INS Press Release
July 1, 1999

U.S. INS Grants 45 Additional Days to Hondurans and Nicaraguans
To Apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

WASHINGTON — The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) today granted an additional 45 days for those Hondurans and Nicaraguans who are already eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to submit their applications. Given the difficulty that some prospective applicants have faced in obtaining necessary documentation from their home countries, INS will continue to accept applications until August 20, 1999. However, applicants should note that the TPS filing instructions do contain provisions for filing without nationality documents. INS must receive a completed application by close of business on August 20, 1999, in order to process it; thus, applications should be mailed well in advance of August 20. There will be no further extension of the registration deadline.

INS is granting applicants the 45 additional days to provide them more time to obtain evidence to demonstrate their eligibility for TPS. However, applicants do not need to wait to apply until they have obtained all of the evidence. The application, Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, contains instructions for applicants who cannot obtain identity and nationality documentation. Applicants who do not submit appropriate documentation establishing identity or nationality with their applications must, under the regulations, instead submit an affidavit showing proof of unsuccessful efforts to obtain the documents, explaining why the consular process was unavailable, and affirming that they are nationals of Honduras or Nicaragua.

As part of the Clinton Administration’s ongoing efforts to assist countries affected by Hurricane Mitch, on December 30, 1998, the INS announced the Attorney General’s designation of TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua for a period of 18 months. This status will expire on July 5, 2000; today’s action does not alter that date. During the designation period, eligible Hondurans and Nicaraguans will not be subject to removal and will be eligible for permission to work in the United States. Only Hondurans and Nicaraguans who were in the U.S. by December 30, 1998 are eligible to apply.

All Hondurans and Nicaraguans eligible for TPS must submit both an Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821, and an Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, along with evidence of nationality and residence in the United States as of December 30, 1998. These forms are available from the toll-free INS Forms line, 1-800-870-3676, and from the INS Website, www.ins.usdoj.gov. Once completed, they should be sent to the INS Service Center with jurisdiction over the state where the applicant resides. The INS Service Center locations and jurisdictions are listed on the forms.

Form I-821 must include a $50 filing fee, along with a $25 fingerprinting fee. Applicants for employment authorization should submit a Form I-765 with the $100 filing fee. Applicants who already have or do not wish to receive employment authorization still must submit a completed Form I-765, but without the accompanying fee. An applicant may request a waiver of TPS-related application filing fees but not the fingerprinting fees by submitting proper documentation of inability to pay.

— INS —