The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that it would extend the validity of several employment authorization documents (EADs). This extension applies to Temporarily Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries in qualified designations, including El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan.

Since its establishment by Congress in 1990, TPS has protected many beneficiaries by controlling their removal from the US. The US offers TPS to those who cannot practically return to their home countries experiencing problems that make returning unsafe. Such struggles include ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, and other temporary conditions preventing a safe return.

It also makes them eligible for work authorization while they benefit from TPS. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has managed the program since its inception. As such, the DHS has enforced TPS durations. The DHS stressed that this status may extend up to 18 months before beneficiaries must renew their status.

Beneficiaries under these designated countries must remember to re-register their TPS under the most recent extension. They must do this within the applicable re-registration period to maintain TPS benefits. The re-registration periods are as follows:

• El Salvador: March 9th, 2025
• Honduras: July 5th, 2025
• Nepal June 24th, 2025
• Nicaragua: July 5th, 2025
• Sudan: April 19th, 2025

When re-registering, TPS beneficiaries must submit an Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) before the appropriate date. Though these re-registration periods have different end dates, the USCIS has extended the benefits for EADs associated with these designations to March 9, 2025. The USCIS will issue Notices of Action (Form I-797s) to beneficiaries regarding the EAD extension implementation. This notice includes beneficiaries eligible to re-register for TPS and those with a pending application to renew their TPS-related EADs.

Employees may complete the employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) process by presenting their Form I-797 with a TPS-associated EAD. Employers can verify an EAD’s validity by checking for an A12 or C19 and comparing the EAD’s expiration date with the USCIS’s I-9 Central website. The USCIS also reminded all employers that the combination of documents qualifies as valid EADs for completing Form I-9s.

Many employers have found it challenging to maintain compliance with Form I-9 regulations. As such, employers have begun relying on an electronic I-9 management system. This system offers step-by-step guidance, digital storage for forms and related documents, notifications on when to take further action, and an optional E-Verify integration.

When it comes to your work, automation makes eligibility verification quick and seamless. Get a head start today with I-9 Compliance.

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