The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation of Sudan and related benefits are set to terminate on Oct. 19, 2026. If you represent Sudan TPS beneficiaries with pending EAD applications, this August 14 update clarifies that USCIS will automatically extend expired work permits for eligible clients through the termination date—a critical filing-status change.
What changed
USCIS is sending notices to Sudan TPS recipients who continue to be eligible for TPS but haven’t received renewal EADs with category codes A-12 or C-19 and whose TPS-based EAD application is still pending, that their expired TPS-based EADs are extended until Oct. 19, 2026, the end of the Sudan TPS designation.
The notice also updates E-Verify and SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement) verification protocol: TPS beneficiaries will receive a SAVE response of “Temporary Protected Status – Employment Authorized - Temp Emp Auth” with an employment authorized through date of Oct. 19, 2026.
Why it matters
Sudan TPS beneficiaries have less than two months to prepare for status loss. For practitioners:
- Pending EAD applicants stay work-authorized. If your client filed a TPS re-registration (Form I-821) and EAD application (Form I-765) before the termination notice and hasn’t yet received a new card, their old EAD is automatically valid through October 19—no action required.
- Employers must update I-9 and E-Verify. Employers who hired Sudan TPS workers and did not receive new EADs need to know that expired cards are extended. You may want to advise clients to provide a copy of the USCIS notice or download the alert from the Sudan TPS page to support their employment authorization claim.
- No gap is guaranteed only if re-registration is current. This extension applies only to beneficiaries with pending EAD applications filed during re-registration. Those who didn’t file during the re-registration window and whose TPS expired already have no work authorization.
- Prepare for status loss after October 19. Sudan beneficiaries should explore alternative immigration remedies (cancellation of removal, family petitions, asylum, etc.) now.
Way forward
- Check the USCIS TPS Sudan webpage regularly for any further updates or deadline extensions. User agencies should check the USCIS TPS Sudan webpage regularly for updates.
- Verify client file status by searching USCIS case tracker (e-notification) or calling the USCIS contact center to confirm whether a TPS re-registration and EAD application is pending and eligible for the extension.
- Advise clients in writing of the October 19 termination date and the need to file for alternative relief (asylum interview, cancellation, adjustment, etc.) if they wish to remain in the U.S.
- Flag for employer clients that Sudan TPS workers’ authorization expires October 19, 2026, and document the extension in personnel files.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes and is not legal advice. USCIS policy can change without notice. You must verify all information against the official source linked above and consult a licensed immigration attorney before advising a client or making a filing decision.