The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the 18 month period beginning November 27, 2024, and running through May 27, 2026.
Beginning November 27, 2024, eligible Lebanese nationals may submit TPS applications during the registration period which will run for the same period; i.e. from November 27, 2024 through May 27, 2026. Eligible individuals will also be able to apply for TPS-related employment authorization documents (EAD) and travel permission also known as advance parole (AP) during this time.
DHS, in a related announcement has suspended certain F-1 nonimmigrant regulatory rules for Lebanese students who may be experiencing economic hardships due to the ongoing situation in Lebanon, allowing them to apply for employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status.
In the Federal Register (FR) Notice, published November 27, 2024, the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) has designated Lebanon for TPS for the 18 month period beginning November 27, 2024, and running through May 27, 2026. By way of background, the Secretary may designate a foreign country for TPS due to country conditions that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning to their home country safely. As indicated in the FR Notice, DHS, based on input by the Department of State and other government agencies, have determined the TPS designation is warranted due to the armed conflict and the current extraordinary economic, political, and humanitarian conditions in the country. This designation allows Lebanese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon) to apply for TPS so long as they have 1) continuously resided in the United States since October 16, 2024, and 2) have been continuously physically present in the United States since November 27, 2024. During this designated period, eligible individuals are not removable from the United States, and can obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and an Advanced Parole (AP) document based on obtaining TPS status.
In an accompanying Special Student Relief (SSR) notice for F-1 students whose country of citizenship is Lebanon, DHS has suspended certain regulatory requirements so that eligible students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours during the school year, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain F-1 status through the TPS designation period. To be eligible for the SSR the F-1 Student must:
Lebanese nationals, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon, having continuously resided in the United States since October 16, 2024, and having been continuously physically present in the United States since November 27, 2024 are eligible to apply for TPS. To be eligible, the individuals must file Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, with appropriate fees (or request for fee waiver via Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the designated registration period of November 27, 2024 through May 27, 2026. TPS status will allow for these individuals to remain in the United States throughout the duration of the political crises in Lebanon and provide them avenues to obtain work authorization.
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Manish Daftari
Partner
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