The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that because the conditions in Nicaragua no longer support its designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), the designation set to expire on January 5, 2018, will now terminate on January 5, 2019. TPS allows qualifying persons inside the United States to remain and work lawfully in the United States until conditions in their home countries improve following civil war, natural disaster or similar extraordinary situations. The final year of designation gives those unable to acquire another legal status time to prepare to depart the United States by the TPS termination date.
Nationals of Nicaragua holding TPS status have until February 13, 2018, to re-register to extend their status through the designation end date of January 5, 2019. Employment authorization documents held by qualifying individuals already set to expire on January 5, 2018, are automatically extended through March 6, 2018, providing applicants time to apply for new employment authorization documents valid through the termination date. Employers can rely on the Federal Register notice for I-9 employment verification and re-verification purposes, which can be found here.