Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form used to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the first time or to re-register for TPS you already hold. It is for eligible nationals of a country designated for TPS, or people without nationality who last habitually resided there. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the form and its instructions are published by USCIS, and the application is filed through USCIS channels.
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What is Form I-821?
Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status is the USCIS form used to register initially for TPS or to re-register for it, by an eligible national of a country the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated for TPS under section 244(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), or by a person with no nationality who last habitually resided in that country.
Part 1 asks you to choose between an initial (first-time) application and a re-registration, and to name the designated TPS country. The form also asks whether you are requesting an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) together with it. The EAD itself is requested on a separate form, Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, which can be filed with Form I-821 or later.
Part 7 holds the eligibility questions. To be eligible for TPS you must be admissible to the United States as an immigrant under INA section 212(a), with certain exceptions, and USCIS may grant discretionary waivers for some inadmissibility grounds.
Form I-821 is only for TPS. It is not used to request Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA); the instructions say Form I-821D must be used for that. Each person applies on their own Form I-821, because there is no derivative TPS status for spouses, children or parents.
Who needs to file Form I-821?
The main group is nationals of a foreign state designated for TPS, and people without nationality who last habitually resided in that state, who are applying for TPS or re-registering. Check the USCIS TPS page at www.uscis.gov/tps for the countries currently designated and the re-registration periods.
- Initial applicants: select Item Number 1.a. in Part 1 if you do not currently have TPS, including when you applied for TPS before but do not hold it now.
- Re-registrants: select Item Number 1.b. only if you currently have TPS, and then also say in Item Number 2 who granted it, USCIS or an Immigration Judge/Board of Immigration Appeals.
- Late initial filers: USCIS may accept late initial applications from certain people who had a qualifying relationship to a spouse or child during the initial registration period, where that relative is also currently eligible for TPS. Parts 4, 5 and 6 are completed only by late initial filers.
Family members cannot rely on your approval: each spouse, child or parent must qualify and file individually. A parent or legal guardian may sign for a child under 14, and a legal guardian may sign for a mentally incompetent person. You must file Form I-821 while in the United States.
When to file Form I-821
File Form I-821 during the registration or re-registration period that the Federal Register notice sets for your country's TPS designation. USCIS asks all TPS applicants to wait to file until that notice is published. A first-time applicant registers during the period set in the notice announcing the initial designation or re-designation; someone keeping existing TPS re-registers during the period set in the notice announcing the extension.
The country-specific pages on the USCIS TPS page give the dates and explain when or how you may be eligible to file late. The I-765 for an EAD may be filed with Form I-821 or later; the instructions say that filing both together helps you receive the EAD more promptly if you are eligible. Processing time is not stated in the instructions for this form.
Documents you need
- Copies of documents proving identity and nationality, such as a passport, a birth certificate with photo identification, or a national identity document with your photo and/or fingerprint. Not required for re-registration under Item Number 1.b.
- Copies of documents proving your date of entry into the United States, such as a passport, Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, or the residence documents listed in the instructions.
- Copies of documents proving U.S. residence, such as employment records, rent receipts, utility bills, school records, medical records, attestations from churches or unions, or other relevant documents.
- Letters from employers, if used as residence proof, in affidavit form, signed under penalty of perjury, with your address, exact employment periods, layoff periods and duties. If records are unavailable, an affidavit explaining why.
- Certified copies of arrest reports, court dispositions, sentencing documents and other relevant records, if you were ever arrested, charged or convicted of an offense, even if sealed or expunged; evidence of completed probation if applicable.
- A signed statement or other evidence if official records are unavailable, such as a custodian's certificate or a sworn statement from a named person with personal knowledge of the proceeding.
- A full English translation with the translator's signed certification of completeness, accuracy and competence, for any document in a foreign language.
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, only if you request an EAD with this application.
- Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or a written waiver request with proof of inability to pay, only if you cannot pay the filing and biometric services fees.
- A copy of the Immigration Judge or Board of Immigration Appeals decision granting TPS, only if this is your first re-registration after such a decision.
- Form G-28 or G-28I, only if an attorney or accredited representative's representation extends beyond preparing the application.
How to fill out Form I-821
Choose the type of application
In Part 1, select Item Number 1.a. for an initial application or 1.b. for re-registration; if 1.b., complete Item Number 2 to show who granted your TPS. Select 3.a. if you are filing Form I-765 with this form or 3.b. if not, and enter the designated TPS country in Item Number 4.
Enter your names and addresses
In Part 2, give your full legal name in Item Numbers 1.a.-1.c. and every other name used, including maiden names and nicknames, in 2.a.-3.c. Enter your U.S. mailing address in 4.a.-4.f., answer Item Number 5, and give a physical address in 6.a.-6.e. if it differs.
Provide your identification numbers
Enter your A-Number (Item Number 7) and USCIS Online Account Number (Item Number 8) if you have them, and your Social Security number in Item Number 9, or "N/A" if none. Enter your date of birth in mm/dd/yyyy format in Item Number 10, and any other birth dates used in 11.a.-11.b.
Complete birth, residence and citizenship
Item Number 12: sex as on your birth certificate. Item Numbers 13-14: city and country of birth. Item Numbers 15.a.-15.d.: every country you entered or lived in before the U.S. Item Numbers 16.a.-16.d.: your citizenship or nationality ("stateless" if none, with an explanation in Part 11).
Enter marital status and U.S. entry details
Select your marital status in Item Number 17 and the date of your current marriage in 18. Provide the date, place, status and port of last entry (Items 19-22), your Form I-94 number and stay expiration or "D/S" (23-24), and passport or travel document details (25-30).
