TPS for Ukrainians: who is eligible, how to apply, benefits of TPS status and legalization options
Inhaltsübersicht
- Who among Ukrainians can apply for TPS?
- What does TPS status allow for Ukrainians?
- How to apply for TPS for Ukrainians?
- Application of TPS
- TPS filing fee
- Employment Authorization (EAD) for Ukrainians with TPS Status
- Can Ukrainians with TPS travel outside the United States?
- How do I know that USCIS has received your TPS application?
- TPS Re-registration
- Can the government terminate TPS?
- What happens when Ukraine’s TPS period ends?
- Can TPS apply for Green card?
- How else can Ukrainians obtain legal residence in the United States?
- Where can I learn more about TPS?

Ukrainians in the United States can obtain temporary protected status, also known as TPS, but only if they meet a certain number of requirements. Find out who is eligible for TPS, how to apply, and what rights a person with TPS status has
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a special protection status that allows citizens of certain countries to receive protection in the United States who cannot return to their homeland due to ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other dangerous circumstances determined by the US Department of State.
Ukrainians are also eligible to receive this permit, but on the condition that you were residing in the US as of August 13, 2023. Currently, the status allows you to remain in the US until April 19, 2025, but in early 2025 the permitted period of stay should be extended.
What is TPS? What does tps meaning? We tell you.
Who among Ukrainians can apply for TPS?
Ukrainians can apply for TPS if the following conditions are met:
1. You are a citizen of Ukraine who entered the US on or before August 16, 2023.
2. You have been residing in the US for the entire time and have not had serious problems with the law.
TPS can be applied for by holders of a tourist visa, humanitarian passport (including Uniting for Ukraine), persons who have applied for political asylum, and even those who are in the process of deportation.
Important! Citizens of countries that have not been granted status of TPS are NOT eligible to receive TPS, even if they are close family members of a citizen of Ukraine.
What does TPS status allow for Ukrainians?
With TPS status, you will be able to legally stay in the United States, obtain work permits and send children to school, as well as travel outside the United States and return back, provided that you have permission from the immigration service (TPS Travel Authorization).
How to apply for TPS for Ukrainians?
Ukrainians can apply for TPS in two ways:
1. The easiest way to apply for TPS and the right to work (EAD) based on TPS is to submit both applications together from your online USCIS account.
2. To send documents by mail, you can find the address of your state in the Where To File section on the TPS Ukraine page on the USCIS website.
To apply for TPS, complete Form I-821 – Application for Temporary Protected Status for each family member who is a citizen of Ukraine:
1. Question “What is your reason for applying?” (item 1 in Part 1 of the paper form).
Select “Initial application” if this is your first application for TPS, or “Re-registration application” if you are continuing your TPS status.
2. Question “Are you also filing a request for employment authorization?” (item 3 in Part 1 of the paper form).
Select “Yes, I am requesting an Employment Authorization Document” if you want to receive an EAD based on TPS. It is highly recommended that you request an EAD together with your TPS application, as this will allow you to receive your EAD faster than if you apply for it separately.
3. Question “What countries did you live in before coming to the United States?” (Item 15 “Countries of residence” in Part 2 of the paper form).
List all countries where you have ever been a resident (lived for a long time, worked, paid taxes).
4. Skip the sections about your current and former partner and children (Parts 4–6 of the paper form).
These are only required for late filing and do not apply to you at this time.
5. Question “Have you ever traveled to and entered a country other than your country of nationality or last habitual residence before you last entered the United States?” (Item 1.c in Part 7 of the paper form).
Answer “Yes” if you entered any countries between your country of previous residence and the United States.
6. In the next question, list all countries you entered for a period longer than 24 hours and your status in each country (e.g., visitor, temporary protected status, etc.).
If the information about the countries visited is not on paper, use the last sheet or attach additional sheets. Write the applicant’s name at the top of each sheet, indicate the section and item to which the additional information applies, date, and sign the sheet.
7. Carefully read and answer the questions about immigration violations, crimes, and moral turpitude.
If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, attach explanations on additional sheets, as well as certified translations of all police and court documents, or other explanatory documents. If you do not have these documents, attach a signed explanation of the reasons.
8. If you are completing the application for a child or other family member, indicate yourself as the Preparer.
Children 14 years of age and older must sign their application themselves. For a child under 14 years of age, the form may be signed by the parent in the format “Father’s Name for Child’s Name.”
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Application of TPS
In addition to the completed TPS application form, you must provide the following package of documents:
1. A copy of your Ukrainian passport (all pages).
The passport may be expired. If you are applying for a child who is affixed to your passport, attach a copy of your passport with the affix.
2. A copy of your Form I-94 with the last date of entry.
Print it from the CBP website.
If you cannot find your Form I-94 on the website, it can sometimes be found and printed from the CBP One mobile app.
If you have a white cardboard card issued at the border, scan the front and back of it.
3. Form I-94, which you received when you last entered the United States before August 16, 2023
If you left the United States on advance parole after August 16, 2023, and a copy of the advance parole.
4. Proof of residence in the United States since August 16, 2023.
A rental agreement, utility bills in your name, letters from social services or DMV with your name and address, or any other official documents that confirm your stay in the United States.
For children, you can provide health insurance, medical records, school reports.
If you do not have any “official” documents, provide a letter explaining your situation, and (if you have one): a voucher for free housing, a letter from friends or relatives with whom you live, or your correspondence with the landlord providing you with housing.
5. For children under 14 years of age.
A copy of the birth certificate with a certified translation.
TPS filing fee
- The cost of the first TPS application is $50, re-registration is free + a $30 biometrics fee.
- A TPS-based EAD costs $470 if you apply online.
- If you want to request a fee waiver due to low income or financial hardship, you must mail your TPS and EAD applications along with Form I-912 - Request for Fee Waiver.
Employment Authorization (EAD) for Ukrainians with TPS Status
If the applicant requires work authorization, complete Form I-765 - Application for Employment Authorization Document, indicating category (A)(12).
In addition, attach the following package of documents to the application:
1. A copy of the Ukrainian passport (all pages).
Passport may be expired.
2. Copy of Form I-94.
A copy of your previous EAD card (if applicable) on both sides or another government-issued ID, such as a valid passport or driver’s license.
3. 2x2 inch passport-sized photo (if applying by mail, please include two photos).
Important! When submitting a work permit application along with a TPS application by mail, one copy of each document is sufficient
Can Ukrainians with TPS travel outside the United States?
If the applicant wants to be able to travel outside the United States while in TPS status, complete Form I-131 – Application for Travel Document to obtain a TPS Travel Authorization.
This form can only be submitted by mail.
The fee for processing the I-131 – Application for TPS Travel Document is $630.
If you cannot afford to pay the fee, you may submit the form along with a request for a fee waiver, but USCIS does not always approve free filing of this form.
How do I know that USCIS has received your TPS application?
When USCIS receives your application, you will be sent a Receipt Notice:
- If you filed the form online, you will usually receive a Receipt Notice in the Documents section of your USCIS account within a few minutes of filing.
- If you mailed the form, you will receive a Receipt Notice in the mail within 2-4 weeks of filing.
- If you have not received a Receipt Notice within a month of filing, call USCIS to verify that your application was received.
The average processing time is 1 year.
TPS Re-registration
The re-registration period for Ukrainians who had TPS ended on October 20, 2023.
If you did not have time to apply for a TPS extension by October 20, 2023, you can still do so, but you will need to attach a letter explaining the reasons why you did not do so in time. These may include: family difficulties, health problems, language barriers, lack of access to legal assistance, etc.
Can the government terminate TPS?
In order to terminate the TPS program, the US Secretary of Homeland Security must review the conditions and decide whether the conditions on the ground in the country continue to meet the definition of TPS.
Only if the Secretary concludes that the conditions do not merit a TPS extension, he can issue a decision to terminate temporary protected status at this stage.
What happens when Ukraine’s TPS period ends?
Individuals with TPS will revert to the immigration status they had before receiving TPS, unless the status has expired or the individual has successfully obtained a new immigration status.
Can TPS apply for Green card?
TPS does not provide an individual with an automatic path to citizenship or lawful permanent residence (green card). However, a TPS individual who is otherwise eligible for permanent residence may apply for this status. Similarly, an individual who is eligible to apply for permanent residence while on TPS (for example, if they marry a U.S. citizen or permanent resident) may apply for a green card.
How else can Ukrainians obtain legal residence in the United States?
As of August 2023, more than 166,000 people were eligible for TPS status for Ukrainians, according to the US government's estimate.
In addition to TPS status, Ukrainians also have the Uniting For Ukraine (U4U) program and the so-called "humanitarian password".
Here are tips to help you apply for the Uniting For Ukraine (U4U) program in the US.
Where can I learn more about TPS?
To learn more about the conditions and benefits of the TPS program, as well as to understand the specifics of obtaining a document specifically for you, get a consultation from a migration specialist.
Let's remind you! After the start of the full-scale invasion, some Ukrainians left for temporary residence in the US. Many of them were issued a "humanitarian status password" to stay in America, but its validity period is limited. We have already told you how Ukrainians who came to the USA under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program can stay in this country for a longer period.
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Häufig
gestellte Fragen
Wann endet das Programm „Uniting for Ukraine“?
Wer kann in den USA vorübergehenden Schutz erhalten?
Wie lange gilt der TPS in den USA?
Was ist der „Passwort“-Status in den USA?
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