Liberia

Press Release August 16, 2005

DHS Announces 12-Month Extension of
Temporary Protected Status for Liberia

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced a 12-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Liberia until October 1, 2006. Under this extension, those who have already been granted TPS are eligible to live and work in the United States for an additional year and continue to maintain their TPS status. Persons covered by this extension must promptly re-register with USCIS using the instructions below.

Section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (the “Secretary”) to grant TPS to aliens in the United States who are nationals of countries that are suffering the effects of ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. On August 25, 2004, the Secretary re-designated TPS for Liberia based on the extraordinary and temporary conditions existing in Liberia that prevent nationals of Liberia from returning to Liberia in safety. Since that time, the U.S. Government has continued to examine conditions in Liberia and DHS has determined that an extension of TPS is warranted because the extraordinary and temporary conditions that prompted the current re-designation persist.

The extension of Liberia’s designation for TPS is effective October 1, 2005 and will remain in effect until October 1, 2006. Nationals of Liberia (or those with no nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia) who have been granted TPS must re-register for the 12-month extension during the 60-day re-registration period, which begins on August 16, 2005 and will remain in effect until October 14, 2005. To ensure timely scheduling for biometric collection at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Application Support Center (ASC) and to prevent a lapse in employment authorization, Liberia TPS beneficiaries are encouraged to file their applications as quickly as possible.

To ensure minimal disruption of employment authorization while TPS re-registration applications are processed, a sticker will be affixed to the current EAD of an eligible TPS beneficiary at the time biometrics are collected at the ASC. This sticker will extend the current EAD through February 28, 2006. Therefore, all re-registrants who have previously been issued a TPS-related EAD must bring their current EAD to the ASC. They should bring their ASC appointment notice and TPS receipt notice. Note that the EAD extension sticker will be provided only at the ASC. The USCIS district offices and sub-offices will not be providing this service.

Instructions for re-registering for TPS have changed. Re-registration applications must be mailed to the USCIS Lockbox addresses noted below. Applicants should not submit applications to USCIS District Offices or sub-offices as they have done in the past.

To re-register for TPS under this extension, each applicant must submit Form I-821 (Application for Temporary Protected Status) without filing fee, Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), and a $70 biometric services fee. Applicants under the age of 14, who are not requesting an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), need not submit the $70 biometric services fee. All applicants seeking a new EAD to be valid through October 1, 2006, must also submit a $175 filing fee. An applicant who seeks only to re-register for TPS and does not seek an EAD need not submit the $175 filing fee but still must submit the Form I-765. Applicants may request a fee waiver for the Form I-765 in accordance with the regulations; however, the biometric services fee will not be waived. Failure to properly complete and submit Forms I-821 and I-765 with all applicable fees or fee waivers may delay processing or lead to the rejection of the re-registration application.

Unlike previous re-registration periods, applicants are not required to submit a photograph with their re-registration material, as both photographs and fingerprints, i.e., biometrics, will be collected at the ASC. In order to obtain an appointment at the ASC, you must file a re-registration package (including I-821, I-765 and required fees as stated above). Applicants will then be notified of their ASC appointment by mail.

The Form I-821, Form I-765, fees, and any required supporting documentation must be filed at the USCIS Chicago Lockbox at:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: TPS Liberia
P.O. Box 87583
Chicago, IL 60680-0583

Or, for non-United States Postal Service deliveries:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: TPS Liberia
427 S. LaSalle – 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60605

Please note that these addresses are not the same as where TPS application packages were submitted during previous re-registration periods for Liberia. Also note that USCIS has published a revised Form I-821. Only Form I-821 with Revision Date 11/5/04 will be accepted. Earlier versions of this form will be rejected. The newly revised form, as well as other forms, are available on the USCIS web site at www.uscis.gov, at local USCIS offices, and via the USCIS Forms line, 1-800-870-3676.

Employers with questions on how to verify an employee’s work authorization may also consult the USCIS web site at http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/employerinfo/index.htm or call the USCIS Office of Business Liaison Employer Hotline at 1-800-357-2099 to speak to a USCIS representative. Also, employers may call the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) Employer Hotline at 1-800-255-8155 or 1-800-362-2735 (TDD). Employees or applicants may call the OSC Employee Hotline at 1-800-255-7688 or 1-800-237-2515 (TDD) for information regarding the automatic extension. Assistance with Spanish and other languages is available through the OSC Employer Hotline and OSC Employee Hotline. Additional information is available on the OSC web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc/index.html.

More information can be obtained from the USCIS National Customer Service Center toll-free number: 1-800-375-5283.

On March 1, 2003, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) became one of three former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) components to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. USCIS is charged with fundamentally transforming and improving the delivery of immigration and citizenship services, while enhancing the integrity of our nation's security.