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USCIS Updates Policy Guidance Regarding Temporary Protected Status and Eligibility for Adjustment of Status

New policy guidance for allowing people on TPS to file adjustments of status under Section (a) of the INA reiterates the USCIS opinion that even if one obtains an advance parole and re-enters the country, they may not be eligible for adjustments, if prior to leaving they had not been inspected and admitted into the country. The exceptions to this is the jurisdictions of the 6th or the 9th circuit. Be aware of the understanding and announcement below…

USCIS today issued policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual clarifying whether temporary protected status (TPS) beneficiaries are eligible for adjustment of status under section 245(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). INA 245(a) requires an alien to have been inspected and admitted or inspected and paroled into the United States, unless exempt from this requirement.

The updated guidance reaffirms USCIS’ long-standing interpretation that an alien who enters the United States without having been inspected and admitted or inspected and paroled, and who is subsequently granted TPS, generally does not meet that requirement.

The updated guidance also incorporates Matter of Z-R-Z-C-, which held that generally TPS beneficiaries who travel outside the United States with prior authorization under INA 244(f)(3) retain the same status when they return to the United States that they had when they departed. If they were not considered inspected and admitted or inspected and paroled before their departure, that will not change when they return.

This updated policy guidance clarifies that decisions in the Sixth and Ninth Circuits holding that TPS is an admission for INA 245(a) purposes are limited to those jurisdictions. Outside of the Sixth and Ninth Circuits, Matter of H-G-G-, 27 I. & N. Dec. 617, 635 (AAO 2019), applies.

 

Disclaimer

This article aims to provide new information concerning USCIS fee increase and other changes. This article, under no circumstances, acts as legal advice; therefore, for any immigration questions, please contact your Attorney or the Ahluwalia Law Offices, P.C. (Team ALO).