Notice2026-10704
Extension of Lebanon Designation for Temporary Protected Status
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 29, 2026
Effective
May 28, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Abstract
The designation of Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was set to expire on May 27, 2026, is automatically extended to November 27, 2026. Under the TPS statute, if the Secretary does not determine whether a foreign state continues to meet the conditions for designation for TPS at least 60 days before the expiration of the country's current TPS designation, the period of designation is automatically extended for six months. Rapidly unfolding events in Lebanon in March 2026 impacted the Department's ability to conduct a thorough review of prevailing country conditions for the Secretary's timely consideration and determination.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 103 (Friday, May 29, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32069-32074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10704]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[CIS No. 2866-26; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2024-0015]
RIN 1615-ZC11
Extension of Lebanon Designation for Temporary Protected Status
AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department
of Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice of extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
designation.
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SUMMARY: The designation of Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status
(TPS), which was set to expire on May 27, 2026, is automatically
extended to November 27, 2026. Under the TPS statute, if the Secretary
does not determine whether a foreign state continues to meet the
conditions for designation for TPS at least 60 days before the
expiration of the country's current TPS designation, the period of
designation is automatically extended for six months. Rapidly unfolding
events in Lebanon in March 2026 impacted the Department's ability to
conduct a thorough review of prevailing country conditions for the
Secretary's timely consideration and determination.
DATES: The six-month extension of Lebanon for TPS is effective May 28,
2026, and will remain in effect through November 27, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
<bullet> Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, (240) 721-3000.
<bullet> For more information on TPS, please visit the USCIS TPS
web page at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/tps">https://www.uscis.gov/tps</a>.
<bullet> You can find specific information about Lebanon's TPS
designation by selecting ``Lebanon'' from the menu on the left side of
the TPS web page.
<bullet> If you have additional questions about TPS, please visit
<a href="https://uscis.gov/tools">https://uscis.gov/tools</a>.
<bullet> Our online virtual assistant, Emma, can answer many of
your questions and point you to additional information on our website.
If you cannot find your answers there, you may also call our USCIS
Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).
<bullet> Applicants seeking information about the status of their
individual cases may check Case Status Online, available on the USCIS
website at <a href="http://uscis.gov">uscis.gov</a>, or visit the USCIS Contact Center at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/contactcenter">https://www.uscis.gov/contactcenter</a>.
<bullet> You can also find more information at local USCIS offices
after this notice is published.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Abbreviations
BIA--Board of Immigration Appeals
CFR--Code of Federal Regulations
DHS--U.S. Department of Homeland Security
DoS--U.S. Department of State
EAD--Employment Authorization Document
FNC--Final Non-Confirmation
Form I-131--Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and
Arrival/Departure Records
Form I-765--Application for Employment Authorization
Form I-797--Notice of Action (Approval Notice)
Form I-797C--Notice of Action (Receipt Notice)
Form I-821--Application for Temporary Protected Status
Form I-9--Employment Eligibility Verification
Form I-912--Request for Fee Waiver
Form I-94--Arrival/Departure Record
FR--Federal Register
Government--U.S. Government
IER--U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Immigrant
and Employee Rights Section
IJ--Immigration Judge
INA--Immigration and Nationality Act
PDF--Portable Document Format
SAVE--USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program
Secretary--Secretary of Homeland Security
TPS--Temporary Protected Status
TTY--Text Telephone
USCIS--U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S.C.--United States Code
Registration Information
Automatic Six-Month Extension of TPS Designation of Lebanon:
Registration is not required for the automatic six-month extension of
the designation of Lebanon for TPS. The automatic extension begins on
May 28, 2026, and will end on November 27, 2026. The extension allows
existing TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS through November 27, 2026, if
they otherwise continue to meet the eligibility requirements for
TPS.\1\ This extension automatically extends the validity of Employment
Authorization Documents (EADs) previously issued under the TPS
designation of Lebanon for six months, from May 28, 2026, through
November 27, 2026. Existing TPS beneficiaries who wish to apply for an
EAD for the first time, or who already have an EAD and would like to
obtain an updated EAD with an expiration date of November 27, 2026 on
the face of the card, may submit Form I-765, Application for Employment
Authorization, and the appropriate fee(s).\2\ TPS remains available to
otherwise qualified nationals of Lebanon (or in the case of an alien
with no nationality, an alien who last habitually resided in Lebanon)
who have been continuously residing in the United States since October
16, 2024, have been continuously physically present in the United
States since
[[Page 32070]]
November 27, 2024, and meet other eligibility criteria.\3\
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\1\ Eligibility requirements are available on the USCIS website
``Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Lebanon'' (<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-lebanon">https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-lebanon</a>).
