On October 21, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Only individuals who are already residing in the United States as of October 20, 2022 will be eligible for TPS.
This designation is based on both ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ethiopia, including a humanitarian crisis involving severe food insecurity, flooding, drought, large-scale displacement, and the impact of disease outbreaks. This will be Ethiopia’s first designation for TPS.
TPS will apply only to those individuals who are already residing in the United States as of October 20, 2022, and meet all other requirements, including undergoing security and background checks. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after October 20, 2022, will not be eligible for TPS.
The 18-month designation of TPS for Ethiopia will go into effect on the publication date of the forthcoming Federal Register notice. The Federal Register notice will provide instructions for applying for TPS and an Employment Authorization Document, and applicants can also visit USCIS’s TPS webpage.