How long USCIS is taking to decide I-821 applications for Temporary Protected Status, from real cases we tracked to a decision. Updated every day.
We're still collecting enough decided I-821 cases to publish our own numbers (we wait for at least 20). Until then, USCIS's published national median is 13.6 months.
USCIS national median, FY2026 for I-821: 13.6 months.
Enter the 13-character receipt number from your receipt notice to see your current status, what it means and your estimated decision date.
Use the receipt number from your I-821 receipt notice. Your I-765 for the TPS work permit has its own receipt number. Free, no sign-up.
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TPS runs country by country, through Federal Register notices that set registration windows, how long the designation lasts and how existing work permits are handled. Several designations have been ended, shortened or challenged in court recently, which can change timelines quickly. Check the current notice for your country.
Re-registrations are usually decided faster than initial applications, which need proof of nationality and continuous residence and physical presence in the US since the dates set for your country.
Most applicants file an I-765 alongside the I-821. The two are decided separately and the EAD can arrive on its own schedule.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For decisions about your own case, check USCIS's current guidance or talk to an immigration attorney.
Other forms: I-130 · I-129F · I-751 · I-730 · I-601A · I-485 · N-400 · N-600 · N-600K · I-539 · I-129 · I-140 · I-526E · I-829 · I-360 · I-918 · I-914 · I-817 · I-600A · I-600 · I-800A · I-800 · I-90 · N-565 · I-102 · I-824
All USCIS processing timesUSCIS's published national median for I-821 is 13.6 months. We don't yet have enough decided I-821 cases of our own to publish a figure, so this page shows USCIS's number until we do.
Yes, during each re-registration period your country's Federal Register notice announces, if the designation is extended. Missing the window can cost you TPS. Confirm the details for your case with USCIS or an immigration attorney.
The notice ending it sets the date TPS and related work permits stop. Court orders have paused some recent terminations, so check the latest USCIS guidance for your country and talk to an attorney about other options.
Ours come from real I-821 cases we tracked from the day USCIS received them to the day they were approved or denied, over the last 12 months. USCIS's median covers its whole fiscal year and, for some forms, only one category. Neither predicts a single case exactly: your service center or field office, your category and any Request for Evidence matter more.
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