\2\ For further details on related USCIS filing fees, including
fees required under Pub. Law 119-21, Title X (July 4, 2025), see G-
1055, Fee Schedule found at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055?form=i-765">https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055?form=i-765</a>.
\3\ See Designation of Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status,
89 FR 93641 (Nov. 27, 2024).
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Purpose of This Action
The automatic extension allows TPS beneficiaries from Lebanon to
maintain TPS through November 27, 2026, so long as they continue to
meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. Current TPS beneficiaries
are reminded that, no later than sixty days prior to November 27, 2026,
the Secretary intends to review the conditions in Lebanon and decide
whether extension or termination is warranted in accordance with the
TPS statute. During this period, beneficiaries are encouraged to
prepare for their return to Lebanon, including requesting updated
travel documents from the government of Lebanon, in the event Lebanon's
TPS designation is not extended again and if they have no other lawful
basis for remaining in the United States.
Through this Federal Register notice, DHS automatically extends the
validity of EADs previously issued under the TPS designation of Lebanon
for six months, from May 28, 2026, through November 27, 2026. As proof
of continued employment authorization through November 27, 2026, TPS
beneficiaries can show their EAD with a Category of A12 or C19 and a
``Card Expires'' date of May 27, 2026. This notice explains how TPS
beneficiaries and their employers may determine if an EAD is
automatically extended and how this affects the Form I-9, Employment
Eligibility Verification; E-Verify; and USCIS Systematic Alien
Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) processes.
Aliens who have an Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form
I-821) for Lebanon or a Lebanon TPS-related Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I-765) that was still pending as of May 28, 2026,
do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves an
alien's pending Form I-821, USCIS will grant the alien TPS through
November 27, 2026. Similarly, if USCIS approves a pending Lebanon TPS-
related Form I-765, USCIS will issue the alien a new EAD that will be
valid through the same date, November 27, 2026.
What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
<bullet> TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible
nationals of a foreign state designated for TPS under the Immigration
and Nationality Act (INA), or to eligible aliens without nationality
who last habitually resided in the designated foreign state, regardless
of their country of birth.
<bullet> During the TPS designation period, TPS beneficiaries are
eligible to remain in the United States, generally may not be removed,
are authorized to work, and may obtain EADs if they continue to meet
the requirements of TPS.
<bullet> TPS beneficiaries may also apply for and be granted travel
authorization as a matter of DHS discretion.
<bullet> To qualify for TPS, beneficiaries must meet the
eligibility standards at INA section 244(c)(1)-(2), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(c)(1)-(2).
<bullet> When the Secretary terminates a foreign state's TPS
designation, beneficiaries return to one of the following:
[cir] The same immigration status or category that they maintained
before TPS, if any (unless that status or category has since expired or
terminated); or
[cir] Any other lawfully obtained immigration status or category
they received while registered for TPS, as long as it is still valid
beyond the date TPS terminates.
When was Lebanon designated for TPS?
Lebanon was designated for Temporary Protected Status on November
27, 2024, based on a determination that Lebanon was experiencing
ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions that
prevented the safe return of Lebanese nationals and that it was not
contrary to the national interest of the United States to permit such
Lebanese nationals to remain in the United States temporarily.\4\
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\4\ See Designation of Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status,
89 FR 93641, 93645 (Nov. 27, 2024).
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Why is the TPS designation for Lebanon being automatically extended
through November 27, 2026?
The designation of Lebanon for TPS is set to expire on May 27,
2026. At least 60 days before the expiration of a country's TPS
designation or extension, the Secretary, after consultation with
appropriate Government agencies, must review the conditions in a
foreign state designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions
for the TPS designation continue to be met.\5\ If the Secretary does
not make a determination that a foreign state no longer meets the
conditions for designation of TPS at least 60 days before the
expiration of the country's current designation, the period of
designation is automatically extended for six additional months (or, in
the Secretary's discretion, 12 or 18 months).\6\ The dynamic and
quickly unfolding events in Lebanon in March 2026 impacted the
Department's ability to provide a thorough review of prevailing country
conditions in time for the Secretary's timely consideration. As such,
neither former Secretary Noem nor Secretary Mullin, who was sworn in on
March 24, 2026, made a determination on Lebanon's TPS designation by
the March 28, 2026 statutory deadline.
