and has a Card Expires date of 

March 31, 2024, September 30, 2022, or 

March 31, 2021, this Federal Register 

notice extends it automatically, and you 

may choose to present your EAD to your 

employer as proof of identity and 

employment eligibility for Form I–9 

through March 31, 2025, unless your 

TPS has been withdrawn or your 

request for TPS has been denied. Your 

country of birth noted on the EAD does 

not have to reflect the TPS-designated 

country of Syria for you to be eligible for 

this extension. 

What documentation may I present to 

my employer for Form I–9 if I am 

already employed but my current TPSrelated EAD is set to expire? 

Even though we have automatically 

extended your EAD, your employer is 

required by law to ask you about your 

continued employment authorization. 

Your employer may need to re-examine 

your automatically extended EAD to 

check the Card Expires date and 

Category code if your employer did not 

keep a copy of your EAD when you 

initially presented it. Once your 

employer has reviewed the Card Expires 

date and Category code, they should 

update the EAD expiration date in 

Section 2 of Form I–9. See the section 

‘‘What updates should my current 

employer make to Form I–9 if my EAD 

has been automatically extended?’’ of 

this Federal Register notice for more 

information. You may show this Federal 

Register notice to your employer to 


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explain what to do for Form I–9 and to 

show that USCIS has automatically 

extended your EAD through March 31, 

2025, but you are not required to do so. 

The last day of the automatic EAD 

extension is March 31, 2025. Before you 

start work on April 1, 2025, your 

employer is required by law to reverify 

your employment authorization on 

Form I–9. By that time, you must 

present any document from List A or 

any document from List C on Form I– 

9 Lists of Acceptable Documents, or an 

acceptable List A or List C receipt 

described in the Form I–9 instructions 

to reverify employment authorization. 

Your employer may not specify which 

List A or List C document you must 

present and cannot reject an acceptable 

receipt. 

If I have an EAD based on another 

immigration status, can I obtain a new 

TPS-based EAD? 

Yes, if you are eligible for TPS, you 

can obtain a new TPS-based EAD, even 

if you have an EAD or work 

authorization based on another 

immigration status. If you want to 

obtain a new TPS-based EAD valid 

through September 30, 2025, then you 

must file Form I–765, Application for 

Employment Authorization, and pay the 

associated fee (unless USCIS grants your 

fee waiver request). 

Can my employer require that I provide 

any other documentation such as 

evidence of my status, proof of my 

Syrian citizenship, or a Form I–797C 

showing that I registered for TPS for 

Form I–9 completion? 

No. When completing Form I–9, 

employers must accept any 

documentation you choose to present 

from the Form I–9 Lists of Acceptable 

Documents that reasonably appears to 

be genuine and that relates to you, or an 

acceptable List A, List B, or List C 

receipt. Employers may not request 

other documentation, such as proof of 

Syrian citizenship or proof of 

registration for TPS when completing 

Form I–9 for new hires or reverifying 

the employment authorization of 

current employees. If you present an 

EAD that USCIS has automatically 

extended, employers should accept it as 

a valid List A document if the EAD 

reasonably appears to be genuine and to 

relate to you. Refer to the ‘‘Note to 

Employees’’ section of this Federal 

Register notice for important 

information about your rights if your 

employer rejects lawful documentation, 

requires additional documentation, or 

otherwise discriminates against you 

based on your citizenship or 

immigration status or your national 

origin. 

How do my employer and I complete 

Form I–9 using my automatically 

extended EAD for a new job? 

When using an automatically 

extended EAD to complete Form I–9 for 

a new job before April 1, 2025: 

1. For Section 1, you should: 

a. Check ‘‘A noncitizen authorized to 

work until’’ and enter March 31, 2025, 

as the ‘‘expiration date’’; and 

b. Enter your USCIS number or ANumber where indicated. (Your EAD or 

other document from DHS will have 

your USCIS number or A-Number 

printed on it; the USCIS number is the 

same as your A-Number without the A 

prefix.) 

2. For Section 2, employers should: 

a. Determine whether the EAD is autoextended by ensuring it is in category 

A–12 or C–19 and has a Card Expires 

date of March 31, 2024, September 30, 

2022 or March 31, 2021; 

b. Write in the document title; 

c. Enter the issuing authority; 

d. Provide the document number; and 

e. Write March 31, 2025, as the 

expiration date. 

Before the start of work on April 1, 

2025, employers must reverify the 

employee’s employment authorization 

on Form I–9. 

What updates should my current 

employer make to Form I–9 if my EAD 

has been automatically extended? 

