TPS and humanitarian parole: the complete guide

We know this is hard. Many of you built a life here on TPS or parole, and now the dates keep moving. You still have choices. Some people have other ways to stay that they never needed to look at before. The time to look is now, while your papers are still good.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. DNLH is not a law office, and we cannot represent you. Every case is different. Talk with an immigration lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative about yours. Free help is listed below.

On this page

1. What are TPS and humanitarian parole?
2. Which countries have TPS right now?
3. My country's end date passed. Do I still have TPS?
4. Who qualifies for TPS, and who does not?
5. How do I register again, and what does it cost?
6. How does my TPS work permit work now?
7. What happens when TPS ends for my country?
8. What have the courts decided?
9. What is humanitarian parole, and what happened to the parole programs?
10. My parole is ending. What can I do?
11. Can TPS or parole lead to a green card?
12. Can I travel with TPS or parole?
13. What benefits can I get in California?
14. What should I do this month to protect my family?
15. What changed in 2025 and 2026?
16. Where can I get free help in the Bay Area?
17. Questions people ask, Printables and Sources

What are TPS and humanitarian parole?

TPS and parole are both temporary. Neither one is a green card. They let you stay and work for a set time. When that time ends, you are left with whatever other status you have, if any.

TPS

Temporary Protected Status is for people from a country the government has named, or "designated," because of war, disaster or other serious conditions there. The TPS law says that while you have TPS:

• You cannot be deported while your status is in effect.
• You can get a work permit.
• You cannot be detained because of your immigration status.

TPS is tied to your country, not to your own story. The Secretary of Homeland Security decides when a country gets TPS, when it is extended, and when it ends. The law requires each of those decisions to be published in the Federal Register.

Humanitarian parole

Parole is permission to be in the United States for a set time, for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. It is decided case by case, sometimes through a program built for one group, like the parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (often called CHNV) or Uniting for Ukraine. Parole ends on its own when your parole time runs out or when you leave the country. DHS can also end it early with written notice (8 CFR 212.5). Parolees can ask for a work permit.

How they are different

Which countries have TPS right now?

Four countries still have TPS protection today, and for three of them DHS has not announced a decision. Here is where each country stood when we checked on October 21, 2026. This changes fast. Check your country's USCIS TPS page and the Federal Register before you rely on any date.

My country's end date passed. Do I still have TPS?

For El Salvador, Ukraine and Sudan, the government says yes, for now. As of October 21, 2026, no decision to end TPS has been published for these countries, and DHS says you keep your protection until it announces one. That is DHS's word, not a new end date, so keep checking.

What the law says

The TPS law, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3) gives DHS a deadline. At least 60 days before a country's TPS period ends, DHS must review conditions in that country. If DHS does not decide to end TPS in time, the law says the designation "is extended for an additional period of 6 months," or 12 or 18 months if DHS chooses. When DHS does end TPS, it must publish a notice in the Federal Register, and the ending cannot take effect earlier than 60 days after that notice.

DHS used this exact rule for Lebanon in May 2026. Its notice said the Lebanon designation was "automatically extended" for six months because no decision was made by the deadline. For Lebanon's current end date, November 27, 2026, the 60 day point was September 28, 2026. No notice had been published by October 21, 2026. Ask a lawyer what that means for you.

What DHS has said

• El Salvador. USCIS posted this on its El Salvador TPS page in September 2026: "An announcement on El Salvador's TPS will be made at the appropriate time. Until such announcement is made, Salvadoran individuals present in the U.S. under TPS retain protection, including work authorization."
• Ukraine and Sudan. On October 18, 2026, DHS told CBS News that final decisions "will be made at the appropriate time," and that until then, Ukrainians and Sudanese with TPS "retain protection." A DHS spokesperson repeated this to Reuters on October 19, the end date itself (report). These are statements to reporters. Print your country's page on the USCIS TPS site and keep it with your papers.
• Federal Register. As of October 21, 2026, no new TPS notice for these countries had been published since May 2026 (Federal Register search for TPS documents). Check it again before you rely on this.

