Burmese Nationals Now Eligible for Temporary Protected Status
The recent military coup in Burma has deepened the humanitarian crisis in the country, preventing Burmese nationals and habitual residents from returning home safely. In light of the ongoing violence in Burma, the Biden administration has decided to grant Temporary Protected Status to nationals of Burma currently residing in the US for a period of 18 months. Burmese nationals (as well as individuals without nationality who last resided in Burma) who can demonstrate continuous residence in the United States as of March 11, 2021 are eligible to apply for TPS.
A Federal Register notice, detailing the procedure for submitting an initial TPS application as well as an application for work authorization is forthcoming. We will keep you updated in this regard.
By way of background, the Department of Homeland Security grants TPS to nationals of a country where conditions in that country temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely, or, in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of certain countries (or parts of countries), who are already in the United States.
DHS grants TPS to nationals of a country if the following temporary conditions exist in their home country: 1) ongoing armed conflict (such as civil war); 2) an environmental disaster (such as earthquake or hurricane), or an epidemic; or 3) other extraordinary and temporary conditions.
TPS beneficiaries are given work authorization, protected from removal, and may obtain travel permission.
Nationals of the following countries currently benefit from TPS:
This alert is for informational purposes only. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this development further.