Temporary Protected Status lets nationals of countries hit by war, natural disaster or other extraordinary conditions stay and work legally in the United States while their country is designated. El Paso has long been home to TPS holders from El Salvador and Honduras, and in recent years to Venezuelans, Haitians and others who arrived through the region. TPS does not lead to a green card by itself, but it stops removal, provides a work permit, and, with travel authorization, can allow a trip abroad and a lawful re-entry that opens other doors. Because it must be renewed every time DHS extends a designation, missing a registration window is the most common way people lose it.
TPS is created by INA § 244. The Secretary of Homeland Security designates a country by notice in the Federal Register, sets the dates an applicant must have continuously resided in and been physically present in the U.S., and announces registration and re-registration periods, typically 60 days or more. You apply on Form I-821, usually with Form I-765 for the work permit, and must show identity, nationality, continuous residence and admissibility; certain crimes and two or more misdemeanors bar TPS. Designations are extended, redesignated or terminated by DHS, and several recent decisions have been challenged in federal court. We verify the exact status of your country and the current deadlines before filing, because they change with little notice.
A TPS application is decided by USCIS, not a court. After filing you attend a biometrics appointment at the Application Support Center in El Paso; interviews are rare. If you are already in removal proceedings, TPS can still be requested, but the strategy is different, so tell us at the first call. The risk of filing alone is real: a wrong residence date, a missing nationality document, a late initial registration without the required explanation, or an undisclosed arrest can cause a denial that also ends your work authorization. Our flat fee covers the full I-821 and I-765 package, the evidence, and follow-through until your approval and card arrive.
Initial registration vs. re-registration, and late filings
An initial TPS registration requires proof that you were in the U.S. by the continuous residence date in the designation, such as leases, pay stubs, school and medical records, and money transfer receipts. Re-registration for existing TPS holders is simpler but must be filed inside each announced window, and USCIS requires it even when it has automatically extended existing work permits. Someone who missed the initial window may still qualify for late initial registration if they had a qualifying condition, such as being the spouse or child of a TPS-eligible person or having had another lawful status, during that period.
Travel, advance parole and what TPS can lead to
TPS holders who need to travel abroad must first obtain TPS travel authorization from USCIS on Form I-131; leaving without it can end your status. Returning with that authorization is treated as an inspection and admission, which under current USCIS policy can make some TPS holders eligible to adjust status through a U.S. citizen spouse, parent or child without leaving the country. We review that possibility for every TPS client in El Paso, because for many families it is the path from a temporary status to a permanent one.
What's included
- Verification of your country's current designation, dates and registration deadline
- Preparation of Form I-821 (initial or re-registration) and Form I-765 for the work permit
- Organization of identity, nationality, continuous residence and physical presence evidence
- Fee waiver request (Form I-912) if your income qualifies
- Certified court records and a legal explanation for any arrest or conviction
- Filing with USCIS, biometrics guidance for the El Paso Application Support Center, and case tracking
- Review of whether you may qualify for a green card or other permanent status
How it works
Designation and eligibility check
We confirm that your country is currently designated, the residence and presence dates you must meet, and the deadline that applies to you. We review any criminal history and quote a flat fee at this first meeting.
Evidence and filing
We gather your passport or nationality documents, proof of residence in the U.S., photos and any court records, prepare the I-821 and I-765, and file with USCIS before the window closes. You receive copies and receipt numbers.
Biometrics, approval and next steps
You attend biometrics in El Paso; we handle any request for evidence and track the case to approval. Once approved, we calendar the next re-registration period and discuss whether travel authorization or a family petition makes sense.