Extension of the Designation of Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status, 15334-15339 [2016-06330]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15334-15339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06330]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[CIS No. 2580-15; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2014-0009]
RIN 1615-ZB48


Extension of the Designation of Sierra Leone for Temporary 
Protected Status

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Through this Notice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is 
extending the designation of Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected 
Status (TPS) for 6 months, from May 22, 2016, through November 21, 
2016.
    The extension allows currently eligible TPS beneficiaries to retain 
TPS through November 21, 2016, so long as they otherwise continue to 
meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. The Secretary has determined 
that an extension is warranted because, although there have been 
significant improvements, conditions in Sierra Leone supporting its 
November 2014 designation for TPS continue to be met.
    Through this Notice, DHS also sets forth procedures necessary for 
eligible nationals of Sierra Leone (or aliens having no nationality who 
last habitually resided in Sierra Leone) to re-register for TPS and to 
apply for renewal of their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) 
with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Re-registration 
is limited to persons who have previously registered for TPS under the 
designation of Sierra Leone and whose applications have been granted. 
Certain nationals of Sierra Leone (or aliens having no nationality who 
last habitually resided in Sierra Leone) who have not previously 
applied for TPS may be eligible to apply under the late initial 
registration provisions if they meet (1) at least one of the late 
initial filing criteria, and (2) all TPS eligibility criteria 
(including continuous residence in the United States since November 20, 
2014, and continuous physical presence in the United States since 
November 21, 2014).
    For individuals who have already been granted TPS under Sierra 
Leone's designation, the 60-day re-registration period runs from March 
22, 2016 through May 23, 2016. USCIS will issue new EADs with a 
November 21, 2016, expiration date to eligible Sierra Leone TPS 
beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for EADs under this 
extension. Given the timeframes involved with processing TPS re-
registration applications, DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants 
will receive new EADs before their current EADs expire on May 21, 2016. 
Accordingly, through this Notice, DHS automatically extends the 
validity of EADs issued under the TPS designation of Sierra Leone for 6 
months, through November 21, 2016, and explains how TPS beneficiaries 
and their employers may determine which EADs are automatically extended 
and their impact on the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) 
and E-Verify processes.

DATES: The 6-month extension of the TPS designation of Sierra Leone is 
effective May 22, 2016, and will remain in effect through November 21, 
2016. The 60-day re-registration period runs from March 22, 2016 
through May 23, 2016. (Note: It is important for re-registrants to 
timely re-register during this 60-day period and not to wait until 
their EADs expire.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
     For further information on TPS, including guidance on the 
application process and additional information on eligibility, please 
visit the USCIS TPS Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps. You can find 
specific information about Sierra Leone's TPS extension by selecting 
``Sierra Leone'' from the menu on the left side of the TPS Web page.
     For questions concerning this FRN, you can also contact 
Jerry Rigdon, Chief of the Waivers and Temporary Services Branch, 
Service Center Operations Directorate, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services, Department of Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20529-2060; or by phone at (202) 272-1533 (this is not a 
toll-free number). Note: The phone number provided here is solely for 
questions regarding this TPS Notice. It is not for individual case 
status inquires.
     Applicants seeking information about the status of their 
individual cases can check Case Status Online, available at the USCIS 
Web site at https://www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS National Customer 
Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).
     Further information will also be available at local USCIS 
offices upon publication of this Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Abbreviations

BIA--Board of Immigration Appeals
DHS--Department of Homeland Security
DOS--Department of State
EAD--Employment Authorization Document
EVD--Ebola Virus Disease
FNC--Final Nonconfirmation
Government--U.S. Government
IJ--Immigration Judge
INA--Immigration and Nationality Act
OSC--U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Special Counsel for 
Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices
SAVE--USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program
Secretary--Secretary of Homeland Security
TNC--Tentative Nonconfirmation
TPS--Temporary Protected Status
TTY--Text Telephone
USCIS--U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

What is temporary protected status (TPS)?

     TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible 
nationals of a country designated for TPS under the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (INA), or to eligible persons without nationality who 
last habitually resided in the designated country.
     During the TPS designation period, TPS beneficiaries are 
eligible to remain in the United States, may not be removed, and are 
authorized to work and obtain EADs so long as they

[[Page 15335]]

continue to meet the requirements of TPS.
     TPS beneficiaries may also be granted travel authorization 
as a matter of discretion.
     The granting of TPS does not result in or lead to 
permanent resident status.
     To qualify for TPS, beneficiaries must meet the 
eligibility requirements at INA section 244(c)(2), 8 U.S.C. 
1254a(c)(2).
     When the Secretary terminates a country's TPS designation, 
although TPS benefits end, former TPS beneficiaries continue to hold 
any lawful immigration status that they maintained or obtained while 
holding TPS.

