On March 12, 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas designated Myanmar – formerly Burma – Temporary Protected Status (TPS) status for 18 months. The designation allows eligible Myanmar nationals or residents to file for TPS status – as well as for work and travel authorization – without fear of deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states that the people in the Southeast Asian country are suffering from a complex and severe humanitarian crisis due to a recent military coup, which has led to brutal violence against citizens. Other countries with TPS designation include El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti, Sudan, South Sudan, Nepal, Yemen, Syria, and now Venezuela.
According to news outlets, an estimated 1,600 people who are already in the U.S. as of March 11, 2021, are eligible for TPS designation. Keep in mind, TPS will not cover anyone who arrives from Myanmar after that specific date.
However, newly arrived Myanmar nationals or residents may apply for asylum in the United States. They must prove they have been persecuted or have a credible fear of persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political affiliation, and membership of a specific social group.
As of right now, there has yet to be an announcement of the application process. However, applicants will be required to submit forms (e.g., application for TPS status and employment authorization), supporting documents, and filing fees to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
If you are a Myanmar national in Phoenix, AZ, and interested in obtaining TPS status, contact Kanu & Associates, P.C. today at (602) 353-7795 to discuss your legal options. Get more than 20 years of legal experience on your side!