The hard part: your card

DHS has not published a new end date for these countries. USCIS mailed notices that stretched some cards only to the old end dates: September 9, 2026 for El Salvador, and October 19, 2026 for Ukraine and Sudan (law firm summary of the USCIS releases). So your work permit and any notice may show a date that has passed. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) warns that it is unclear how employers should check work permission in this situation, and that relying on the automatic extension argument alone carries risk.

What to do now

1. Keep every paper. Your work permit, every I-797 notice, your I-94, and any USCIS notice that extended your card.
2. Print the USCIS page for your country with the date showing, and keep it with your papers.
3. If your employer asks, show them the USCIS statement. If they still say you must stop working, ask a lawyer before you agree to anything. See Your rights at work.
4. Watch for a Federal Register notice. If DHS ends TPS, the notice will give the date. Under the law, that date cannot be sooner than 60 days after the notice.
5. Use this time. Get a legal screening now for other ways to stay. See When TPS ends.

Who qualifies for TPS, and who does not?

To get TPS you must be from a designated country and have been here since the dates DHS sets. The law has three main rules. You must have:

• Been continuously physically present in the United States since the effective date of your country's most recent designation.
• Continuously resided here since a date DHS sets for your country.
• Been admissible as an immigrant, with some grounds that can be waived.

Who cannot get TPS

The law bars anyone who:

• Has been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States.
• Falls under certain bars that also block asylum, such as having persecuted others. A lawyer can tell you if one applies.

A past arrest or conviction can change everything. If you have any record at all, see a lawyer before you file. See How a criminal record can affect your immigration status.

Can I apply for the first time now?

Only if your country is still designated and a registration period is open, or you qualify to file late. First time filing after the window closes is allowed only in narrow cases. For El Salvador, Ukraine, Sudan and Lebanon, ask a lawyer before you pay any fee. For a country whose TPS has ended, you cannot get TPS for that country.

How do I register again, and what does it cost?

You must register again in every registration period DHS announces. If you miss it without good cause, your TPS can be withdrawn. The Federal Register notice for your country sets the window.

Steps to register again

1. Read the Federal Register notice for your country. It gives the window, the dates and what to file.
2. File Form I-821 to register again.
3. File Form I-765 if you want a new work permit.
4. Pay the fees in the notice and the USCIS fee schedule. Check Form G-1055 the day you file.
5. Go to your biometrics appointment if USCIS sends one.
6. Keep your receipt notice (I-797C). It proves you filed on time.

What it costs now

TPS now has two layers of fees: the regular USCIS fees, and new fees from the 2025 budget law (H.R. 1). The H.R. 1 fees went up on October 16, 2026 (Federal Register, October 1, 2026). DHS said in July 2025 that the H.R. 1 fees are charged "in addition" to the regular fees and must be paid separately (Federal Register, July 22, 2025).

Sources: the regular fees are in 8 CFR 106.2 (I-821 at (a)(50), I-765 at (a)(44)). The work permit totals match the USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055, edition 10/16/26. DHS said in its April 29, 2026 rule that it did not change the regular fee waivers and that H.R. 1 fees "cannot be waived or reduced" (Federal Register). Some people do not owe the regular I-765 fee at all. Check Form G-1055 the day you file, and ask a clinic before you count on a waiver.

What to bring to a legal clinic

• Your passport or national ID, and birth certificate
• Your current and past work permits
• Every I-797 notice from USCIS
• Your I-94 record (get it online from CBP)
• Proof you have lived here since your country's dates, like leases, pay stubs, school records or medical records
• Any arrest record or court papers, even if the case was dismissed

How does my TPS work permit work now?

Your TPS work permit shows category A12 or C19. It lasts until the date on the card, or until a Federal Register notice extends it. Many rules about this changed in 2025 and 2026.

