Today, October 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months due to the ongoing situation in Lebanon. The TPS designation will allow Lebanese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last resided in Lebanon), who have been continuously residing in the United States since October 16, 2024, to file initial applications for TPS, if they are otherwise eligible. Those granted TPS will be able to remain in the U.S. and apply for Employment Authorization Documents (DEDs) while TPS remains valid. Importantly, the TPS designation will only apply to Lebanese nationals who entered the U.S. before October 16, 2024. Those who entered after that date will not be eligible for TPS. DHS is expected to announce more information about TPS, including how to apply for employment authorization, in a Federal Register Notice which DHS expects to publish in the next few weeks. Individuals should not apply for TPS under this designation until this Federal Register Notice publishes.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also posted a Federal Register Notice establishing procedures for certain Lebanese nationals eligible for Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that will be valid through January 25, 2026. More information about DED-based EADs is available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
DHS is also publishing a Special Student Relief Notice for F-1 nonimmigrant Lebanese students which will make them eligible to request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain F-1 status.
UB Greensfelder’s Immigration Law Group is closely monitoring developments.
