Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas has redesignated and announced an extension of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an additional 18 months. This decision will allow eligible beneficiaries to remain in the United States through December 12, 2025. It also enables beneficiaries to acquire employment authorization documents (EADs) and travel authorization. 

According to the Secretary of Homeland Security, “Temporary Protected Status provides individuals already present in the United States with protection from removal when conditions in their home country prevent their safe return. That is the situation facing Ethiopians who arrived here on or before April 11 of this year. We are granting them protection through this temporary form of humanitarian relief that the law provides.”

This redesignation will allow an estimated 12,800 qualifying Ethiopian nationals to file an initial application for TPS. Any individuals with no nationality who last habitually resided in Ethiopia may also file an initial application. However, all interested parties must have continuous U.S. residence that started before or on April 11, 2024, in addition to meeting the other TPS requirements. Individuals applying for TPS may also submit an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) for EADs.

For re-registration, individuals must have previously applied for and received a designation for TPS. Current beneficiaries may apply during the re-registration period in order to retain their TPS and employment authorization through December 12, 2025. To do this, eligible current TPS holders must submit an application during the re-registration period running from April 15 through June 14, 2024.

Some individuals may find it unnecessary to file an Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) or I-765 under the new designation. For example, those with a pending Form I-821 or I-765 do not have to file either. Instead, should the government grant either application, they will automatically receive the extended TPS on their EADs.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has automatically extended the validity of existing EADs granted consequent to TPS Ethiopia status with a “Card Expires” date of June 12, 2024. As such, employers may need to check continued employment authorization upon the expiration of existing documentation. They may determine whether an EAD has received the automatic extension by comparing the “Card Expires” date and checking if the “Category” code is A-12 or C-19.

For employers, ensuring compliance with these continually changing requirements can prove challenging. The best way to help ensure continued compliance is to utilize an electronic I-9 management system for the employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) process. This system can provide step-by-step guidance, electronic storage, and helpful reminders to help keep each form uniformly compliant.

When it comes to your employees, automation makes eligibility verification quick and simple. Ensure compliance today with I-9 Compliance.

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