When and why was Sierra Leone designated for TPS?

    On November 21, 2014, the Secretary designated Sierra Leone for TPS 
for a period of 18 months due to the extraordinary and temporary 
conditions caused by an epidemic of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West 
Africa that prevented nationals of Sierra Leone from returning to 
Sierra Leone in safety. The extraordinary and temporary conditions 
included high EVD transmission rates in widespread geographic areas, 
overwhelmed health care systems unable to handle the large number of 
EVD patients or to provide treatment for normally preventable or 
treatable conditions, and containment measures that were causing 
significant disruptions to Sierra Leone's economy and individuals' 
ability to access food and earn a livelihood. See Designation of Sierra 
Leone for Temporary Protected Status, 79 FR 69506 (Nov. 21, 2014).

What authority does the Secretary have to extend the designation of 
Sierra Leone for TPS?

    Section 244(b)(1) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1), authorizes the 
Secretary, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the U.S. 
Government (Government), to designate a foreign state (or part thereof) 
for TPS if the Secretary determines that certain country conditions 
exist.\1\ The Secretary may then grant TPS to eligible nationals of 
that foreign state (or eligible aliens having no nationality who last 
habitually resided in the designated country). See INA section 
244(a)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A).
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    \1\ As of March 1, 2003, in accordance with section 1517 of 
title XV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, 
116 Stat. 2135, any reference to the Attorney General in a provision 
of the INA describing functions transferred from the Department of 
Justice to DHS ``shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary'' of 
Homeland Security. See 6 U.S.C. 557 (codifying the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002, tit. XV, section 1517).
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    At least 60 days before the expiration of a country's TPS 
designation or extension, the Secretary, after consultation with 
appropriate Government agencies, must review the conditions in a 
foreign state designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions 
for the TPS designation continue to be met. See INA section 
244(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). If the Secretary determines that 
a foreign state continues to meet the conditions for TPS designation, 
the designation may be extended for an additional period of 6, 12, or 
18 months. See INA section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C). If 
the Secretary determines that the foreign state no longer meets the 
conditions for TPS designation, the Secretary must terminate the 
designation. See INA section 244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B).

Why is the Secretary extending the TPS designation for Sierra Leone 
through November 21, 2016?

    DHS and the Department of State (DOS) have reviewed conditions in 
Sierra Leone. Based on the reviews and after consulting with DOS, the 
Secretary has determined that a 6-month extension is warranted because, 
although there have been significant improvements, conditions in Sierra 
Leone supporting its November 2014 designation for TPS persist.
    Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone were designated for TPS in the 
midst of the largest EVD outbreak in history. From March 2014 through 
November 2015, these three countries suffered over 11,000 deaths among 
their more than 28,500 cases of EVD. At the height of the outbreak in 
late 2014, hundreds of new cases were being reported each week, the 
health care systems were overwhelmed, and containment measures were 
causing significant disruptions to individuals' ability to access food 
and earn a livelihood. A robust response by the international community 
and the governments of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone has now 
brought EVD transmission in West Africa substantially under control.
    In Sierra Leone, the EVD epidemic started in May 2014 and peaked 
between October and December 2014. Sierra Leone's government and 
international partners mounted an effective response that dramatically 
decreased the number of new EVD cases from a high of 500 per week in 
late 2014 to between 8 to 12 cases in June 2015, to single digits in 
August 2015. The World Health Organization declared Sierra Leone free 
of EVD transmission as of November 7, 2015; however, two new cases were 
subsequently reported in January 2016. Since that time, no additional 
cases have been reported. If no further cases are detected, the World 
Health Organization will again declare Sierra Leone free of EVD 
transmission on March 17, 2016.
    Despite the absence of current widespread EVD transmission, Guinea, 
Liberia, and Sierra Leone still face containment and recovery 
challenges, and the risk of flare-ups of EVD remains, as demonstrated 
by the two cases reported in Sierra Leone in January 2016 after the 
country had previously been declared free of EVD transmission. All 
three countries continue to experience consequences of the epidemic, 
including the ongoing medical issues and mental trauma experienced by 
EVD survivors; challenges in rebuilding fragile healthcare systems; and 
lingering food insecurity due to the epidemic's impact on economic 
activity, productivity, and livelihoods. The World Health Organization 
continues to consider the EVD outbreak a Public Health Emergency of 
International Concern.
    Although the countries continue to struggle with the effects of the 
epidemic, in light of the absence of widespread transmission of EVD, 
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention has removed warnings for travel to Guinea, 
Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Accordingly, the restrictions placed on 
grants of advance parole for travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra 
Leone in conjunction with these countries' designations for TPS in 
November 2014 are removed. Beneficiaries of TPS Sierra Leone who wish 
to travel abroad must still comply with the requirements for obtaining 
advance parole stated in the Instructions to Form I-131, Application 
for Travel Document. They should also be aware that travel abroad may 
cause a break in their continuous residence and continuous physical 
presence in the United States, making them ineligible for TPS, unless 
the absence from the United States is considered by USCIS to be 
``brief, casual and innocent'' under 8 CFR 244.1.
    Based upon this review and after consultation with appropriate 
Government agencies, the Secretary has determined that:
     Conditions supporting the November 2014 designation of 
Sierra Leone for TPS continue to be met. See INA section 244(b)(3)(A) 
and (C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A) and (C).