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\5\ INA sec. 244(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A).
\6\ INA sec. 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).
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Following U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran, Hezbollah, reportedly under
the guidance of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, launched rockets and
drones towards Israel on March 2, 2026, signaling its entry into the
broader regional escalation linked to the conflict with Iran.\7\
Subsequent cross-border attacks have continued.\8\ On March 3, 2026,
the U.S. Embassy in Beirut stated it would close indefinitely because
of ongoing regional tensions.\9\ On March 16, 2026, Israel's Defense
Minister announced that the Israeli Defense Forces had initiated a
ground operation.\10\ On March 24, 2026, Israel's Defense Minister
announced that Israeli forces would assume control over a significant
portion of southern Lebanon as part of their ongoing campaign against
Hezbollah.\11\
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\7\ Council on Foreign Relations, ``Conflict With Hezbollah in
Lebanon'' (last updated Mar. 26, 2026), <a href="https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/political-instability-lebanon">https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/political-instability-lebanon</a>.
\8\ Id.; see also Reuters, ``Hezbollah, Israel trade blows as
Lebanon pulled deeper into war'' (Mar. 4, 2026), <a href="https://www.reuters.com/pictures/hezbollah-israel-trade-blows-lebanon-pulled-deeper-into-war-2026-03-04/YBYOJTUO3BJAFPYRHY7OZSU73U/">https://www.reuters.com/pictures/hezbollah-israel-trade-blows-lebanon-pulled-deeper-into-war-2026-03-04/YBYOJTUO3BJAFPYRHY7OZSU73U/</a>.
\9\ U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, ``News and Events: U.S. Embassy
Beirut will be closed'' (Mar. 3, 2026), <a href="https://lb.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-beirut-will-be-closed/">https://lb.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-beirut-will-be-closed/</a>.
\10\ British Broadcasting Company, ``Israel says `limited'
ground operations under way in Lebanon'' (Mar. 17, 2026), <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyz78kgp22o">https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyz78kgp22o</a>.
\11\ British Broadcasting Company, ``Israel says it will take
control of large buffer zone in southern Lebanon'' (Mar. 24, 2026),
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy91j9qwp4do">https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy91j9qwp4do</a>.
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Concurrently with these dynamic and rapidly evolving events, a
transition in DHS leadership occurred, with Secretary Noem departing
and Secretary Mullin being sworn in as the new Secretary of Homeland
Security on March 24, 2026. This leadership change further limited the
time available for former Secretary Noem or Secretary Mullin to
thoroughly review the country conditions and make an informed decision
by March 28, 2026, the statutory deadline. Therefore, because
[[Page 32071]]
the Secretary did not make a determination, the TPS designation of
Lebanon is automatically extended for six months, ending on November
27, 2026, by operation of the TPS statute.\12\ See INA 244(b)(3)(C), 8
U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).
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\\ There have been previous instances in which a TPS designation
has been automatically extended. See, e.g., Extension of South Sudan
Designation for Temporary Protected Status, 90 FR 19217 (May 6,
2025). Extension of Designation of Honduras for Temporary Protected
States, 82 FR 59630 (Dec. 15, 2017). Six-Month Extension and
Termination of Designation of Guinea-Bissau Under the Temporary
Protected Status Program, 65 FR 15016 (Mar. 20, 2000).
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The statute affords the Secretary discretion to further extend the
designation for 12 months or 18 months. Id. The Secretary elected to
extend the designation for a period of six months in alignment with
Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion,
which states that ``designations of Temporary Protected Status are
consistent with the provisions of section 244 of the INA (8 U.S.C.
1254a), and that such designations are appropriately limited in scope
and made for only so long as may be necessary to fulfill the textual
requirements of that statue.'' 90 FR 8443, 8446. During this period,
DHS will review, in consultation with appropriate agencies, updated
country conditions in Lebanon and evaluate whether permitting Lebanese
nationals ``to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to
the national interest of the United States.'' In doing so, the
Secretary will be able to make a determination by the next statutory
deadline of September 28, 2026. INA 244(b)(1)(A), (C), (b)(3); 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(1)(A), (C), (b)(3).
