Chattanooga Temporary Protected Status Lawyer
Tennessee Immigration Law Attorneys Assisting with Temporary Protected Status in Chattanooga
When certain countries around the world are not safe for people to live and work in, or when conditions in a country make it unsafe for a person to return to that country where they hold citizenship, it may be possible to obtain Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States. It is important to know that TPS is not a permanent way to live in the United States and is not a route to becoming a Green Card holder or a citizen, but rather is intended as a temporary solution until the foreign national’s home country situation gets better and she or he can return. Yet many people who are in the United States with TPS have lived here for many years.
Whether you need assistance with your rights as a person in the U.S. with TPS or you want to learn more about eligibility, an experienced Chattanooga Temporary Protected Status lawyer can answer your questions and speak with you today about your case.
What is Temporary Protected Status in Chattanooga?
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a foreign country can be designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) “due to conditions in the country that 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.” A person who is already in the United States can be granted TPS, and people outside the U.S., including those who no longer have a nationality but previously resided in one of the designated foreign countries, can be granted TPS. The following is true for a person with TPS:
- Cannot be removed from the United States on the basis of immigration status;
- Cannot be detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the basis of immigration status;
- Can get employment authorization to work in the United States; and
- May be able to have travel authorization.
The TPS program began in 1990, and according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), more than 300,000 people are currently in the United States as TPS holders.
Reasons for Designating a Country for Temporary Protected Status
There are various types of temporary reasons that a country, or a particular region, can be designated for TPS, such as the following identified by USCIS:
- Civil war in the country or other ongoing armed conflict;
- Environment disaster like an earthquake or an epidemic; or
- Other types of extraordinary and temporary conditions.
Examples of the countries that are currently designated for TPS include the following (although it is important to confirm a country’s TPS designation since it can expire or other countries can be designated that are not on the list):
- Burma/Myanmar;
- El Salvador;
- Haiti;
- Honduras;
- Nepal;
- Nicaragua;
- Somalia;
- Sudan;
- South Sudan;
- Syria;
- Ukraine;
- Venezuela; and
- Yemen
To seek TPS, you must file Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status.
Contact a Chattanooga Temporary Protected Status Lawyer
If you need assistance with your TPS application, or if you have questions about your rights as a TPS beneficiary, one of our Chattanooga immigration lawyers can assist you. Contact Shirazi Immigration Law, Inc. to speak with an experienced lawyer about your particular circumstances.