[[Page 15336]]

     There continue to be extraordinary and temporary 
conditions in Sierra Leone that prevent nationals of Sierra Leone (or 
aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra 
Leone) from returning to Sierra Leone in safety. See INA section 
244(b)(1)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(C).
     It is not contrary to the national interest of the United 
States to permit nationals of Sierra Leone (or aliens having no 
nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra Leone) who meet the 
eligibility requirements of TPS to remain in the United States 
temporarily. See INA section 244(b)(1)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(C).
     The designation of Sierra Leone for TPS should be extended 
for a 6-month period from May 22, 2016, through November 21, 2016. See 
INA section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).
     Requests for advance travel authorization (``advance 
parole'') for travel to Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone no longer 
require demonstration of extraordinary circumstances in order to be 
approvable.
     There are approximately 1,145 current Sierra Leone TPS 
beneficiaries who are expected to file for re-registration under the 
extension.

Notice of Extension of the TPS Designation of Sierra Leone

    By the authority vested in me as Secretary under INA section 244, 8 
U.S.C. 1254a, I have determined, after consultation with the 
appropriate Government agencies, that conditions supporting Sierra 
Leone's November 2014 designation for TPS continue to be met. See INA 
section 244(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). On the basis of this 
determination, I am extending the existing designation of Sierra Leone 
for TPS for 6 months, from May 22, 2016, through November 21, 2016. See 
INA section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).

Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.

Required Application Forms and Application Fees to Register or Re-
Register for TPS

    To register or re-register for TPS based on the designation of 
Sierra Leone, you must submit each of the following applications:

1. Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821)

     If you are filing an application for late initial 
registration, you must pay the fee for the Application for Temporary 
Protected Status (Form I-821). See 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2) and 244.6 and 
information on late initial filing on the USCIS TPS Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
     If you are filing an application for re-registration, you 
do not need to pay the fee for the Application for Temporary Protected 
Status (Form I-821). See 8 CFR 244.17.

2. Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765)

     If you are applying for late initial registration and want 
an EAD, you must pay the fee for the Application for Employment 
Authorization (Form I-765) only if you are age 14 through 65. You do 
not need to pay this fee if you are under the age of 14 or are 66 or 
older.
     If you are applying for re-registration, you must pay the 
fee for the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765), 
regardless of your age, if you want an EAD.
     You do not pay the fee for the Application for Employment 
Authorization (Form I-765) if you are not requesting an EAD, regardless 
of whether you are applying for late initial registration or re-
registration.
    You must submit both completed application forms together. If you 
are unable to pay the application fee and/or biometrics fee, you may 
complete a Request for Fee Waiver (Form I-912) or submit a personal 
letter requesting a fee waiver with satisfactory supporting 
documentation. For more information on the application forms and fees 
for TPS, please visit the USCIS TPS Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps. Fees for the Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-
821), the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765), and 
biometric services are also described in 8 CFR 103.7(b).

Biometric Services Fee

    Biometrics (such as fingerprints) are required for all applicants 
14 years and older. Those applicants must submit a biometric services 
fee. As previously stated, if you are unable to pay for the biometric 
services fee, you may complete a Request for Fee Waiver (Form I-912) or 
submit a personal letter requesting a fee waiver with satisfactory 
supporting documentation. For more information on the biometric 
services fee, please visit the USCIS Web site at https://www.uscis.gov. 
If necessary, you may be required to visit an Application Support 
Center to have your biometrics captured.

