Am I eligible for TPS and which countries are currently designated?

3 min read · July 24, 2026

TPS under INA § 244 is for nationals of designated countries who were in the U.S. on the designation's continuous-residence date — current designations in 2026 include Venezuela, Haiti, Ukraine, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under INA § 244 is a country-specific humanitarian protection that lets nationals of designated countries remain and work in the U.S. for the duration of the designation. TPS does not lead directly to a green card, but it provides employment authorization, protection from removal, and (in most circuits) the ability to travel abroad with Advance Parole — which can in some cases unlock adjustment of status.

Current designations and key dates (as of late 2025)

| Country | Designation Type | Continuous-Residence Date | Current Expiration | |---|---|---|---| | Venezuela (2023 redesignation) | Active | July 31, 2023 | April 2, 2026 (litigation pending) | | Venezuela (2021) | Active | March 8, 2021 | September 10, 2025 (in litigation) | | Haiti | Active | June 3, 2024 | February 3, 2026 | | Ukraine | Active | August 16, 2023 | October 19, 2026 | | El Salvador | Active | February 13, 2001 | March 9, 2025 (extended via Ramos litigation) | | Honduras | Active | December 30, 1998 | July 5, 2025 (litigation) | | Nicaragua | Active | December 30, 1998 | July 5, 2025 (litigation) | | Sudan | Active | August 16, 2023 | October 19, 2025 | | South Sudan | Active | September 4, 2023 | November 3, 2025 | | Somalia | Active | September 18, 2023 | March 17, 2026 | | Syria | Active | August 1, 2022 | September 30, 2025 (in litigation) | | Yemen | Active | December 29, 2022 | September 3, 2026 |

The list is fluid; always verify the latest at uscis.gov before relying on these dates.

The five eligibility requirements

1. National of a designated country (or stateless person who last habitually resided there).
2. Filed during an initial registration or re-registration window.
3. Continuously physically present in the U.S. since the designation's effective date.
4. Continuously resided in the U.S. since the country's continuous-residence date (often earlier than the effective date).
5. Admissible — TPS has specific waiver provisions for some grounds.

Disqualifying conduct

TPS is denied to applicants who:

• Have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors.
• Are subject to the persecutor bar under § 244(c)(2)(B)(i).
• Are inadmissible under most security and terrorism grounds (no TPS-specific waiver).
• Failed to register or re-register on time without good cause.

TPS travel and the Matter of Z-R-Z-C- trap

Pre-2022, Matter of Z-R-Z-C- held that travel on TPS Advance Parole did not constitute an "admission" for adjustment-of-status purposes. The Biden administration rescinded that decision in 2022, restoring the pre-2020 rule that TPS-AP travel does constitute an admission. This is consequential: a TPS holder who entered without inspection, then travels on AP and returns, becomes adjustment-eligible if they have a qualifying I-130 — a green card pathway that was closed before the rescission.

How we handle this

For each TPS client we check (a) current designation status (litigation churn is constant), (b) re-registration timing for the next cycle, (c) any criminal-history risk to TPS continuation, and (d) whether TPS-AP travel + adjustment of status is the green-card pathway. The third question is where TPS work goes beyond renewal: many long-term TPS holders qualify for permanent status they never realized was available. We file the AP, plan the trip, and file adjustment on return.