The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the extension of temporary protected status (TPS) for Ukrainian citizens for another 18 months. This decision was made due to the ongoing armed conflict and difficult humanitarian conditions in Ukraine, which make it difficult for citizens to safely return to their homeland.

According to the decision of the Ministry, TPS status can be granted to Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons who permanently resided in Ukraine before the conflict and entered the United States before August 16, 2023.

This initiative also provides an opportunity for Ukrainian students who are in the United States on an F-1 study visa to obtain work permits, work more hours while studying, and reduce their course load while maintaining their immigration status.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the need to continue supporting Ukrainian citizens through the military conflict and humanitarian crisis. He noted that the United States must ensure the safety and protection of Ukrainians who cannot safely return to their homeland.

This decision will allow approximately 26,000 people who have already received TPS status to keep it if they meet the qualification requirements. Estimates by the US Migration Service indicate that about 166,700 more people may be eligible for this program, including Ukrainians and stateless persons from Ukraine who are in the US in nonimmigrant status or without legal immigration status.

Those who have already received TPS status and plan to extend it must re-register within 60 days from August 21 to October 20 of this year. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will also automatically extend work permits for such re-registrants until October 19, 2024. Those who have already applied for TPS before do not need to do so again, and their documents will remain valid until April 19, 2025. Detailed information on the application procedure is available on the website of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.