On Wednesday, June 24, 2015, Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson announced that the country of Nepal will be designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. This decision was based on the conditions within Nepal caused by the April 25th, magnitude 7.8 earthquake and the many aftershocks that followed. This status will allow eligible Nepalese nationals residing in the United States to apply for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The 180-day TPS registration period begins June 24, 2015 and runs through December 21, 2015. The Federal Register notice, “Designation of Nepal for Temporary Protected Status” published June 24, 2015 provides further details and procedures for applying for TPS.
The TPS designation for Nepal is effective starting, June 24, 2015, and will be in effect through December 24, 2016. This designation means that, during the designated period, eligible nationals of Nepal and people without nationality who last habitually resided in Nepal will not be removed from the United States and may receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which will allow them to work within the United States.
For further details please review the USCIS News Release, “DHS Announces Temporary Protected Status Designation for Nepal“.
The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States. Eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country may also be granted TPS.
Source of Information:
USCIS.gov, 6/24/15, News Release:
DHS Announces Temporary Protected Status Designation for Nepal
USCIS.gov, 6/24/15, Web Page:
Temporary Protected Status