There are many ways that visitors and immigrants can potentially extend their stay in the United States. Some immigrants can renew their visas when they are about to expire. Others might qualify for green cards that allow them to remain in the country indefinitely. Naturalization is also an option. Immigrants can apply to become naturalized citizens.
There are also some immigration opportunities extended on a humanitarian basis. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in conjunction with federal lawmakers can extend special status to those who originate from countries facing social upheaval or political unrest. Some people who are currently already in the United States may qualify for temporary protected status because of circumstances in their countries of origin.
What is temporary protected status?
Temporary protected status (TPS) is a designation acknowledging that sending an immigrant home might not be safe. When there are major issues like War or political unrest in another country, the United States may acknowledge that by offering TPS to citizens of that country who are currently in the United States.
There are typically a handful of countries at any given time that have such concerning domestic circumstances that the federal government in the United States recognizes the danger to immigrants. Currently, Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Venezuela are among the countries designated for TPS.
Those who hail from certain nations can apply for TPS and can remain in the country until the TPS designation ends or they qualify for other immigration opportunities. TPS can be valuable in part because individuals may qualify for work authorization when they usually would not. It can be particularly beneficial for those who are nearing the end of their lawful time in the United States.
Seeking humanitarian-based immigration opportunities can be a challenging process. Immigrants often require assistance to understand their immigration opportunities and to manage the technical requirements of utilizing them. Seeking TPS can be beneficial for those concerned about the risks of returning home due to instability.