This week, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from November 4, 2023, through May 3, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in South Sudan that prevent individuals from safely returning.

Accompanying this announcement is a Special Student Relief notice for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is South Sudan so the students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain F-1 status through the TPS designation period.

The extension of TPS for South Sudan allows approximately 133 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through May 3, 2025, if they continue to meet TPS eligibility requirements. The redesignation of South Sudan for TPS allows an estimated 140 additional South Sudanese nationals (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in South Sudan) who have been continuously residing in the United States since September 4, 2023 and continuously physically present in the United States since November 4, 2023, to file initial applications to obtain TPS, if they are otherwise eligible.

Re-registration is limited to individuals who previously registered for and were granted TPS under South Sudan’s prior designation. Current beneficiaries under TPS for South Sudan must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period from September 5, 2023 through November 4, 2023, to ensure they keep their TPS and employment authorization.

Under the redesignation of South Sudan, eligible individuals who do not have TPS may submit an initial Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the initial registration period that runs from September 5, 2023 through May 3, 2025. Applicants also may apply for TPS-related EADs and for travel authorization. Applicants can request an EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with their Form I-821, or separately later.

If you have any questions, or would like help with your TPS application, please reach out!