Notice of the Extension of Designation of Lebanon for TPS
Pursuant to INA sec. 244(b)(3)(A) and (C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A)
and (C), the TPS designation for Lebanon is automatically extended for
six months, from May 28, 2026, through November 27, 2026.
Markwayne Mullin,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Eligibility for Temporary Protected Status
DHS designated Lebanon for TPS based on ongoing armed conflict and
extraordinary and temporary conditions, from November 27, 2024, to May
27, 2026.\13\ Beneficiaries of TPS for Lebanon under this designation
will continue to retain TPS from May 28, 2026, to November 27, 2026,
through a six-month automatic extension. TPS remains available to
otherwise qualified nationals of Lebanon (or in the case of an alien
with no nationality, an alien who last habitually resided therein) who
have been continuously residing in the United States since October 16,
2024. Assuming they continue to meet the eligibility requirements for
TPS, current beneficiaries do not need to take additional action in
order for their TPS to be extended.
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\13\ See Designation of Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status,
89 FR 93641, 93645 (Nov. 27, 2024).
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Aliens who have a Lebanon TPS application (Form I-821) that was
still pending as of May 28, 2026, do not need to file the Form I-821
application again. If USCIS approves an alien's Form I-821, USCIS will
grant the alien TPS through November 27, 2026.
Eligibility for Employment Authorization
Everyone must provide their employer with documentation showing
that they have the legal right to work in the United States. TPS
beneficiaries are eligible to obtain an EAD, which proves their legal
right to work while the EAD is valid.
If you already have an EAD with an expiration date of May 27, 2026,
this Federal Register notice automatically extends your EAD through
November 27, 2026, without any further action on your part. You may
present this Federal Register notice or any other additional
documentation other than your EAD to use this automatic extension but
are not required to. This extension automatically extends the validity
of certain EADs previously issued under the TPS designation of Lebanon
for six months, from May 28, 2026, through November 27, 2026.
Beneficiaries with a Lebanon TPS-related Form I-765 that is still
pending as of May 28, 2026, do not need to file the application again.
If USCIS approves a pending Lebanon TPS-related Form I-765, USCIS will
issue the alien a new EAD that will be valid through November 27, 2026.
Existing TPS beneficiaries who wish to apply for an EAD for the
first time, or who already have an EAD and would like to obtain an
updated EAD with an expiration date of November 27, 2026 on the face of
the card, may submit Form I-765, Application for Employment
Authorization, and pay the Form I-765 fee (or request a fee waiver,
which you may submit on Form I-912).\14\
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\14\ Please visit the USCIS Form I-765, Application for
Employment Authorization, web page at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-765/">https://www.uscis.gov/i-765/</a>
for information about filing instructions. Fees for the Form I-765
are described in 8 CFR 106.2 and the fee waiver-related regulations
are described in 8 CFR 106.3. In addition, USCIS Form G-1055, Fee
Schedule, provides the current fees required for the Form I-765,
which includes fees required under Public Law 119-21. You are not
required to submit Form I-765 or have an EAD to be granted or to
maintain TPS. Aliens should be aware that these requests may not be
processed before November 27, 2026.
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You are not required to submit Form I-765 or have an EAD to be
granted or to maintain TPS.
Can my TPS-related EAD be automatically extended?
Yes. If you already have an EAD with an expiration date of May 27,
2026, this Federal Register notice automatically extends your EAD
through November 27, 2026, without any further action on your part. You
do not need to present this Federal Register notice or any other
additional documentation other than your EAD to use this automatic
extension.
Filing Information
Filing a new application for an EAD based on the six-month
automatic extension of TPS for Lebanon is unnecessary. As mentioned
throughout, this Federal Register notice automatically extends your EAD
through November 27, 2026, without any further action on your part.
