Immigration News & Updates

DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans

Martha Arias - DHS Halts Unlawful CHNV Program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan nationals living in the United States. This decision is based on the challenging humanitarian conditions in Venezuela, including widespread shortages of essential resources, increased violence, and political instability. Below is an overview of what this extension means, who qualifies, and how to maintain TPS status under these updated guidelines.

Why This Extension Matters

Venezuela continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis marked by food and medicine shortages, instability in essential services like water and electricity, and rising crime. These factors make it unsafe for many Venezuelans to return to their home country. By extending TPS, the U.S. government acknowledges these challenges and offers eligible Venezuelan nationals a temporary safeguard to remain in the United States while conditions in Venezuela remain precarious.

Key Dates and Eligibility

  • New TPS Validity Period:
    From April 3, 2025, to October 2, 2026.
  • Continuous Residence Requirement:
    You must have continuously resided in the United States on or before July 31, 2023. Venezuelans who arrived after this date are not eligible for TPS under the new extension.
  • Lawful Process and Pathways:
    Those who enter without authorization may be subject to enforcement actions and will not qualify for TPS.

Ensuring Public Safety and Security

Every TPS applicant undergoes strict background checks at the time of the initial application and again during re-registration. If someone is found to pose a threat to public safety or national security, they may be detained, removed, or barred from TPS. Individuals are not eligible for TPS if they have been convicted of:

  • A felony in the United States, or
  • Two or more misdemeanors in the United States.

What Current TPS Beneficiaries Need to Do

  • Re-Registration:
    Current beneficiaries—roughly 600,000 Venezuelan nationals—must re-register during the designated period to extend their TPS through October 2, 2026. This window begins when the official notice is published in the Federal Register and ends on September 10, 2025.
  • Employment Authorization:
    TPS holders who re-register on time are eligible to maintain their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). In many cases, EADs will be automatically extended through April 2, 2026, to help individuals continue working while their renewals are being processed.

Pending Applications

  • No Need to Reapply If Already Submitted:
    If you previously filed for TPS under an earlier Venezuela designation and your application is still pending, DHS will continue processing it.
  • Validity Through October 2, 2026:
    If your Form I-821 (Application for TPS) or Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) is approved, you will receive TPS and a valid EAD lasting until October 2, 2026.

Next Steps and Official Guidance

The DHS will publish a Federal Register notice that offers specific instructions, timelines, and eligibility details. This notice will include information on how and when to submit re-registration forms, renew your EAD, and ensure that your status remains valid.

For accurate and updated information, be sure to:

  • Visit the official USCIS website (uscis.gov),
  • Sign up for email alerts from the Department of Homeland Security, and
  • Consult legal professionals if you have questions about your individual situation.

The 18-month extension of TPS provides much-needed reassurance to Venezuelans who cannot return home due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. By recognizing these extraordinary circumstances, the U.S. government is helping individuals and families remain in safer conditions while the situation in Venezuela remains unstable. If you or your loved ones are affected by this extension, stay vigilant about deadlines and official announcements, and ensure you meet all requirements to keep your status and work authorization current.

About Martha Arias

Immigration Attorney, Martha Liliana Arias, Esq. is the founder and sole owner of Arias Villa Law, a full-service immigration law firm located in Miami, FL. Martha has been exclusively and successfully practicing U.S. immigration law for almost two decades; she has relevant experience with removal defense cases, USCIS and NVC cases, and business visas, particularly EB-5 investor visas.

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