If you presented a TPS-related EAD 

that was valid when you first started 

your job and USCIS has now 

automatically extended your EAD, your 

employer may need to re-examine your 

current EAD if they do not have a copy 

of the EAD on file. Your employer 

should determine whether your EAD is 

automatically extended by ensuring that 

it contains Category A–12 or C–19 and 

has a Card Expires date of March 31, 

2024, September 30, 2022, or March 31, 

2021. Your employer may not rely on 

the country of birth listed on the card 

to determine whether you are eligible 

for this extension. 

If your employer determines that 

USCIS has automatically extended your 

EAD, your employer should update 

Section 2 of your previously completed 

Form I–9 as follows: 

1. Write EAD EXT and March 31, 

2025, as the last day of the automatic 

extension in the Additional Information 

field; and 

2. Initial and date the correction. 

Note: This is not considered a 

reverification. Employers do not reverify the 

employee until either the automatic 

extension has ended, or the employee 

presents a new document to show continued 

employment authorization, whichever is 

sooner. By April 1, 2025, when the 

employee’s automatically extended EAD has 

expired, employers are required by law to 

reverify the employee’s employment 

authorization on Form I–9. 

If I am an employer enrolled in EVerify, how do I verify a new employee 

whose EAD has been automatically 

extended? 

Employers may create a case in EVerify for a new employee by entering 

the number from the Document Number 

field on Form I–9 into the document 

number field in E-Verify. Employers 

should enter March 31, 2025, as the 

expiration date for an EAD that has been 

extended under this Federal Register 

notice. 

If I am an employer enrolled in EVerify, what do I do when I receive a 

‘‘Work Authorization Documents 

Expiring’’ alert for an automatically 

extended EAD? 

E-Verify automated the verification 

process for TPS-related EADs that are 

automatically extended. If you have 

employees who provided a TPS-related 

EAD when they first started working for 

you, you will receive a ‘‘Work 

Authorization Documents Expiring’’ 

case alert when the auto-extension 

period for this EAD is about to expire. 

Before this employee starts work on 

April 1, 2025, you must reverify their 

employment authorization on Form I–9. 

Employers may not use E-Verify for 

reverification. 

Note to All Employers 

Employers are reminded that the laws 

requiring proper employment eligibility 

verification and prohibiting unfair 

immigration-related employment 

practices remain in full force. This 

Federal Register notice does not 

supersede or in any way limit 

applicable employment verification 

rules and policy guidance, including 

those rules setting forth reverification 

requirements. For general questions 

about the employment eligibility 

verification process, employers may call 

USCIS at 888–464–4218 (TTY 877–875– 

6028) or email USCIS at I-9Central@

uscis.dhs.gov. USCIS accepts calls and 

emails in English and many other 

languages. For questions about avoiding 

discrimination during the employment 

eligibility verification process (Form I– 

9 and E-Verify), employers may call the 

U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights 

Division, Immigrant and Employee 

Rights Section (IER) Employer Hotline 

at 800–255–8155 (TTY 800–237–2515). 

IER offers language interpretation in 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 19 / Monday, January 29, 2024 / Notices 5571 

numerous languages. Employers may 

also email IER at IER@usdoj.gov or get 

more information online at 

www.justice.gov/ier. 

Note to Employees 

For general questions about the 

employment eligibility verification 

process, employees may call USCIS at 

888–897–7781 (TTY 877–875–6028) or 

email USCIS at I-9Central@

uscis.dhs.gov. USCIS accepts calls in 

English, Spanish and many other 

languages. Employees or job applicants 

may also call the U.S. Department of 

Justice, Civil Rights Division, Immigrant 

and Employee Rights Section (IER) 

Worker Hotline at 800–255–7688 (TTY 

800–237–2515) for information 

regarding employment discrimination 

based on citizenship, immigration 

status, or national origin, including 

discrimination related to Form I–9 and 

E-Verify. The IER Worker Hotline 

provides language interpretation in 

numerous languages. 

To comply with the law, employers 

must accept any document or 

combination of documents from the 

Lists of Acceptable Documents if the 

documentation reasonably appears to be 

genuine and to relate to the employee, 

or an acceptable List A, List B, or List 

C receipt as described in the Form I–9 

Instructions. Employers may not require 

extra or additional documentation other 

than what is required to complete Form 

I–9. Further, employers participating in 

E-Verify who receive an E-Verify case 

result of ‘‘Tentative Nonconfirmation’’ 

(mismatch) must promptly inform 

employees of the mismatch and give 

these employees an opportunity to 

resolve the mismatch. A mismatch 

means that the information entered into 

E-Verify from Form I–9 differs from 

records available to DHS. 