Indeed, USCIS acknowledges that given the six-month automatic extension
of TPS designation for Lebanon, there may not be sufficient time for
the agency to receive, review, adjudicate and issue new EADs on the
basis of the automatic extension of TPS for Lebanon. However, USCIS
offers the option to applicants for TPS under Lebanon's designation to
file requests for EADs online, by mail, or, under certain
circumstances, by uploading a completed Form I-765 with a fee or fee
waiver request in Portable Document Format (PDF) through your USCIS
online account.\15\ More information about filing your Form I-765 and
fee waiver request through a PDF upload is available at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online">https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online</a>. If you
request a fee waiver, you must submit your application by mail or PDF
upload.
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\15\ For further details on related USCIS filing fees, including
fees required under Public Law 119-21, see G-1055, Fee Schedule
found at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055?form=i-765">https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055?form=i-765</a>.
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Online filing: Form I-765 is available for filing online.\16\ To
file online, you must first create a USCIS online account.\17\
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\16\ Find information about online filing at ``Forms Available
to File Online,'' <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online">https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online</a>.
\17\ <a href="https://myaccount.uscis.gov/users/sign_up">https://myaccount.uscis.gov/users/sign_up</a>.
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[[Page 32072]]
PDF upload: Form I-765, if applicable, and Form I-912, if
applicable, are available for PDF upload. To upload these documents,
you must first create a USCIS online account.\18\
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\18\ <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online">https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online</a>. Sign up to create a new USCIS online account at <a href="https://myaccount.uscis.gov/users/sign_up">https://myaccount.uscis.gov/users/sign_up</a>.
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Mail filing: Mail your completed Form I-765 and Form I-912, if
applicable; and supporting documentation to the proper address in Table
1--Mailing Addresses.
Table 1--Mailing Addresses
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If you send your paper application via:
Then, mail your application to
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U.S. Postal Service USPS:.............. USCIS, Attn: TPS Lebanon, P.O.
Box 6943, Chicago, IL 60680-
6943.
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:........ USCIS, Attn: TPS Lebanon (Box
6943), 131 S. Dearborn Street
3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60603-
5517.
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If you were granted TPS by an immigration judge (IJ) or the Board
of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and you wish to request an EAD, you may
file Form I-765 online, mail your Form I-765 to the appropriate address
in Table 1, or submit a PDF upload. If you file online, you will be
prompted to include the fee.\19\ If you file by mail, you must include
the fee or fee waiver request. If you file by PDF upload, you must
include the fee or a fee waiver request. When you request an EAD based
on an IJ or BIA grant of TPS, include with your application a copy of
the order from the IJ or BIA granting you TPS. This will help us verify
your grant of TPS and process your application.
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\19\ For further details on related USCIS filing fees, including
fees required under Public Law 119-21, see G-1055, Fee Schedule
found at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055?form=i-765">https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055?form=i-765</a>.
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Travel
TPS beneficiaries and TPS applicants with pending Form I-821
applications who wish to travel outside of the United States should
consult the USCIS website for guidance.
General Employment-Related Information for TPS Applicants and Their
Employers
How can I obtain information on the status of my TPS application and
EAD request?
To get case status information about your TPS application, as well
as the status of your TPS-based EAD request, you can check Case Status
Online at <a href="https://uscis.gov">https://uscis.gov</a> or visit the USCIS Contact Center at
<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/contactcenter">https://www.uscis.gov/contactcenter</a>. If you still need assistance, you
may ask a question about your case online at <a href="https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do">https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do</a> or call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY
800-767-1833).
Am I eligible to receive an automatic extension of my current EAD
through November 27, 2026, through this Federal Register notice?
Yes. Regardless of your country of birth, if you currently have a
Lebanon TPS-based EAD with a Category of A12 or C19 and a ``Card
Expires'' date of May 27, 2026, this Federal Register notice
automatically extends your EAD through November 27, 2026.
If hired, what documentation may I show to my employer as evidence of
identity and employment authorization when completing Form I-9?
You can find the Lists of Acceptable Documents on Form I-9,
Employment Eligibility Verification, as well as the Acceptable
Documents web page at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents">https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents</a>. Employers must complete Form I-9 to verify the identity and
employment authorization of all new employees. Within three business
days of hire, employees must present acceptable documents to their
employers as evidence of identity and employment authorization to
satisfy Form I-9 requirements.
