Consistent with the Biden Administration’s extensions for other countries, the Department of Homeland Security announced an 18-month extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for both Sudan and South Sudan due to conditions in those countries that temporarily prevent their nationals from returning safely.

The specifics for South Sudan are published in the Federal Register. TPS for South Sudan was last extended in December 2020. Now, the benefit has been redesignated and extended through November 3, 2023. (The specifics for Sudan have not yet been announced.)

South Sudanese holders of TPS (approximately 700 individuals) should re-register and renew their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) during the re-registration period that runs from March 3, 2022, through May 2, 2022. Any TPS holder from South Sudan who has an EAD that expires on May 2, 2022 and renews an EAD during the re-registration period will be eligible for an automatic 180-day extension of work authorization until November 1, 2022, while waiting for a newly issued EAD that will expire on November 3, 2023. This is intended to eliminate any possible gap in employment authorization due to processing delays.

Based on the redesignation, South Sudanese nationals and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in South Sudan may file an initial TPS application and apply for employment authorization if they have continuously resided in the United States since March 1, 2022. DHS expects approximately 230 individuals will be eligible for an initial application.