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** UPDATE **

See the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services guidelines here.

Yesterday afternoon, the Biden administration announced that it would be granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible Venezuelan nationals.  The order could provide around 320,000 Venezuelans work permits and protections from deportation.  The Biden administration made the decision after determining that it is not safe for Venezuelans currently in the United States to return to their home country due to economic conditions and political instability.  TPS protections for Venezuelans will be in effect until at least September of 2022. See the full news story here. The designation fulfills one of President Biden's campaign promises and gives a clear indication as to the trajectory of immigration policy under his administration.  When we have previously blogged about TPS, it was mostly about the Trump administration's attempts to end the program for certain nationals or the court cases stemming from those attempts.  Since the inauguration of President Biden, our immigration blogs have been about focused on the expansion or planned expansion of legal rights for immigrants. The TPS designation will be available for any undocumented Venezuelan national who was living in the United States on Monday, March 8, 2021.  Eligible immigrants will have six months to complete an application process and pay the necessary fees.  When designated, recipients of TPS can work legally and live without fear of deportation.  TPS is temporary and may or may not extended when the time period expires.  Whether or not TPS protections are extended is typically determined by the conditions of the immigrants' home countries and whether or not it is safe for them to return. Even with TPS protections, it is still important for TPS holders to pursue permanent residency.  With permanent residency provides stronger protection from deportation and can lead to United States citizenship.  The Law Offices of Scott Warmuth has been helping immigrants seek visas and green cards since 1984.  For a free immigration consultation, call our offices today at 888-517-9888.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]