TPS: Is It Still Available Amid the Asylum Processing Halt?

(UNITED STATES) People in the United States 🇺🇸 are hearing a lot about an asylum processing halt and worry that every type of protection is shutting down. That’s not the case. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is still running as its own program and continues to help people from certain crisis-hit countries stay and work in the country lawfully.

This guide walks through how TPS works from start to finish, what to expect at each step, and how the asylum processing halt fits into the picture.

How TPS Works in Simple Terms

TPS is a humanitarian program run by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It’s for people already in the United States whose home countries have been officially named “TPS-designated” because of:

• Armed conflict (for example, war or serious civil unrest)
• Environmental disasters (such as earthquakes or hurricanes)
• Other temporary but extreme conditions that make it unsafe to return

If you qualify, TPS lets you:

• Stay in the United States for a set period (usually up to 18 months at a time)
• Get work authorization so you can work legally
• Apply for travel permission to go abroad and return during the TPS period
• Be protected from deportation while your country remains designated

TPS can be renewed repeatedly as long as DHS keeps your country on the list. But it’s important to be clear: TPS does not give you a direct path to a green card or U.S. citizenship. You may still apply separately for permanent residence or other status if you qualify, but that’s a different process.

For official background and country lists, DHS and USCIS publish TPS information on their websites, including the main TPS page at USCIS Temporary Protected Status.

Step 1: Checking If Your Country Has TPS

The first step in any TPS journey is to see if your country is currently designated.

Based on the most recent information in late 2025:

• TPS designations remain active for several countries, including El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Haiti.
• Haiti’s TPS protection has been extended through February 3, 2026, following a court order.
• Some TPS terminations are planned or underway, including Burma (Myanmar), with TPS scheduled to end on January 26, 2026.
• DHS moved to terminate TPS for Syria, but a federal judge blocked that termination on November 19, 2025.

DHS reviews each country based on current conditions and then announces decisions through Federal Register notices. Those official notices explain whether a country’s TPS is extended, newly designated, or terminated, and they set key dates and deadlines.

If your country is not listed in a current DHS notice, you can’t apply for TPS based on that country.

Step 2: Confirming You’re Physically in the United States

TPS is for people who are already in the United States when their country receives or keeps a TPS designation. The program does not let you enter from abroad.

To be considered, you must:

• Be a national of a country that has TPS, and
• Be physically present in the United States

The source material states clearly that TPS is available to people “who are physically present in the U.S. and meet the program requirements.”

Step 3: Understanding That TPS Is Separate From Asylum

Many people confuse TPS and asylum, especially with talk of an asylum processing halt. The key point is:

• TPS and asylum are completely separate programs.

According to analysis reported by VisaVerge.com, and supported by DHS guidance, recent asylum processing restrictions or halts do not affect TPS eligibility or renewals. That means:

• You can still apply for TPS if you qualify, even during an asylum processing halt.
• USCIS continues to process TPS applications and extensions independently of asylum cases.
• If you already have TPS, you can still renew it as long as your country’s designation is extended and you meet all other requirements.

So if you’re worried that the asylum processing halt shuts every door, TPS may still be open for you, depending on your country and personal situation.

Important takeaway: An asylum processing halt does not close TPS. If you meet TPS criteria and your country is designated, you can pursue TPS separately.

Step 4: Filing for TPS During an Open Registration Period

Every TPS designation or extension comes with:

• A registration period for new applicants, and
• A re‑registration period for current TPS holders

During those windows, people who qualify may submit applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While the source material doesn’t list specific forms or fees, you can expect the process to involve:

• An application for TPS itself
• A separate request if you want work authorization
• Evidence that you’re a national of the TPS country
• Proof that you’ve been in the United States for the required time

Because TPS is often time-sensitive, missing a registration or re‑registration window can put your protection at risk. You should always check the Federal Register notice or the USCIS TPS page for exact deadlines.

Step 5: Waiting for USCIS to Decide

Once USCIS receives your TPS application:

• Your case is processed independently from any asylum claim
• The asylum processing halt does not stop USCIS from working on TPS cases

There’s no standard processing time given in the source material, but it’s typical for USCIS decisions to take several months. During this waiting time, if you’ve correctly asked for work authorization, USCIS may process that part along with your TPS request.

If you’re approved:

• You gain temporary protection from deportation for the length of your country’s current TPS period
• You can hold employment authorization during that same period
• You can ask for travel permission if you need to leave the United States briefly

If you’re denied, you may receive a written explanation and information about possible next steps, depending on your situation and current status.

Step 6: Living in the United States With TPS

While you hold TPS, you can:

• Work legally
• Live openly in the United States without fear of sudden removal (as long as you keep meeting TPS rules)
• Apply for travel permits if needed

But TPS doesn’t change your basic immigration category. It does not automatically turn into:

• A green card
• Asylum
• Citizenship

If you want permanent status, you’d need to look at separate options under U.S. immigration law and see whether you qualify.

Step 7: Watching for Extensions or Terminations

TPS is temporary by design. DHS regularly reviews country conditions and decides whether to:

• Extend TPS for another period (often up to 18 months), or
• End TPS (terminate the designation)

These decisions are again published in the Federal Register. For example:

• Haiti’s TPS was extended through February 3, 2026, after court action.
• TPS for Burma (Myanmar) is set to end on January 26, 2026, unless there’s a new change.
• A federal judge stopped DHS from ending Syria’s TPS on November 19, 2025.

If TPS for your country is extended, you usually must re‑register within the stated dates to keep your protection and work authorization.

If TPS is terminated, there will be a wind‑down period described in the Federal Register notice. When that period ends, TPS protection stops, and you may need to:

• Move to another lawful status, if possible, or
• Prepare for the risk of removal if you have no other options

What TPS Means in a Time of Asylum Processing Halts

For many people, TPS is a lifeline during periods when asylum rules are tightening or processing slows. The key facts from current guidance are:

• TPS remains available and operational even during an asylum processing halt.
• TPS applications and renewals continue to be decided by USCIS as usual.
• The asylum processing halt does not close TPS for people from TPS‑designated countries who are in the United States and meet all requirements.

If you come from a country like El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, or Haiti, or another nation with an active TPS designation, TPS may be one of the most important protections you can seek while the broader asylum system goes through changes.