Also known as: TPS
Definition
Temporary permission to live and work in the U.S. for people from countries hit by war, natural disasters, or other crises.
Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian designation that the U.S. gives to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. If your country has TPS designation and you meet the requirements, you get temporary permission to live and work in the U.S. legally — even if you were here without status.
TPS is exactly what the name says: temporary and protective. It shields you from deportation and gives you work authorization, but it doesn't put you on a path to a green card by itself. When TPS ends, you go back to whatever immigration status you had before (or lack thereof).
TPS has been a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people from countries like El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Venezuela, and Ukraine. It provides stability during crises — you can work, get a Social Security number, and in some cases obtain a driver's license. But the "temporary" part creates real uncertainty, since the designation has to be renewed by the government and can be terminated.
related terms
When the government decides not to deport you right now — a temporary reprieve, not a path to a green card. DACA is the best-known example.
Official permission from USCIS that lets you legally work in the U.S. while your immigration case is pending.
The card USCIS gives you that proves you can legally work in the U.S. — most people call it a work permit.
The country where you were born or lived before coming to the U.S. Shows up on almost every immigration form you'll ever fill out.
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