If a natural disaster, armed conflict, or other dangerous condition occurs in your home country while you or your loved ones are in the U.S., you might not feel comfortable returning. Under some circumstances, you might be eligible to seek temporary permission to remain and work in this country. Our experienced immigration attorneys know exactly what you need to do.
If you have questions concerning your eligibility and how the process works, a Temporary Protected Status lawyer in Glendale could help provide you with answers.
Temporary Protected Status is a form of humanitarian relief that grants immigrants from some countries who are living in the U.S. the temporary right to remain here. If you obtain Temporary Protected Status, you cannot be deported and you gain a temporary employment authorization, which allows you to work legally in the U.S. while you are here. Although Temporary Protected Status is not the same as a green card because it is only temporary and does not grant you the right to reside in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident, it allows you to remain here instead of having to return to a dangerous place.
In addition, obtaining Temporary Protected Status might also help you if you later decide to pursue a green card. A knowledgeable attorney could help someone in Glendale, AZ fully understand the advantages of obtaining Temporary Protected Status.
The federal government, through the Department of Homeland Security, has the right to designate which countries are eligible for protected status. According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Temporary Protected Status website, foreign nationals from the following countries are currently eligible, as of October 2025, to seek temporary immigration status, though this list is constantly changing:
The periods of eligibility vary between designated countries and the federal government continuously reviews and is entitled to make changes in which countries are eligible. You should apply for Temporary Protected Status benefits within the specific time period of open initial registration designated for the appropriate country. If your home country’s status is extended after the initially reported timeframe, you should register again within the new re-registration timeframe to maintain their status.
To be eligible to apply, you must have been continuously physically present and residing in the U.S. since the date of designation of your home country. In addition, you must meet all minimum standards regarding your criminal background and security. For instance, someone cannot obtain or maintain Temporary Protected Status if they have a felony or two misdemeanor convictions on their record. You must also not be a security risk or involved in, engaged in, or inciting terrorist activity.
A skilled attorney in Glendale could help you complete and file the appropriate paperwork to obtain Temporary Protected Status, including the Form I-821, which is the Application for Temporary Protected Status. Our legal team could also help you determine if something else could prevent you from obtaining protected status, and, if necessary, help you complete a Form I-601, which is an Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility.
If you believe it is not safe to return to your home country because of a war or environmental disaster, you might be able to legally stay in the U.S. for a period of time. Meet with a temporary protected status lawyer in Glendale who could help you explore your legal options to see if you could be temporarily eligible to stay and work in the U.S.
