Have you wondered what the designation TPS stands for?

TPS stands for Temporary Protected Status. This is a status that is granted by USCIS to a few designated countries that allow people to not be removable while they’re in the US. It is a temporary status and we use this status at our firm as a part of a larger process to get someone to a more permanent status here in the US. Temporary Protected Status does allow for work, it allows people to not be removed, and it may even give them an authorization to travel.

There are a couple of different eligibility requirements. One, you have to be from a certain designated country. Right now, there are 16 countries and in October, Ethiopia became the 16th country that has been designated a TPS status.

One reason why they would designate that status would be some type of armed conflict in their home country and applicants were here visiting and so, they can’t really return. Another reason is that there’s been a natural disaster like hurricanes in Haiti.

The second eligibility requirement would be that they are continuously present for a certain period of time. Usually, that time is when the condition started. If it was a natural disaster like a hurricane, they would have had to have been present in the US on that date or whatever date that USCIS decides to designate in the Federal Register.

They’d have to have that continuous presence and they have to show that continuous presence. We, at our firm, are a couples-based immigration firm. We use TPS because it allows that person to have status in the United States that keep them from being removed from their family. It gives them an avenue to work and participate in their family as well. Pay bills, get health insurance, pay taxes, and all of those things that they want to be able to do to be a valued member of the community.