Automatic extensions

For years, many work permits were extended automatically when you filed a renewal on time. That ended. DHS stopped automatic extensions for renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025, and made that rule final on October 14, 2026 (final rule). TPS extensions made by Federal Register notice are an exception. When DHS extends TPS for a country, the notice can extend your card without any action by you.

That is how the Lebanon notice worked. It said cards with category A12 or C19 and an end date of May 27, 2026 were automatically extended "through November 27, 2026, without any further action on your part."

Showing your employer

• If a Federal Register notice extended your card, show the card and a copy of the notice. Your employer can check the notice.
• If USCIS mailed you an extension notice, show the card with that notice. For El Salvador, USCIS said in September 2026 that it was mailing such notices for cards that ran out before September 9, 2026.
• If your country's TPS ended, your TPS card is no longer valid for work, even if it shows a later date. For Haiti, USCIS told employers to reverify workers who showed a Haiti TPS card.

Your employer cannot pick which papers you show, and cannot treat you differently because of where you are from. California law protects you at work whatever your status. See Your rights at work in California.

What happens when TPS ends for my country?

When TPS ends, you lose the protection and the work permit that came with it. You go back to whatever other status you have. If you have no other status, you can be put in deportation proceedings.

The law says an ending applies to papers issued after the ending date, and DHS can choose a later date for an orderly transition. Read your country's Federal Register notice for the exact date.

Time you spent on TPS still matters

• For a green card, the law says that while you had TPS you were in "lawful status as a nonimmigrant." That can help some people who already had another way to get a green card.
• For cancellation of removal in immigration court, time on TPS does not count as physical presence, unless the judge finds extreme hardship. But it does not break your residence either.
• For asylum, the deadline to apply is generally one year after your last arrival. Having TPS or parole can count as an "extraordinary circumstance" that excuses a late filing, but only if you apply within a reasonable time after it ends (8 CFR 208.4(a)(5)(iv)). Do not wait. If you fear going back, see a lawyer right away.

Ways people stay after TPS ends

A lawyer will look at all of these:

• Asylum, withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture, if you fear harm in your country.
• A family petition, if your spouse, parent or adult child is a citizen or green card holder.
• A U visa or T visa, if you were a victim of certain crimes or of trafficking.
• VAWA, if a citizen or green card holder family member abused you.
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, for some young people.
• Cancellation of removal, in immigration court, for some people with 10 years here and a citizen or green card holder spouse, parent or child.

None of these is automatic. Each has its own rules and risks. A good screening takes an hour and can change your whole plan.

If you get a Notice to Appear

A Notice to Appear starts a case in immigration court. Do not ignore it. Missing court can mean a deportation order without you there. Read What a Notice to Appear means and Immigration court from start to finish.

What have the courts decided?

The Supreme Court ruled on June 25, 2026 that courts cannot review most challenges to TPS decisions. This changed everything for the TPS court cases.

Mullin v. Doe (Supreme Court, June 25, 2026)

The case was about Haiti and Syria. Lower courts had paused the endings (Congressional Research Service summary). The Supreme Court, 6 to 3, reversed those orders. It held that the TPS law "plainly bars" claims that are not based on the Constitution. In the Court's words, the TPS law's bar on court review "applies to all non-constitutional claims." The Court also said a claim based on equal protection "will likely fail."

What this means for you: courts now have much less power to stop DHS from ending TPS for a country. Congress can still change the TPS law.

Other cases

• Haiti. After the Supreme Court ruling, Haiti TPS ended on July 27, 2026, according to USCIS.
• Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal. A lower court set aside the endings. On February 9, 2026, the Ninth Circuit put that decision on hold while the appeal goes on, and said the government is likely to win. So the endings stand.
• Venezuela. The Supreme Court let the Venezuela ending take effect twice in 2025: on May 19 (No. 24A1059) and on October 3, when it paused a lower court judgment "as to the Venezuela vacatur and Venezuela termination" (No. 25A326). The May order left room to challenge whether DHS could cancel work permits and notices already issued. Ask a lawyer how this affects your papers.
• CHNV parole. On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court let DHS end the CHNV parole programs while the case went on (No. 24A1079).

