Temporary Protected Status
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is available to individuals whose country of citizenship appears on a list maintained by the Department of Homeland Security at https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status
No. Although TPS and Severe Economic Hardship (SEH) may sound similar, they are not the same thing or even related.
If you are authorized by USCIS for TPS, you may study and work in the U.S., but TPS is not F-1 status nor are only students eligible for TPS.
SEH is available only to F-1 status students who are enrolled in a degree or certificate program.
No. Although TPS and Special Student Relief (SSR) may sound similar, they are not the same thing or even related.
If you are authorized by USCIS for TPS, you may study and work in the U.S., but TPS is not F-1 status nor are only students eligible for TPS.
SSR is available only to F-1 status students who are enrolled in a degree or certificate program.
No. Although TPS and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) may sound similar, they are not the same. The TPS and DACA eligibility requirements and benefits are significantly different from each other.
No. TPS is not a student status nor are only students eligible for TPS. If you are approved for TPS by USCIS, you are permitted to study in the U.S. but you are not required to so.
To apply for TPS, you must apply directly to USCIS. A TPS application is your personal application to USCIS for TPS. You do not need GEO support to apply for TPS.
TPS applications are personal immigration matters, and VCU cannot become a party to, or provide guidance for, TPS applications or status. If you would like to apply for TPS, we can only direct you to take either of the following actions:
- Follow the USCIS guidance at https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status OR
- Hire an immigration lawyer to prepare and file the TPS application for you.
GEO cannot answer any questions about the TPS application process, including how to compete the USCIS forms, what materials to submit to USCIS, etc.
If you are in F-1 status and USCIS approves your TPS application you can do either of the following:
- Remain in F-1 status and subject to all of the F-1 regulations, including the requirement to enroll in a full course of study (FCS) in the Fall and Spring semesters. OR
- Abandon F-1 status and remain in the U.S. pursuant to TPS. If you choose this option, you can study and work in the U.S. but you are not required to so.
If USCIS approves your application for TPS, please contact us by email to discuss the options mentioned above.