Describe status and immigration proceedings
Item Number 31: your current immigration status or lack of status. Item Numbers 32-36.c.: if you are or were ever in immigration proceedings, select each type, list locations and dates, and leave the "To" date blank if the proceedings are ongoing.
Fill in the biographic information
In Part 3, select ethnicity and race, then enter height in feet and inches, weight in pounds ("000" if unknown, under 30 or over 699), eye color and hair color.
Complete Parts 4, 5 and 6 if late
Only if you are filing a late initial application, give details of your current spouse (Part 4), former spouses (Part 5) and children (Part 6), including A-Numbers, birth dates, addresses and any TPS dates. Other applicants skip these parts.
Answer every Part 7 eligibility question
Item Numbers 1.a.-1.c. cover your nationality, entry date and travel through other countries; Items 2-7 apply if you traveled through or were offered status elsewhere. Answer Yes or No to Items 8-41, and explain each Yes in Part 11 with places and dates.
Complete the applicant's statement
In Part 8, select 1.a. if you read English yourself or 1.b. if an interpreter read the form to you, and 2 if a preparer helped. Enter your daytime and mobile phone numbers and email, then sign and date in 6.a.-6.b.
Add interpreter and preparer details
If you used an interpreter, Part 9 must be completed and signed by the interpreter; if someone prepared the form, Part 10 must be completed and signed by the preparer. Anyone who helped you must sign and date the application.
Use Part 11 for extra information
Add any overflow or explanations in Part 11, citing the page, part and item number; put your name and A-Number at the top of each extra sheet and sign and date it.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check that every required item is answered, "N/A" or "None" is used where appropriate, and signatures are handwritten. Then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the evidence, fee or waiver, and any Form I-765 as described under How to submit.
How to submit Form I-821
You can file Form I-821 online, by mail, or, if you are in Immigration Court proceedings, with the Immigration Court.
- Online: applicants eligible to file under one of the current TPS designations may file Form I-821 online. See the USCIS TPS page for details.
- By mail: use the address listed for your case on the USCIS TPS page. The instructions point to www.uscis.gov/I-821 for the most current filing information. Make sure the edition date and page numbers show on every page and that all pages come from the same edition, or USCIS may reject the form.
- Immigration Court: if you have been served with Form I-221, I-122, I-862 or I-863 filed with the Immigration Court, file with the appropriate Immigration Court. The DHS attorney will give you pre-order filing instructions on background and security investigations.
Include the filing fee and biometric services fee, or Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or a written waiver request with proof of inability to pay. The amount is in Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, at www.uscis.gov/forms. To get an email or text when a USCIS lockbox accepts your form, clip Form G-1145 to the first page. For questions, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting the form unsigned or with a stamped or typewritten name; USCIS rejects an application without a valid signature.
- Giving a non-U.S. mailing address in Part 2, Item Numbers 4.a.-4.f.; the agency page says the mailing address must be a U.S. address.
- Leaving required items blank, such as Part 1, Part 2 Item Numbers 1.a., 1.b., 2.a.-2.c., 3.a.-4.f., 9. and 12.-16., Part 3 or any Part 7 question; this may delay or deny the case.
- Answering Yes to any of Part 7 Item Numbers 3.-41. without an explanation in Part 11. Additional Information.
- Selecting Item Number 1.b. (re-registration) when you do not currently have TPS; select 1.a. even if you applied before, and describe prior applications.
- Omitting certified court dispositions for an arrest, charge or conviction because the record was sealed or expunged; the instructions require the documentation anyway.
- Sending foreign-language documents without a full English translation and the translator's signed certification.
- Mailing original documents when none were requested; USCIS or the Immigration Court may destroy them.
- Using Form I-821 to request DACA; the instructions say Form I-821D must be used for that.
- Filing before the Federal Register notice for your country is published, or submitting the optional checklist with the form.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form I-821 used for?
Form I-821 is the USCIS application for Temporary Protected Status. You use it to register for TPS for the first time or to re-register if you currently have TPS, as an eligible national of a designated country or a person without nationality who last habitually resided there.
Can I fill out Form I-821 online?
You can fill out the I-821 PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the form: you submit it to USCIS online, by mail or with the Immigration Court, as described under How to submit.
Do I need to file Form I-765 with Form I-821?
Only if you want an Employment Authorization Document. Form I-765 can be filed with Form I-821 or after USCIS decides your TPS application, but the instructions say that filing both together helps you receive the EAD more promptly if you are eligible.
When do I have to file Form I-821?
During the registration or re-registration period set in the Federal Register notice for your country. USCIS asks applicants to wait until that notice is published. The USCIS TPS page lists country-specific dates and explains when late filing may be possible.
Can my spouse or children get TPS through my application?
No. There is no derivative TPS status, so each person must file their own Form I-821 and qualify individually. USCIS may accept late initial applications from certain people who had a qualifying relationship to a spouse or child during the initial registration period.
What documents must I send with Form I-821?
Copies proving your identity and nationality, date of entry and U.S. residence, plus certified court records if you were ever arrested, charged or convicted. Re-registrants under Item Number 1.b. do not have to submit copies of documentation, although USCIS may ask for more.
Is there a fee for Form I-821, and can it be waived?
Yes, a filing fee and a biometric services fee apply; see Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, at www.uscis.gov/forms for amounts. If you cannot pay, submit Form I-912 or a written waiver request with documentation of your inability to pay.
Is Form I-821 the same as Form I-821D?
No. Form I-821 is used only to apply for Temporary Protected Status. The instructions say not to use it to request DACA; Form I-821D must be used for that.
Who can sign Form I-821 for me?
You must sign it yourself. A parent or legal guardian may sign for a child under 14, and a legal guardian may sign for a mentally incompetent person. A stamped or typewritten name is not accepted, and USCIS rejects unsigned applications.
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