Employers may not terminate, 

suspend, delay training, withhold or 

lower pay, or take any adverse action 

against an employee because of a 

mismatch while the case is still pending 

with E-Verify. A Final Nonconfirmation 

(FNC) case result is received when EVerify cannot confirm an employee’s 

employment eligibility. An employer 

may terminate employment based on a 

case result of FNC. Work-authorized 

employees who receive an FNC may call 

USCIS for assistance at 888–897–7781 

(TTY 877–875–6028). For more 

information about E-Verify-related 

discrimination or to report an employer 

for discrimination in the E-Verify 

process based on citizenship, 

immigration status, or national origin, 

contact IER’s Worker Hotline at 800– 

255–7688 (TTY 800–237–2515). 

Additional information about proper 

nondiscriminatory Form I–9 and EVerify procedures is available on the 

IER website at https://www.justice.gov/ 

ier and the USCIS and E-Verify websites 

at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central and 

https://www.e-verify.gov. 

Note Regarding Federal, State, and 

Local Government Agencies (Such as 

Departments of Motor Vehicles) 

For Federal purposes, if you present 

an automatically extended EAD 

referenced in this Federal Register 

notice, you do not need to show any 

other document, such as a Form I–797C, 

Notice of Action, reflecting receipt of a 

Form I–765 EAD renewal application or 

this Federal Register notice, to prove 

that you qualify for this extension. 

While Federal Government agencies 

must follow the guidelines laid out by 

the Federal Government, State and local 

government agencies establish their own 

rules and guidelines when granting 

certain benefits. Each state may have 

different laws, requirements, and 

determinations about what documents 

you need to provide to prove eligibility 

for certain benefits. Whether you are 

applying for a Federal, State, or local 

government benefit, you may need to 

provide the government agency with 

documents that show you are a TPS 

beneficiary or applicant, show you are 

authorized to work based on TPS or 

other status, or that may be used by DHS 

to determine if you have TPS or another 

immigration status. Examples of such 

documents are: 

• Your current EAD with a TPS 

category code of A–12 or C–19, even if 

your country of birth noted on the EAD 

does not reflect the TPS-designated 

country of Syria; 

• Your Form I–94, Arrival/Departure 

Record; 

• Your Form I–797, Notice of Action, 

reflecting approval of your Form I–765; 

or 

• Form I–797 or Form I–797C, Notice 

of Action, reflecting approval or receipt 

of a past or current Form I–821, if you 

received one from USCIS. 

Check with the government agency 

requesting documentation about which 

document(s) the agency will accept. 

Some state and local government 

agencies use the SAVE program to 

confirm the current immigration status 

of applicants for public benefits. 

While SAVE can verify that an 

individual has TPS, each agency’s 

procedures govern whether they will 

accept an unexpired EAD, Form I–797, 

Form I–797C, or Form I–94, Arrival/ 

Departure Record. If an agency accepts 

the type of TPS-related document you 

present, such as an EAD, the agency 

should accept your automatically 

extended EAD, regardless of the country 

of birth listed on the EAD. It may assist 

the agency if you: 

a. Give the agency a copy of the 

relevant Federal Register notice 

showing the extension of TPS-related 

documentation in addition to your 

recent TPS-related document with your 

A-number, USCIS number, or Form I–94 

number; 

b. Explain that SAVE will be able to 

verify the continuation of your TPS 

using this information; and 

c. Ask the agency to initiate a SAVE 

query with your information and follow 

through with additional verification 

steps, if necessary, to get a final SAVE 

response verifying your TPS. 

You can also ask the agency to look 

for SAVE notices or contact SAVE if 

they have any questions about your 

immigration status or automatic 

extension of TPS-related 

documentation. In most cases, SAVE 

provides an automated electronic 

response to benefit-granting agencies 

within seconds, but occasionally 

verification can be delayed. 

You can check the status of your 

SAVE verification by using CaseCheck 

at https://www.uscis.gov/save/savecasecheck. CaseCheck is a free service 

that lets you follow the progress of your 

SAVE verification case using your date 

of birth and one immigration identifier 

number (such as A-number, USCIS 

number, or Form I–94 number) or 

Verification Case Number. If an agency 

has denied your application based 

solely or in part on a SAVE response, 

the agency must offer you the 

opportunity to appeal the decision in 

accordance with the agency’s 

procedures. If the agency has received 

and acted on or will act on a SAVE 

verification and you do not believe the 

SAVE response is correct, the SAVE 

website, https://www.uscis.gov/save/ 

save-resources, has detailed information 

on how to make corrections or update 

your immigration record, make an 

appointment, or submit a written 

request to correct records. 

[FR Doc. 2024–01764 Filed 1–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–97–P 


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