USCIS Extends Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador Through September 2026

Key Point 

• The Department of Homeland Security has extended Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador through September 9, 2026. 

Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed the extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for El Salvador for an additional 18 months, allowing eligible beneficiaries to remain in the U.S. and retain work authorization through September 9, 2026, provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements. 

What is TPS? 

TPS provides temporary immigration protection to eligible foreign nationals already in the U.S., including protection from removal and eligibility for employment authorization. 

Impacted Individuals

• The extension applies to current TPS beneficiaries from El Salvador.  
• Individuals must have timely re-registered during the designated registration period to maintain their benefits 

Employment Authorization 

USCIS has implemented measures to prevent employment disruptions for TPS beneficiaries: 

• Certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) with specified expiration dates are automatically extended through March 9, 2026. 
• Eligible EADs include those issued under the TPS designation for El Salvador with category codes A12 or C19. 

For Form I‑9 purposes: 

• Employers should enter March 9, 2026, as the new expiration date for qualifying automatically extended EADs. 
• Employers must reverify affected employees before March 10, 2026. 

What’s Next 

TPS designations are temporary and subject to periodic review. DHS will reassess country conditions in El Salvador ahead of the September 9, 2026, expiration date to determine whether a further extension or other action is warranted. 

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