USCIS New Rules July 2026: Updated Form I-9 Guidance for TPS Countries Including Burma & Haiti

USCIS has published updated Form I-9 employment eligibility verification guidance specifically for nationals of seven countries with active Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations: Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Employers who have workers from these nations on staff must review and apply the revised guidance to remain in compliance with federal employment eligibility requirements. TPS designations allow nationals of designated countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States on a temporary basis. The updated I-9 guidance clarifies how employers should document and verify work authorization for these TPS holders, which can involve auto-extended Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) or other acceptable documentation. For EB-3 applicants and petitioners, this update is a useful reminder that employment authorization documentation requirements can change and must be carefully tracked. Employers sponsoring foreign workers through the EB-3 process should ensure their HR and compliance teams are aware of current I-9 acceptable document lists to avoid errors that could complicate ongoing petitions or audits. Workers holding TPS who are also pursuing employment-based green cards, including the EB-3 category, should confirm with their immigration attorney that their work authorization documents are current and properly recorded on their Form I-9. Discrepancies or outdated I-9 records can create complications during adjustment of status proceedings.