United States / Policy Updates
TPS in 2026: Which Countries Still Have Protected Status?
Country-by-country TPS status as of October 2026: which designations remain, which ended and when, what Mullin v. Doe changed, and options for former TPS holders.
By StudyImmigration Editorial Team · Updated · 5 min read
As of October 11, 2026, only four TPS designations remain: El Salvador, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine. Sudan and Ukraine are set to expire October 19, 2026, and El Salvador is awaiting a decision. The government has terminated TPS for 13 of the 17 countries that had it in January 2025. The Supreme Court’s June 2026 decision in Mullin v. Doe means courts can no longer block most terminations.
Key points
- Still designated: El Salvador, Lebanon (to Nov 27, 2026), Sudan and Ukraine (to Oct 19, 2026 unless extended).
- Terminated: Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela (both designations) and Yemen.
- June 25, 2026: Mullin v. Doe held courts cannot hear most non-constitutional challenges to TPS terminations.
- Pew estimates about 1 million of the roughly 1.3 million people who had TPS in March 2025 are affected by terminations.
- TPS fee rises to $520 for filings postmarked on or after October 16, 2026.
Country-by-country TPS status (October 11, 2026)
Source: USCIS TPS page (last updated September 9, 2026) and CRS R49346 (September 10, 2026). Recheck the USCIS country page before acting. Decisions can be published at any time.
Still designated
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| El Salvador | Designation was set to expire September 9, 2026. DHS has not published a decision. USCIS says current TPS holders keep protection and work authorization until an announcement is made |
| Lebanon | Automatically extended 6 months, through November 27, 2026 |
| Sudan | Designated. Expires October 19, 2026 unless extended. USCIS extended certain work permits through that date |
| Ukraine | Designated. Expires October 19, 2026 unless extended. USCIS extended certain work permits through that date |
Terminated
| Country | Termination effective | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | July 2025 | |
| Cameroon | August 2025 | |
| Nepal | August 5, 2025 | A district court vacated the termination on Dec 31, 2025. The Ninth Circuit stayed that ruling on Feb 9, 2026, so the termination is in effect while the appeal continues |
| Honduras | September 8, 2025 | Same litigation as Nepal |
| Nicaragua | September 8, 2025 | Same litigation as Nepal |
| Venezuela (2021 designation) | November 7, 2025 | |
| Venezuela (2023 designation) | Terminated in 2025 | Certain work permits stayed valid through October 2, 2026 |
| Yemen | July 20, 2026 | |
| Haiti | July 27, 2026 | |
| Syria | July 27, 2026 | |
| Burma (Myanmar) | August 7, 2026 | |
| South Sudan | August 7, 2026 | |
| Somalia | August 14, 2026 | Earlier litigation had paused it |
| Ethiopia | August 18, 2026 | Earlier litigation had paused it |
Countries such as Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone had TPS in earlier years and are not currently designated.
What the Supreme Court decided
Mullin v. Doe (June 25, 2026). The Supreme Court considered the Haiti and Syria terminations together. By a 6-3 vote, it held that the TPS statute (8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(5)(A)) bars federal courts from reviewing non-constitutional challenges to the Secretary of Homeland Security’s decisions to designate, extend or terminate TPS, including procedural challenges. It reversed the lower-court orders that had kept TPS in place for Haiti and Syria. The Court said the Haiti equal protection claim was unlikely to succeed. It did not fully decide whether constitutional claims can ever be heard.
October 5, 2026. The Supreme Court vacated a January 2026 Ninth Circuit ruling that had found the Venezuela termination unlawful and sent the case back to be reconsidered in light of Mullin. It did not rule on the merits, and the order did not restore TPS.
The practical effect: lawsuits that once kept TPS alive for years now have a much narrower path. Pew counts terminations affecting about 1 million people, the largest groups being Venezuelans (about 616,000) and Haitians (about 335,000) (Pew Research Center).
Work permits for TPS holders
- When TPS ends, the TPS-based work permit generally ends on the termination date, unless USCIS has announced an extension of certain documents. Check the Federal Register notice for your country.
- Employers must reverify employment authorization when a TPS-based EAD expires.
- Pending extensions: in July 2026, a federal court in Boston issued an emergency order preventing USCIS from cancelling work permits for El Salvador, Sudan and Ukraine beneficiaries who had applied for extensions but not yet received them. Check the USCIS country page for current instructions.
