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Procedures

TPS for Nicaragua citizens — current status, eligibility, deadlines

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaragua citizens in the US. Current designation status, eligibility requirements, registration deadlines.

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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

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: Form I-821 (initial TPS application) is approximately $50 — a figure capped by INA § 244(c)(1)(B) and set in the 2024 USCIS fee rule, not by H.R.1 / OBBBA. Re-registration carries no Form I-821 fee. H.R.1 / OBBBA (effective 2026-05-29) did not change the I-821 fee — it only capped TPS EAD validity at 1 year. Verify current amounts at uscis.gov/g-1055 before applying.

Last verified: 2026-05-27. 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 — fee approximately $50 + biometric services fee where applicable) and Form I-765 (Employment Authorization — fee approximately $410 with biometrics, $470 paper filing). The approximately $50 Form I-821 fee is set by the 2024 USCIS fee rule and capped by INA § 244(c)(1)(B), and re-registration carries no Form I-821 fee; H.R.1 / OBBBA (effective 2026-05-29) did not change this fee — it only capped TPS EAD validity at 1 year. Verify current amounts at uscis.gov/g-1055 (Form G-1055 Fee Schedule) 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).

Frequently asked questions

Is TPS for Nicaragua still active as of 2026?
Verify current TPS designation status for Nicaragua at USCIS: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status. TPS designations are reviewed every 6-18 months by DHS and can be extended or terminated. Always verify the most current status before relying — TPS rules change frequently.
What if my Nicaragua TPS expires? Can I extend it?
You can re-register during the designated re-registration window — usually 60 days, published in the Federal Register. The application requires Form I-821 (TPS application), Form I-765 (EAD if you want to keep work authorization), and the current TPS fee. If you missed the re-registration window, you may file late with ‘good cause’ explanation. TPS holders who travel abroad need Form I-131 Advance Parole before leaving.
Can I apply for a green card while on TPS for Nicaragua?
YES if you qualify for a separate green-card pathway: (1) marriage to a US citizen (file I-130 + I-485 if eligible to adjust); (2) U-visa or VAWA if victim of crime/abuse; (3) employer-sponsored I-140 (rare for TPS holders without prior status). The 2021 Supreme Court ruling in Sanchez v. Mayorkas held that TPS recipients who entered without inspection cannot adjust status in the US without prior lawful admission — they must consular-process abroad, which often triggers the 10-year bar.
What happens if TPS for Nicaragua ends and I have no other status?
You may be subject to removal (deportation) once your work authorization expires. CRITICAL: Consult an immigration attorney IMMEDIATELY to explore: (1) asylum (if conditions warrant); (2) U-visa or T-visa eligibility; (3) cancellation of removal (if you’ve been here 10+ years with US-citizen relatives); (4) voluntary departure (better record than deportation); (5) advance parole to leave on your terms. See /procedures/find-immigration-attorney/ for help.

Major federal procedures

Detention and constitutional rights

Finances for immigrants

General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.