On Aug. 18, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an additional 18-month extension of temporary protected status (TPS) for Ukrainian nationals, from Oct. 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025. Existing beneficiaries of TPS for Ukraine may re-register for TPS during the 60-day re-registration period, which began Aug. 21, 2023, and runs through Oct. 20, 2023. According to DHS, the extension of TPS will allow approximately 26,000 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through April 19, 2025, if they continue to meet the TPS eligibility requirements.

Citing the ongoing armed conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, DHS also announced a redesignation of TPS for Ukrainian nationals. This means that Ukrainian nationals residing in the United States as of Aug. 16, 2023, are now eligible to apply for TPS. DHS estimates hold that potentially 166,700 additional individuals may be eligible for TPS under this redesignation. This includes Ukrainian nationals in the United States in a nonimmigrant status or without a lawful immigration status.

Current beneficiaries who wish to extend their TPS must re-register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during the 60-day re-registration period in 2023 to ensure there is no gap in their TPS or employment authorization. Additionally, given not all re-registrants may receive a new employment authorization document (EAD) before their current EAD expiration date, USCIS is automatically extending previously issued EADs through Oct. 19, 2024.

Individuals who have a TPS application pending with USCIS, or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, do not need to refile these pending applications. If USCIS approves a pending TPS or EAD application filed under the previous designation of TPS for Ukrainian nationals, USCIS will grant the individual TPS through April 19, 2025, and will also issue an EAD valid through the same end date.

The announcement from DHS directs individuals to the Federal Register notice for an explanation regarding the TPS eligibility criteria, timelines, and procedures necessary for current beneficiaries to re-register and renew EADs, as well as for new applicants to submit a TPS application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD.