USCIS 2026 TPS Expiration Alert: Updated Deadlines Announced for 7 Countries

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced updated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) expiration dates for seven country designations. The affected countries are Burma, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen — all set to expire on July 17, 2026 — while Haiti carries a slightly later expiration date of July 24, 2026. TPS is a federal program that provides temporary legal status and work authorization to nationals of designated countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. While TPS is a separate pathway from EB-3 employment-based immigration, many immigrant workers hold both TPS-based work authorization and pending employment-based petitions simultaneously. For employers, these updated expiration dates trigger specific Form I-9 compliance obligations. Companies with TPS-authorized employees from the listed countries must verify whether reverification is required, update internal tracking systems, and communicate clearly with affected workers before the applicable deadline. Failing to reverify on time can expose employers to unauthorized employment liability. For TPS-holding individuals who also have pending EB-3 or other immigrant visa petitions, these deadlines underscore the importance of closely coordinating TPS renewal filings with the overall green card timeline. A lapse in TPS-based employment authorization could affect an applicant's ability to maintain continuous lawful status and work eligibility during the often lengthy EB-3 adjudication process. Affected individuals and their employers should consult with a qualified immigration attorney immediately to assess renewal eligibility, ensure timely filing, and avoid any gap in employment authorization. USCIS has published individual notices for each country designation with full guidance on renewal procedures.