Court cases can still change things for some people. Before you act on news about a court case, ask a lawyer whether it covers you.

What is humanitarian parole, and what happened to the parole programs?

Parole lets you be here for a set time. It does not give you a status by itself. In 2025, the government ended several parole programs and cut short many people's parole.

The CHNV programs

On March 25, 2025, DHS ended the parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. Its notice said:

• Parole for people in these programs ended on April 24, 2025, unless DHS decided otherwise for a person.
• People with no other lawful basis to stay were told to leave before their parole ended. The notice named the CBP Home app for reporting a departure by land.
• People who already had a lawful status or another basis to stay were not required to leave.
• Work permits based on parole could be revoked after parole ended.
• DHS said it would make removal a priority for people who had not filed for another benefit, such as a green card, asylum, TPS, or a T or U visa, before the notice.

Other parole

Many people came on other kinds of parole, like Uniting for Ukraine, parole for Afghans, family reunification parole or parole at the border. Each has its own end date. Rules for many of them have changed since 2025. Find your own end date on your approval papers and your I-94 record, then talk to a lawyer about your program.

My parole is ending. What can I do?

Find your end date today, and see a lawyer before that date. Parole ends automatically when your parole time runs out. If DHS ends it early by written notice, the rules say you go back to the status you had when you were paroled. Either way, your parole work permit can be revoked.

Steps

1. Check your I-94. Go to CBP's I-94 site and print your most recent record. Bring it, with your parole approval papers, to your lawyer.
2. Check your work permit. New parole work permits are now issued for one year.
3. Ask a lawyer about re-parole, which means asking for a new period of parole on Form I-131. If USCIS decides to approve it, USCIS first sends a notice telling you to pay the $1,050 parole fee by a deadline. Parole is granted only after you pay. If you do not pay in time, the request is denied (Federal Register, October 16, 2025).
4. Ask about every other path. Parole counts as "paroled" for a green card through family. Asylum may be open, and having parole can help excuse a late filing if you apply soon after parole ends.
5. Ask about TPS. If you are from a country that still has TPS and you meet its dates, you may qualify.

Parole fees from October 16, 2026

The H.R. 1 amounts come from the October 1, 2026 Federal Register notice. The H.R. 1 fees cannot be waived. Parole fee exceptions in the law are narrow, such as some medical and family emergencies.

Can TPS or parole lead to a green card?

Sometimes, but not by itself. TPS and parole are never a green card. They can help if you already have another way to qualify, like a family petition.

The admitted or paroled rule

To get a green card from inside the United States, a person generally must have been "inspected and admitted or paroled." This rule decides most cases.

• If you entered on parole, you were "paroled." That can meet the rule. Many parolees with a citizen spouse, parent or adult child can apply for a green card here.
• If you entered with a visa and later got TPS, you were "admitted." The law says your time on TPS counts as lawful nonimmigrant status for a green card.
• If you entered without inspection and later got TPS, the Supreme Court said in Sanchez v. Mayorkas (2021) that TPS "does not admit" you. TPS alone does not meet the rule. A lawyer may find another way.

Family petitions

A citizen can file for a spouse, an unmarried child under 21 or a parent (if the citizen is 21 or older). These "immediate relatives" are excused from some bars, like past unlawful status or work without a permit. Other family members wait in line, sometimes for years.

Asylum

If you fear harm in your country, asylum can later lead to a green card. The one year deadline to apply is the trap. See What happens when TPS ends.

Can I travel with TPS or parole?

Do not travel until a lawyer says it is safe for you. The TPS law lets you travel abroad only "with the prior consent" of the government. DHS calls this travel authorization and grants it as a matter of discretion.

