Temporary Protected Status (TPS) - only a few countries still designated
Official name: Temporary Protected Status
TPS is a temporary status for nationals of countries the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated because of armed conflict, environmental disaster, epidemic or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. It is only for people already in the US who meet the country's residence and presence dates and register in an open period. It protects from removal and allows work authorization, but it does not lead to a green card. USCIS's page (last reviewed 20 Oct 2026) lists only El Salvador, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine as currently designated; many designations, including Haiti, Venezuela, Honduras, Nicaragua, Nepal, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, Burma, Ethiopia and Afghanistan, have been terminated.
3 entry rules for United States based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
If you're not a US citizen and you've been in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days, you can't enter the United States. This includes green card holders. The US government renewed this on 11 October 2026 for another 30 days.
CDC Order: Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Persons... (order history) Federal Register 2026-18948 (Sept 16, 2026 continuation) CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas (updated Sep 11, 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo in the last 21 days
Anyone who has been in DR Congo in the last 21 days, Americans included, can't board a commercial flight to the United States. US citizens are asked to wait outside DR Congo for 21 days before flying.
CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas CDC Travel Health Notice Level 2: Ebola Bundibugyo in DRC and Uganda (reviewed Aug 28, 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Health screening after a stay in Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
US citizens who have been in Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days must fly into Washington-Dulles, Atlanta or New York JFK for a health check, and get text-message check-ins for 21 days.
CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas CDC: Enhanced Ebola Airport Screening Begins at Washington-Dulles Checked October 19, 2026
Life in United States
Finance
3
Currency
US Dollar
USD
US Dollar
Cost of living
100
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
10–37%
Income tax (national)
social security 7.65%
Federal rates; most states and some cities add their own income tax. 37% starts above USD 626,350 (single, 2025).
Living
1
Happiness
#22 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Premium
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Nationals (or stateless people who last lived there) of a designated country who are already in the United States and meet the country's dates.
Eligibility
National of a designated country
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need to be a national of a TPS-designated country, or stateless and last habitually resident there.
Countries listed by USCIS
Lebanon extension from 28 May 2026- El Salvadorlater announcements expected
- Designated
- Lebanonauto-extended from 28 May 2026
- Through 27 Nov 2026
- Sudanlater announcements expected
- Designated
- Ukrainelater announcements expected
- Designated
- El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine: protection and work authorisation continue until announcements
- Stateless people count if they last habitually resided in a designated country
Official wording
Be a national of a country designated for TPS, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided there. USCIS's page lists El Salvador, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine as designated (Lebanon automatically extended from 28 May 2026 through 27 Nov 2026; for El Salvador, Sudan and Ukraine it says announcements will come later and protection and work authorisation continue until then).
Continuous physical presence and residence
Sign in to check this route against your profileShow continuous physical presence in the US since the effective date of your country's latest designation, and continuous residence since its set date.
- Brief, casual and innocent departures may be excused
- Each country's dates are on its USCIS country page
Official wording
Have been continuously physically present in the US since the effective date of the country's most recent designation, and continuously residing in the US since the date set for that country. Brief, casual and innocent departures may be excused. Each country's dates are on its USCIS country page.
Register during an open period
Sign in to check this route against your profileFile Form I-821 during the initial registration or re-registration period, or meet late initial filing conditions.
- Failing to re-register without good cause can lead to withdrawal of TPS
Official wording
File Form I-821 during the initial registration or re-registration period, or meet late initial filing conditions. Failing to re-register without good cause can lead to withdrawal of TPS.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirement
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- Fees
The full requirements are for members
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- 1 more requirement
- 5 documents
- 3 fees
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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Other routes to United States
- Visit & tourismB-1/B-2 visitor visa
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- Work permitsE-1 Treaty Trader
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