Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, is the application nationals of designated countries file with USCIS to request TPS — a humanitarian status that shields them from removal and authorizes them to remain in the United States when conditions in their home country, such as armed conflict or natural disaster, make safe return impossible. TPS does not lead to a green card on its own, but it grants temporary lawful presence and, when paired with Form I-765, work authorization for as long as the designation remains active.
To qualify, you must be a national (or stateless former resident) of a country currently designated for TPS, and you must file during your country’s open initial registration or re-registration period. You also need to show continuous physical presence and continuous residence in the United States since the dates set for your designation, along with proof of identity and nationality. Certain criminal or immigration violations can make you ineligible or require a waiver.
TPS deadlines are unforgiving, and a missed re-registration window or an incomplete evidence package can mean losing status and work authorization. Immigration Professional Association helps clients confirm eligibility, assemble the residence and identity evidence USCIS expects, request fee waivers where available, and respond to Requests for Evidence — reducing the risk of delay or denial on a filing where the stakes are your ability to remain and work lawfully in the U.S.
USCIS opens a re-registration period for each TPS designation, typically around 60 days, and applicants who file even a single day late can lose their status and automatic work authorization extension. These windows are announced through Federal Register notices tied to your specific country's designation, not a fixed annual date. Missing one often means waiting for the next registration period, if the designation is even extended, so calendaring your country's exact window matters.
TPS approval hinges on proving continuous physical presence and continuous residence in the U.S. since the dates USCIS sets for your country, not just proof of nationality. Applicants often submit thin documentation — a single lease or pay stub — when USCIS expects a dated paper trail: rent receipts, utility bills, medical records, school enrollment, and bank statements spanning the entire period. Gaps in that timeline are a common reason TPS applications draw a Request for Evidence or denial.
Since 2025, initial TPS registrations carry an additional fee tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, on top of the standard I-821 filing and biometrics fees, and this particular charge cannot be waived even if you qualify for a fee waiver on the rest.
Before submitting your application, always confirm that you are using the most recent edition of the form available from USCIS.gov. Filing outdated forms may result in rejection.
Review your nationality, residence history, and any inadmissibility issues to confirm TPS eligibility and identify the supporting evidence needed before filing. Average budget: $300–$600.
Complete and file Form I-821 with USCIS, including compiling identity, nationality, and continuous residence evidence. Average budget: $800–$1,500.
Prepare and file Form I-765 alongside your TPS application so your work authorization request moves in tandem with your case. Average budget: $600–$1,200.
Prepare a fee waiver request for the eligible portions of your filing fees for applicants who qualify based on financial hardship. Average budget: $250–$500.
Prepare and submit your re-registration package during your country’s designated window to maintain continuous TPS status. Average budget: $500–$900.
Draft a comprehensive response to a USCIS Request for Evidence, including additional documentation and supporting legal argument. Average budget: $600–$1,200.
Prepare and file a waiver for applicants with inadmissibility issues that would otherwise bar TPS approval. Average budget: $1,500–$3,000.
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