• TPS holders must apply for travel authorization and have it approved before leaving. Never leave without approval in hand.
• Parolees: the rules say parole ends automatically when you leave the United States. Ask a lawyer before any trip.
• If your TPS or parole may end soon, a trip can leave you outside with no way back.

A trip can also start bars to coming back that you did not know about. See Checklist before leaving the United States.

What benefits can I get in California?

Your status changes what you can get, but your citizen children can still get help in their own name. Each person in the family is checked on their own.

• CalFresh (food help): since April 1, 2026, people with TPS cannot get CalFresh (CDSS FAQ). Most parolees lost it too, except Cuban and Haitian entrants. Your citizen children can still get it. See Food help for your family.
• Medi-Cal: the state's enrollment freeze chart lists people with TPS, granted or pending, as getting restricted scope Medi-Cal (emergency care) if they apply as new applicants age 21 or older. People already enrolled and children follow other rules, so ask your county worker which rules fit you. Everyone who qualifies on income can get emergency Medi-Cal. See Full health coverage for undocumented adults in 2026.
• Covered California: many people with a lawful status can buy a plan. Starting in 2027, financial help will go only to green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants (Covered California). People with TPS are named among those losing that help.
• College: students with TPS who meet the AB 540 rules can use the California Dream Act Application for state aid and pay in state tuition. The University of California says TPS is eligible for a resident classification. See Paying for college.

Will benefits hurt your case? See Will using benefits like CalFresh hurt my immigration case? and the full table in Which benefits can I get in California.

What should I do this month to protect my family?

Do the small things now, while your papers are good. Each step takes less than a day.

1. Get a legal screening. One visit to a nonprofit can show you a path you did not know about. Bring the papers in the checklist.
2. Make copies. Scan your passport, work permit, I-797 notices and I-94. Keep copies with someone you trust.
3. Update your address with USCIS. File a change of address within 10 days of a move. It is free.
4. Make a family plan. Decide who would care for your children, and sign a California Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit if it helps. See Keep your family safe and ready.
5. Know your rights. You can stay silent, and you do not have to open your door without a warrant signed by a judge. See Your rights if immigration agents come and get a free red card.
6. Save money if you can. Fees are higher now, and you may face a gap in work.
7. Take care of yourself. This kind of waiting wears on people. See Mental health care without fear.

What changed in 2025 and 2026?

Only confirmed changes are listed here.

• 2025: many TPS countries ended. DHS published notices ending TPS for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela (2021 designation), Syria, South Sudan, Burma, Haiti and Ethiopia between May and December 2025.
• March 25, 2025: CHNV parole programs ended. Parole under them ended April 24, 2025, unless DHS decided otherwise for a person.
• July 2025: new fees by law. The 2025 budget law (H.R. 1) created new fees for TPS, parole and asylum, and set one year limits on TPS and parole work permits.
• October 30, 2025: automatic work permit extensions ended for renewals filed on or after that date. DHS made this final on October 14, 2026. TPS extensions by Federal Register notice are an exception.
• 2026: more endings. DHS published notices ending TPS for Somalia (January 14, 2026) and Yemen (March 3, 2026).
• February 9, 2026: the Ninth Circuit let the endings for Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua stand while the appeal continues.
• May 29, 2026: Lebanon was extended automatically for six months, through November 27, 2026.
• June 25, 2026: Mullin v. Doe. The Supreme Court held that courts cannot hear most challenges to TPS decisions.
• July 27, 2026: Haiti TPS ended.
• September 9 and October 19, 2026: end dates for El Salvador, then Ukraine and Sudan, passed with no published decision. DHS says holders keep protection until it announces one. Still no notice as of October 21, 2026.
• October 16, 2026: higher H.R. 1 fees. TPS fee $520, parole fee $1,050, and the extra fee on first TPS and parole work permits $570, all on top of regular USCIS fees.