- Validity: parole and TPS work permits are now issued for 1 year at most, or less if TPS ends sooner.
TPS fees (for countries still designated)
| Item | Before Oct 16, 2026 | From Oct 16, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| I-821 initial registration | $510 + $30 biometrics | $520 + $30 biometrics |
| I-821 re-registration | $0 base fee (+ biometrics) | Unchanged |
| Initial TPS work permit (I-765) | $520 paper / $470 online + $560 H.R. 1 fee | $520 / $470 + $570 H.R. 1 fee |
| Renewal TPS work permit | $520 / $470 + $280 H.R. 1 fee | Unchanged |
Source: USCIS FY 2027 fee alert. Full list: USCIS fees 2026.
Options for former TPS holders
TPS is temporary and never led directly to a green card. If your country’s TPS has ended or is ending, talk to a licensed immigration lawyer about:
- Asylum. If you fear persecution, you may be able to apply. The 1-year deadline can sometimes be excused for people who had TPS (it can count as an “extraordinary circumstance” if you filed within a reasonable time). See applying for asylum in the US.
- Family-based green cards. A US citizen spouse, parent or adult child may be able to petition for you. Whether you can adjust status inside the US depends on how you entered. See the marriage green card guide.
- Employment-based options. These include a job offer with a sponsoring employer or other work visas, though leaving the US to process a visa may trigger unlawful presence bars.
- Other relief. Examples include U visas for crime victims, T visas for trafficking victims, Special Immigrant Juvenile status for young people, or cancellation of removal in immigration court.
Important cautions:
- Time in valid TPS generally does not count as unlawful presence. After TPS ends, it can start to accrue.
- Do not travel abroad without advice. Leaving can trigger re-entry bars.
- Nationals of the 39 travel-ban countries face added barriers to consular processing abroad.
- Beware of “notarios” and anyone promising a guaranteed green card for a fee.
What to do next
- Check your country’s page on uscis.gov/tps for the latest Federal Register notice and EAD instructions.
- If you are Sudanese or Ukrainian, watch for a decision before October 19, 2026. If you are Salvadoran, watch for the pending announcement.
- Look at your work permit’s expiration date and any automatic extension, and share official notices with your employer.
- Book a consultation with a licensed immigration lawyer or DOJ-accredited representative to review other options before your TPS ends.
- Follow our updates page and US hub for changes.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Status checked October 11, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries still have TPS in October 2026?
As of October 11, 2026, USCIS lists four designations still in place: El Salvador (pending a decision, with current protections continuing), Lebanon (through November 27, 2026), Sudan and Ukraine (both set to expire October 19, 2026 unless extended). All other designations that existed in January 2025 have been terminated.
Did the Supreme Court allow TPS terminations?
Yes. In Mullin v. Doe, decided June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court held 6-3 that the TPS statute bars courts from reviewing most non-constitutional challenges to TPS terminations, and it reversed lower-court orders that had blocked the Haiti and Syria terminations.
Is Haiti TPS over?
USCIS lists Haiti's TPS designation as terminated effective July 27, 2026, after the Supreme Court's June 2026 decision. A related case involving Venezuela and Haiti was sent back to the Ninth Circuit on October 5, 2026, but that order did not restore TPS.
What can I do if my TPS ended?
Check whether you have or can get another status, such as asylum, a family or employment-based green card, or a nonimmigrant visa. Time spent in TPS generally does not count as unlawful presence, but once TPS ends you may begin accruing it. Speak to a licensed immigration lawyer quickly.
How much does it cost to apply for TPS?
For countries still designated, initial TPS registration on Form I-821 costs $510 plus $30 biometrics, rising to $520 for filings postmarked on or after October 16, 2026. Re-registration has no I-821 base fee, but work permit fees apply.
Sources
- USCIS: Temporary Protected Status
- Congressional Research Service: Temporary Protected Status Terminations, 2025-2026 (R49346)
- Pew Research Center: Second Trump administration has ended TPS for most immigrants who had it (Aug. 12, 2026)
- USCIS: FY 2027 inflation increase for certain immigration-related fees
Immigration rules change often. This article is general information, not legal advice. Check the USCIS website or speak to a licensed immigration lawyer before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell the community .
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StudyImmigration. (October 11, 2026). TPS in 2026: Which Countries Still Have Protected Status?. https://studyimmigration.com/blog/tps-status-2026/
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