We finally have information regarding re-registration for Venezuela TPS (Temporary Protected Status) holders. According to a Federal Register notice, beneficiaries who already have Venezuela TPS can re-register during a 60-day window starting September 8, 2022. That means the deadline to re-register is November 7, 2022. To re-register, beneficiaries must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status and, if they also need to renew or apply for their Employment Authorization Document (EAD), they must also submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. There has been a lot of confusion surrounding the re-registration process for Venezuela TPS, because the initial TPS grant was set to expire September 9, 2022, or exactly two days from now. Thankfully, that date has now been extended to September 9, 2023. That means anyone who currently has Venezuela TPS will remain in that status until September 2023. Any EADs based on Venezuela TPS are also automatically extended to that date. Once the re-registration is approved, the new TPS/EAD will be valid through March 10, 2024. Before that date, there will be another update on the status of TPS for Venezuela and we will find out once again if there will be another extension.
What are the filing fee costs?
The government filing fees for re-registration are as follows: $85.00 for the I-821 re-registration ($0 if under 14) $410 for the I-765 EAD request So the total filing fee cost for TPS re-registration and an EAD is $495 for anyone 14 and older, and $410 if under 14.
Who is eligible for Venezuela TPS?
Unfortunately, there have not been any changes or extensions to eligibility for Venezuela TPS. You still must have been physically present in the U.S. since March 8, 2021. If you arrived after that, you are not currently eligible for TPS. Additionally, if you have been convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors in the United States, you are not eligible. If you are re-registering for TPS and have had any new criminal history since your initial registration, you should speak to an immigration attorney to make sure you are still eligible. Losing eligibility based on two misdemeanors means that something as seemingly minor as being caught driving without a license twice can make you ineligible, so it’s best to check before you apply. If your application gets denied, the government will not refund your filing fees.
Re-Registration Deadline
As I mentioned above, the deadline to apply for Venezuela TPS re-registration is November 7, 2022. The re-registration window is only open for 60 days (Sept. 8-Nov. 7). It can take time to gather all the evidence and documents you need to re-register, especially if you are missing evidence or need to request certified court records based on a criminal charge. Therefore, it is best to prepare and apply for re-registration as soon as possible.
How Long Will it Take to Receive the Re-Registration Approval and New EAD?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer. It will likely take at least a few months. The good news is that current TPS has been automatically extended to September 9, 2023. This should give everyone time to re-register and receive their new approval notices/EADs well before the initial TPS grant expires. Many people are still stuck waiting to receive their initial TPS Approvals and EADs. For anyone in this category, when they do finally receive their Approval Notice and EAD, their TPS should automatically be valid through the March 2024 date. So no one has to worry about applying for re-registration if they are still waiting for their initial approval.
Final Thoughts
The Federal Register announcement is good news and provides some peace of mind to everyone who currently has Venezuela TPS. It is unfortunate that the eligibility requirements did not change to include more Venezuelans who were not previously eligible, but perhaps those changes will still come in the future. The most important takeaways are: Venezuela TPS has been extended through September 9, 2023, re-registration must be completed by November 7, 2022, and once approved, the TPS re-registration and EAD cards will be valid through March 10, 2024.
We Can Help
Ben Williams helped many clients apply for both initial TPS and re-registration. The ability to file these applications online with USCIS makes applying simple and easy to do, even if you are not in the Richmond, Virginia are or are unable to come to our office. If you have any questions about TPS re-registration or would like to apply, please feel free to call us or schedule an appointment.