When Venezuela was given Temporary Protected Status by the United States, it entered into a unique group. The only countries with that status at this time are Venezuela, Syria and Myanmar — also known as Burma.
Initially, the registration period for those from Venezuela was just 180 days. However, in the latter days of this summer, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas decided that 180 days was not nearly enough, and the registration period was massively extended. It will now run for a full 18 months, or a year and a half. That means that it will not end until September 9, 2022.
Will that be the end?
It’s hard to know what will happen in September of next year, as they will need to analyze the situation at that time and determine if TPS is still needed and if it can be beneficial. But this extension at least sets a precedent for long-term extensions when necessary, so it is possible that we will get to September 9th and find that even more time is going to be granted.
What if you apply for asylum?
Typically, those applying for asylum have one year to do so after they arrive. However, those who have TPS are not bound by this requirement. It pauses for the duration of the TPS and then starts again. Therefore, your countdown to file for asylum won’t really begin until TPS ends, meaning you could have far more than a year to do so.
No matter where you are in this process, it’s very important to know your current status, the state of the regulations at this time and all of the legal options you have.