You may present one selection from List A (which provides evidence
of both identity and employment authorization) or one selection from
List B (which provides evidence of your identity) together with one
selection from List C (which provides evidence of employment
authorization), or you may present an acceptable receipt as described
in these lists. Employers may not reject a document based on a future
expiration date. You can find additional information about Form I-9 on
the I-9 Central web page at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/I-9Central">https://www.uscis.gov/I-9Central</a>. An EAD is
an acceptable document under List A. See the section ``How do my
employer and I complete Form I-9 using my automatically extended EAD
for a new job?'' of this Federal Register notice for more information.
If your EAD states A12 or C19 under Category and has a ``Card
Expires'' date of May 27, 2026, this Federal Register notice extends it
automatically, and you may choose to present your EAD to your employer
as proof of identity and employment eligibility for Form I-9 through
November 27, 2026. Your country of birth noted on the EAD does not have
to reflect the TPS-designated country of Lebanon for you to be eligible
for this extension. You may, but are not required to, show this Federal
Register notice to your employer to explain what to do for Form I-9 and
to show that USCIS has automatically extended your EAD through November
27, 2026.
What documentation may I present to my employer for Form I-9 if I am
already employed but my current TPS-related EAD is set to expire?
Your employer is required by law to ask you about your continued
employment authorization. Your employer may need to reexamine your
automatically extended EAD to check the ``Card Expires'' date and
Category code if your employer did not keep a copy of your EAD when you
initially presented it. Once your employer has reviewed the ``Card
Expires'' date and Category code, they should update the EAD expiration
date in Section 2 of Form I-9. See the section ``What updates should my
current employer make to Form I-9 if my EAD has been automatically
extended?'' of this Federal Register notice for more information.
You may show this Federal Register notice to your employer to
explain what to do for Form I-9 and to show that USCIS has
automatically extended your EAD through November 27, 2026; however, you
are not required to do so. The last day of this automatic EAD extension
is November 27, 2026. Before you start work on November 28, 2026, your
employer is required by law to reverify your employment authorization
on Form I-9.
By the end date of your automatic EAD extension, you must present
any document from List A or any document from List C on Form I-9 Lists
of Acceptable Documents, or an acceptable
[[Page 32073]]
List A or List C receipt described in these lists to reverify
employment authorization.
Your employer may not specify which List A or List C document you
must present and cannot reject an acceptable receipt.
If I have an EAD based on another immigration status, can I obtain a
new TPS-based EAD?
Yes, if you are eligible for TPS, you can obtain a new TPS-based
EAD, even if you already have an EAD or work authorization based on
another immigration status. If you want to obtain a new TPS-based EAD
with an expiration date on the face of the card of November 27, 2026,
you must file Form I-765 and pay the associated fee (unless USCIS
grants your fee waiver request).
Can my employer require that I provide any other documentation to
complete Form I-9, such as evidence of my status, proof of my Lebanese
citizenship, or a Form I-797 showing that I registered for TPS?
No. When completing Form I-9, employers must accept any
documentation you choose to present from the Form I-9 Lists of
Acceptable Documents, or an acceptable List A, List B, or List C
receipt, that reasonably appears to be genuine and that relates to you.
Employers may not request other documentation, such as proof of
Lebanese citizenship or proof of registration for TPS, when completing
Form I-9 for new hires or reverifying the employment authorization of
current employees. If you present an EAD that USCIS has automatically
extended, employers should accept it as a valid List A document if the
EAD reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to you. Refer to the
``Note to Employees'' section of this Federal Register notice for
important information about your rights if your employer rejects lawful
documentation, requires additional documentation, or otherwise
discriminates against you based on your citizenship or immigration
status or your national origin.
How do my employer and I complete Form I-9 using my automatically
extended EAD for a new job?
When using an automatically extended EAD to complete Form I-9 for a
new job before November 28, 2026:
1. For Section 1, you should:
a. Check ``An alien authorized to work until'' and enter November
27, 2026, as the ``expiration date''; and
b. Enter your USCIS number or A-Number where indicated. (Your EAD
or other document from DHS will have your USCIS number or A-Number
printed on it; the USCIS number is the same as your A-Number without
the A prefix.)
2. For Section 2, employers should:
a. Determine whether the EAD is auto-extended by ensuring it is in
category A12 or C19 and has a ``Card Expires'' date of May 27, 2026;
b. Write in the document title;
c. Enter the issuing authority;
d. Provide the document number; and
e. Write November 27, 2026, as the expiration date.
