TPS for Nicaragua citizens

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian immigration status granted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to nationals of countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions. TPS provides protection from removal and authorization to work — but does NOT directly lead to a green card.

Current TPS status for Nicaragua

TPS STATUS — Nicaragua: TERMINATION IN FORCE — litigation continues

DHS terminated Nicaragua's designation (90 FR 30086, July 8, 2025), effective September 8, 2025. A district court vacated the termination on December 31, 2025 (National TPS Alliance v. Noem, N.D. Cal.), but on February 9, 2026 the 9th Circuit stayed that ruling, finding the government likely to win its appeal (No. 26-199). The termination is currently in force.

Verified against USCIS on 2026-07-25 — status can change with a single court ruling. Confirm on the official USCIS page before acting.

How TPS works

  • Initial designation — DHS designates a country for TPS for 6-18 months based on conditions
  • Extensions — DHS reviews and decides to extend, redesignate (covers new arrivals), or terminate
  • Re-registration — Each cycle, current TPS holders must re-register during a published window (usually 60 days)
  • Forms used: Form I-821 (TPS application), Form I-765 (work authorization), Form I-131 (travel)
  • Fees (raised sharply by H.R.1, July 2025): Initial TPS registration on Form I-821 now carries a non-waivable $510 fee for filings postmarked on or after January 1, 2026 ($500 when H.R.1 introduced it on July 22, 2025 — it amended the old $50 cap in INA § 244(c)(1)(B)), plus $30 biometrics. Re-registration still has no I-821 fee, but a work permit adds the I-765 agency fee ($520 paper / $470 online — waivable via Form I-912) plus a non-waivable H.R.1 EAD fee: $560 initial / $280 renewal. TPS EADs are now valid a maximum of 1 year. H.R.1 fees adjust annually for inflation — verify your exact total with the USCIS Fee Calculator before filing.

Last verified: 2026-06-10. General procedural information — not legal advice. TPS status changes frequently; always verify at uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status before relying.

Recent fee, deadline, and contact context (2025-2026)

DHS terminated TPS designations for 8 countries between 2025-09-08 and 2026-03-03: Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Burma (Myanmar), South Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela 2021 designation. The Haitian TPS termination alone affects approximately 500,000+ TPS holders. Termination notices typically take effect 6-18 months after Federal Register publication; some face litigation that delays implementation.

TPS filing requirements: Form I-821 (TPS application — initial registration carries a non-waivable $510 H.R.1 fee for filings postmarked on or after January 1, 2026, plus $30 biometrics; re-registration has no I-821 fee) and Form I-765 (work authorization — $520 paper / $470 online agency fee, waivable via Form I-912, plus a non-waivable H.R.1 fee of $560 initial / $280 renewal). H.R.1 amended INA § 244(c)(1)(B) in July 2025, replacing the old $50 cap; its fees stack on top of agency fees, cannot be waived, adjust annually for inflation, and TPS EAD validity is capped at 1 year. Verify current amounts at uscis.gov/g-1055 and the USCIS Fee Calculator before filing.

Re-registration windows are published in the Federal Register; typically 60 days from publication. Missing the window requires a “good cause” explanation. Travel abroad: Form I-131 (Advance Parole) required BEFORE departure; fee approximately $660. Returning without Advance Parole abandons TPS protection. Sanchez v. Mayorkas (594 U.S. ___, 2021) held that TPS holders who entered without inspection cannot adjust status to LPR in the US without prior lawful admission — requires consular processing abroad which triggers 3-year/10-year unlawful-presence bars in many cases.

USCIS Form I-821 instructions and current designation status: uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status. USCIS Contact Center: 1-800-375-5283 Monday-Friday 8:00am-8:00pm Eastern Time. For affected nationals, consult a BIA-recognized organization (free) or AILA-member immigration attorney within 30 days of any termination announcement to evaluate alternative pathways (asylum, U-visa, T-visa, VAWA, cancellation of removal).