Lathrup Village — The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC), along with Congressman Gary Peters, are urging any eligible Syrian nationals and persons without nationality, who last habitually resided in Syria and are now in the United States, to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

On June 17, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) re-designated Syria as a TPS country.

The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a foreign country for TPS, due to conditions in that country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. 

During this designation period, individuals who are TPS beneficiaries, or who are found preliminarily eligible for TPS, are not removable from the United States, can obtain an employment authorization document (EAD) and may be granted travel authorization. 

Once granted TPS, an individual cannot be detained by the Department of Homeland Security on the basis of their immigration status in the United States.

Those who currently have TPS for Syria must re-register within the 60-day re-registration period that runs through August 16, 2013. 

Those who do not currently have TPS for Syria may file an initial application to register under the recent re-designation.

These individuals must file their TPS package by December 16, 2013.

Packets must be mailed to USCIS at P.O. Box 6943, Chicago, IL 60680-6943. 

To register, or re-register for TPS, individuals must file Form I-821 and Form I-765.  Forms are free and available at www.uscis.gov/forms, or by calling the USCIS Forms Hotline at 1-800-870-3676.

For assistance in filling out the forms, visit: www.uscis.gov/legaladvice.  The site provides a list of accredited representatives and free, or low-cost, legal providers that are available.