Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas has declared an extension and redesignation of Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for a duration of 18 months, from December 8, 2023, through June 7, 2025. This decision is due to the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary temporary conditions in Cameroon that prevent individuals from safely returning to their home country. The designation is based on the threat posed by human rights abuses, armed conflict, food insecurity, the spread of disease, and mass displacement.
“The United States will continue to offer safety and protection to Cameroonian nationals who are currently unable to safely return home due to ongoing armed conflict, and extraordinary and temporary conditions including human rights abuses,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “We will offer our support to Cameroonian nationals through this temporary form of humanitarian relief.”
Accompanying this announcement is a Special Student Relief notice for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Cameroon so the students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain F-1 status through the TPS designation period.
Under this extension, approximately 2,090 current TPS beneficiaries from Cameroon can retain their TPS status if they continue to meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, an estimated 7,900 additional Cameroonian nationals (or stateless individuals who last resided in Cameroon) who have continuously resided in the United States since October 5, 2023, and been physically present in the United States since December 8, 2023, can file initial applications to obtain TPS if they meet the eligibility criteria. However, those who arrive in the U.S. after October 5, 2023, are not eligible for TPS.
Re-registration is necessary for individuals who were previously granted TPS under Cameroon’s prior designation. Current TPS beneficiaries must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period from October 10, 2023, through December 9, 2023, to maintain their TPS and employment authorization.
The Department of Homeland Security is aware that not all re-registrants will receive a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before their current one expires. To address this, the validity of EADs issued under Cameroon’s TPS designation is automatically extended through December 7, 2024.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will continue to process pending applications filed under previous TPS designations for Cameroon. Those with pending Form I-821 ,Application for Temporary Protected Status, or Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, applications as of October 10, 2023, do not need to refile these applications. If approved, USCIS will grant TPS through June 7, 2025, and issue an EAD valid through the same date.
The Federal Register notice outlines the eligibility criteria, timelines, and procedures for current beneficiaries to re-register and renew EADs, as well as for new applicants to submit an initial application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD.
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