Where can I get free help in the Bay Area?

These are nonprofit legal programs. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA). Immigration help for people with low income in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, including deportation defense. 650-326-6440. Walk in at 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. clsepa.org
• Catholic Charities San Francisco, Center for Immigration Legal and Support Services (serves San Mateo County). Lists TPS among its services, plus family petitions, asylum and court cases. (650) 285-6451. catholiccharitiessf.org
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Redwood City. Free first consultation to see what you may qualify for. By appointment, (650) 587-1558. iibayarea.org
• Asian Law Alliance, San Jose. Lists TPS among its services. Free or low cost for people with low income. (408) 287-9710. asianlawalliance.org
• Amigos de Guadalupe, San Jose. Lists TPS and work permits. Walk in consultations Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10 a.m. (408) 341-6080. amigoscenter.com
• SIREN, San Jose. Free phone consultations by appointment, and deportation defense. (408) 453-3003. sirenimmigrantrights.org

Before you pay anyone, check them. A real lawyer is on the State Bar of California list. A nonprofit helper should be on the Department of Justice roster. See Where to find free or low cost immigration legal help and How to find a lawyer you can trust.

Questions people ask

Is TPS the same as a green card? No. TPS is temporary and depends on your country's designation. A green card is permanent residence.

My work permit date passed, but I am from El Salvador. Can I keep working? USCIS says Salvadorans with TPS "retain protection, including work authorization" until DHS announces a decision. Your card does not show a new date, so your employer may ask questions. Show them the USCIS statement and talk to a lawyer. See My end date passed.

The October 19 end date for Ukraine and Sudan passed. What does that mean for me? DHS told reporters on October 18 and 19, 2026 that you "retain protection" until a decision is announced. As of October 21, no Federal Register notice had been published. Keep your papers, watch the Federal Register, and get a legal screening now.

My country's TPS ended. Will ICE come for me right away? We cannot say. Without TPS or another status, you can be put in deportation proceedings, which usually start with a Notice to Appear. Some people can be removed faster, without a judge. See Can I be deported without seeing a judge?

Can I still apply for TPS for the first time? Only for a country that still has TPS, and only if you meet its dates and a filing window is open or you qualify to file late. Ask a lawyer first.

I had TPS for years. Does that help me get a green card? It can, if you already have another way, like a citizen spouse, and you were admitted or paroled. If you entered without inspection, TPS alone does not meet the rule. See Can TPS or parole lead to a green card?

I came on CHNV parole. Is my parole still good? For most people, no. DHS ended CHNV parole on April 24, 2025, unless it decided otherwise for a person. If you filed for asylum, TPS, a green card or another benefit, ask a lawyer how that case protects you.

How much is TPS now? For a first time application filed on paper with a work permit: $520 TPS fee, $30 biometrics, $520 regular work permit fee and $570 H.R. 1 work permit fee, or $1,640 in all. Re-registering with a work permit renewal on paper: $830. See What it costs now and check the USCIS fee schedule the day you file.

Can I travel to see my family? Only with travel authorization approved before you leave, and only after a lawyer says it is safe. A trip can end your protection.

Can my employer fire me because my TPS ended? Your employer may ask you for new proof that you can work. For Haiti, USCIS told employers to recheck workers who showed a Haiti TPS card. Your employer still cannot treat you worse because of where you are from, and must pay all the wages you earned. Ask a lawyer before you sign anything. See Your final paycheck.

Can I get food help with TPS? Not CalFresh, since April 1, 2026. Your citizen children can still get it, and food banks help everyone. See Food help.

Should I apply for asylum now? Only a lawyer can answer that for you. If you fear harm in your country, see one soon. The asylum deadline is a real risk, and the late filing excuse for TPS or parole lasts only a reasonable time.

My TPS and parole papers checklist

Questions to ask a lawyer about TPS or parole

You are more than an end date on a card. You have built a home, a family and a community here, and that matters. Take one step this week.