Before the start of work on November 28, 2026, employers must
reverify the employee's employment authorization on Form I-9.
What updates should my current employer make to Form I-9 if my EAD has
been automatically extended?
If you presented a TPS-related EAD that was valid when you first
started your job and USCIS has now automatically extended your EAD,
your employer may need to re-examine your current EAD if they do not
have a copy of the EAD on file. Your employer should determine whether
your EAD is automatically extended by ensuring that it contains
Category A12 or C19.
Your employer should examine your EAD to see if it has a ``Card
Expires'' date of May 27, 2026. Your employer may not rely on the
country of birth listed on the card to determine whether you are
eligible for this extension.
If your employer determines that USCIS has automatically extended
your EAD, they should update Section 2 of your previously completed
Form I-9 as follows:
1. Write EAD EXT and November 27, 2026, as the last day of the
automatic extension in the Additional Information field; and
2. Initial and date the correction.
Note: This is not considered a reverification. Employers do not
reverify the employee until either the automatic extension has
ended, or the employee presents a new document to show continued
employment authorization, whichever is sooner. By November 28, 2026,
when the employee's automatically extended EAD has expired,
employers are required by law to reverify the employee's employment
authorization on Form I-9.
If I am an employer enrolled in E-Verify, how do I verify a new
employee whose EAD has been automatically extended?
Employers may create a case in E-Verify for a new employee by
entering the EAD document number and expiration date from Section 2 of
Form I-9 into the corresponding fields in E-Verify.
If I am an employer enrolled in E-Verify, what do I do when I receive a
``Work Authorization Documents Expiring'' alert for an automatically
extended EAD?
If you have an employee who provided a TPS-related EAD when they
first started working for you, you will receive a ``Work Authorization
Documents Expiring'' case alert when the auto-extension period for this
EAD is about to expire. You must reverify your employee's employment
authorization on Form I-9 by the date their automatic EAD extension
ends. Employers may not use E-Verify for reverification.
Note to All Employers
Employers are reminded that the laws requiring proper employment
eligibility verification and prohibiting unfair immigration-related
employment practices remain in full force. This Federal Register notice
does not supersede or in any way limit applicable employment
verification rules and policy guidance, including those rules setting
forth reverification requirements. For general questions about the
employment eligibility verification process, employers may call USCIS
at 888-464-4218 (TTY 877-875-6028) or email USCIS at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aae38793e9cfc4ded8cbc6eadfd9c9c3d984cec2d984cdc5dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2fb9f8bf1d7dcc6c0d3def2c7c1d1dbc19cd6dac19cd5ddc4">[email protected]</span></a>. For questions about avoiding discrimination
during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-
Verify), employers may call the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil
Rights Division, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) Employer
Hotline at 800-255-8155 (TTY 800-237-2515). Employers may also email
IER at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#19505c4b596c6a7d7673377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c188849381b4b2a5aeabefa6aeb7">[email protected]</span></a> or get more information online at <a href="https://www.justice.gov/ier">https://www.justice.gov/ier</a>.
Note to Employees
For general questions about the employment eligibility verification
process, employees may call USCIS at 888-897-7781 (TTY 877-875-6028) or
email USCIS at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#024b2f3b41676c7670636e427771616b712c666a712c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97debaaed4f2f9e3e5f6fbd7e2e4f4fee4b9f3ffe4b9f0f8e1">[email protected]</span></a>. Employees or job applicants
may also call the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division,
Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) Worker Hotline at 800-255-
7688 (TTY 800-237-2515) for information regarding employment
discrimination based on citizenship, immigration status, or national
origin, including discrimination related to Form I-9 and E-Verify.
[[Page 32074]]
To comply with the law, employers must accept any document or
combination of documents from the Lists of Acceptable Documents if the
documentation reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the
employee, or an acceptable List A, List B, or List C receipt as
described in these lists. Employers may not require extra or additional
documentation other than what is required to complete Form I-9.
Further, employers participating in E-Verify who receive an E-Verify
case result of ``Tentative Non-confirmation'' (mismatch) must promptly
inform employees of the mismatch and give these employees an
opportunity to resolve the mismatch. A mismatch means that the
information entered into E-Verify from Form I-9 differs from records
available to DHS.
