Rachel Browning’s Legal Blog

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that it will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to nationals of Nicaragua through July 5, 2010.  In order to be eligible for the extension, qualifying nationals of Nicaragua must have already registered for TPS based on their presence in the U.S. prior to December 30, 1998. TPS does not apply to Nicaraguan nationals who entered the United States after Dec. 30, 1998.  The extension allows those who have already been granted TPS eligible to reregister and maintain their status for an additional 18 months.   According to USCIS, there are approximately 3,500 nationals from Nicaragua eligible for re-registration. 

The extension of TPS for Nicaragua is effective Jan. 6, 2009 and will remain in effect through July 5, 2010.    Nicaraguan nationals (and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) who have been granted TPS must reregister for the 18-month extension during the 60-day reregistration period beginning on Jan. 6, 2009 and are encouraged to apply as soon as possible following the start of the 60-day re-registration period.  Applications from Nicaraguan TPS beneficiaries will not be accepted prior to this date. 

Temporary Protected Status is available to nationals of countries that the Attorney General has determined to be too unsafe for residents to return to, due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions.  Countries currently designated for TPS include Burundi, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia and Sudan.

For more information about TPS, re-registration, or other humanitarian immigration benefits, contact the Immigration Attorneys of Smith & Garg in either our Woodlands, Texas or Westchase Houston offices.