Employers may not terminate, suspend, delay training, withhold or
lower pay, or take any adverse action against an employee because of a
mismatch while the case is still pending with E-Verify. A Final Non-
confirmation (FNC) case result occurs if E-Verify cannot confirm an
employee's employment eligibility. An employer may terminate employment
based on a case result of FNC. Work-authorized employees who receive an
FNC may call USCIS for assistance at 888-897-7781 (TTY 877-875-6028).
For more information about E-Verify-related discrimination or to report
an employer for discrimination in the E-Verify process based on
citizenship, immigration status, or national origin, contact IER's
Worker Hotline at 800-255-7688 (TTY 800-237-2515). Additional
information about proper nondiscriminatory Form I-9 and E-Verify
procedures is available on the IER website at <a href="https://www.justice.gov/ier">https://www.justice.gov/ier</a> and the USCIS and E-Verify websites at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central">https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central</a> and <a href="https://www.e-verify.gov">https://www.e-verify.gov</a>.
Note Regarding Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies (Such as
Departments of Motor Vehicles)
For Federal purposes, if you present an EAD that has been
automatically extended by this Federal Register notice, you do not need
to show any other document, such as this Federal Register notice, to
prove that you qualify for this extension. While Federal Government
agencies must follow the guidelines laid out by the Federal Government,
State and local government agencies establish their own rules and
guidelines when granting certain benefits. Each state may have
different laws, requirements, and determinations about what documents
you need to provide to prove eligibility for certain benefits. Whether
you are applying for a Federal, State, or local government benefit, you
may need to provide the government agency with documents that show you
are a TPS beneficiary or applicant or show you are authorized to work
based on TPS or other status, or that may be used by DHS to determine
if you have TPS or another immigration status. Examples of such
documents are:
<bullet> Your current EAD with a TPS category code of A12 or C19,
even if your country of birth noted on the EAD does not reflect the
TPS-designated country of Lebanon;
<bullet> Your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record;
<bullet> Your Form I-797, Notice of Action, reflecting approval of
your Form I-765; or
<bullet> Form I-797 or Form I-797C, Notice of Action, reflecting
approval or receipt of a past or current Form I-821, if you received
one from USCIS.
Check with the government agency requesting documentation about which
document(s) the agency will accept.
Some State and local government agencies use SAVE, <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/save">https://www.uscis.gov/save</a>, to confirm the current immigration status of
applicants for public benefits. While SAVE can verify that an alien has
TPS or a pending TPS application, each agency's procedures govern
whether they will accept an unexpired EAD, Form I-797, Form I-797C, or
Form I-94. If an agency accepts the type of TPS-related document you
present, such as an EAD, the agency should accept your automatically
extended EAD, regardless of the country of birth listed on the EAD. It
may assist the agency if you:
a. Give the agency a copy of the relevant Federal Register notice
showing the extension of TPS-related documentation in addition to your
recent TPS-related document with your A-Number, USCIS number, or Form
I-94 number;
b. Explain that SAVE will be able to verify the continuation of
your TPS using this information; and
c. Ask the agency to initiate a SAVE query with your information
and follow through with additional verification steps, if necessary, to
get a final SAVE response verifying your TPS.
You can also ask the agency to look for SAVE notices or contact
SAVE if they have any questions about your immigration status or
automatic extension of TPS-related documentation. In most cases, SAVE
provides an automated electronic response to benefit-granting agencies
within seconds, but occasionally verification can be delayed.
You can check the status of your SAVE verification by using Case-
Check at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/save/save-casecheck">https://www.uscis.gov/save/save-casecheck</a>. Case-Check is a
free service that lets you follow the progress of your SAVE
verification case using your date of birth and one immigration
identifier number (such as your A-Number, USCIS number, or Form I-94
number) or Verification Case Number. If an agency has denied your
application based solely or in part on a SAVE response, the agency must
allow you to appeal the decision in accordance with the agency's
procedures. If the agency has received and acted on or will act on a
SAVE verification and you do not believe the SAVE response is correct,
the SAVE website, <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/save/for-benefit-applicants">https://www.uscis.gov/save/for-benefit-applicants</a>,
has detailed information on how to correct or update your immigration
record, make an appointment, or submit a written request to correct
records.
[FR Doc. 2026-10704 Filed 5-27-26; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.