Re-filing a Re-registration TPS Application after Receiving a Denial of 
a Fee Waiver Request

    You should file as soon as possible within the 60-day re-
registration period so USCIS can process your application and issue any 
EAD promptly. Filing early will also allow you to have time to re-file 
your application before the deadline, should USCIS deny your fee waiver 
request. If, however, you receive a denial of your fee waiver request 
and are unable to re-file by the re-registration deadline, you may 
still re-file your application. This situation will be reviewed to 
determine whether you established good cause for late re-registration. 
However, you are urged to re-file within 45 days of the date on any 
USCIS fee waiver denial notice, if possible. See INA section 
244(c)(3)(C); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(3)(C); 8 CFR 244.17(c). For more 
information on good cause for late re-registration, visit the USCIS TPS 
Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
    Note: Although a re-registering TPS beneficiary age 14 and older 
must pay the biometric services fee (but not the initial TPS 
application fee) when filing a TPS re-registration application, you may 
decide to wait to request an EAD, and therefore not pay the Application 
for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) fee until after USCIS has 
approved your TPS re-registration, if you are eligible. If you choose 
to do this, you would file the Application for Temporary Protected 
Status (Form I-821) with the biometrics fee and the Application for 
Employment Authorization (Form I-765) without the fee and without 
requesting an EAD.

Mailing Information

    Mail your application for TPS to the proper address in Table 1.

                       Table 1--Mailing Addresses
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                 If . . .                           Mail to . . .
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You are applying through the U.S. Postal    USCIS, Attn: TPS Sierra
 Service.                                    Leone, P.O. Box 6943,
                                             Chicago, IL 60680-6943.
You are using a non-U.S. Postal Service     USCIS, Attn: TPS Sierra
 delivery service.                           Leone, 131 S. Dearborn
                                             Street, 3rd Floor, Chicago,
                                             IL 60603-5517.
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    If you were granted TPS by an Immigration Judge (IJ) or the Board 
of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and you wish to request an EAD or are re-
registering for the first time following a grant of TPS by an IJ or the 
BIA, please mail your application to the appropriate mailing address in 
Table 1. After you

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submit your application and receive a USCIS receipt number, please send 
an email to the appropriate USCIS Service Center handling your 
application, providing the receipt number and stating that you 
submitted a re-registration and/or request for an EAD based on an IJ/
BIA grant of TPS. This will aid in the verification of your grant of 
TPS and processing of your application, as USCIS may not have received 
records of your grant of TPS by either the IJ or the BIA. To get 
additional information, including the email address of the appropriate 
Service Center, you may go to the USCIS TPS Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.

E-Filing

    You cannot electronically file your application when re-registering 
or submitting an initial registration for Sierra Leone TPS. Please mail 
your application to the mailing address listed in Table 1.

Supporting Documents

    The filing instructions on the Application for Temporary Protected 
Status (Form I-821) list all the documents needed to establish basic 
eligibility for TPS. You must also submit two color passport-style 
photographs of yourself. You may also find information on the 
acceptable documentation and other requirements for applying or 
registering for TPS on the USCIS Web site at www.uscis.gov/tps under 
``Sierra Leone.''

Do I need to submit additional supporting documentation?

    If one or more of the questions listed in Part 4, Question 2 of the 
Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) applies to you, 
then you must submit an explanation on a separate sheet(s) of paper 
and/or additional documentation.

Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

How can I obtain information on the status of my EAD request?

    To get case status information about your TPS application, 
including the status of a request for an EAD, you can check Case Status 
Online at https://www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS National Customer 
Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). If your Application 
for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) has been pending for more 
than 90 days, and you still need assistance, you may request an EAD 
inquiry appointment with USCIS by using the InfoPass system at https://infopass.uscis.gov. However, we strongly encourage you first to check 
Case Status Online or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center 
for assistance before making an InfoPass appointment.

Am I eligible to receive an automatic 6-month extension of my current 
EAD through November 21, 2016?

    Provided that you currently have TPS under the designation of 
Sierra Leone, this Notice automatically extends your EAD by 6 months if 
you:
     Are a national of Sierra Leone (or an alien having no 
nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra Leone);
     Received an EAD under the November 2014 designation of 
Sierra Leone for TPS; and
     Have an EAD with a marked expiration date of May 21, 2016, 
bearing the notation ``A-12'' or ``C-19'' on the face of the card under 
``Category.''
    Although this Notice automatically extends your EAD through 
November 21, 2016, you must re-register timely for TPS in accordance 
with the procedures described in this Notice if you would like to 
maintain your TPS.

When hired, what documentation may I show to my employer as proof of 
employment authorization and identity when completing Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)?

    You can find a list of acceptable document choices on the ``Lists 
of Acceptable Documents'' for Employment Eligibility Verification (Form 
I-9). You can find additional detailed information on the USCIS I-9 
Central Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/I-9Central. Employers are 
required to verify the identity and employment authorization of all new 
employees by using Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). 
Within 3 days of being hired, you must present proof of identity and 
employment authorization to your employer.
    You may present any document from List A (reflecting both your 
identity and employment authorization) or one document from List B 
(reflecting identity) together with one document from List C 
(reflecting employment authorization). An EAD is an acceptable document 
under ``List A.'' You may present an acceptable receipt for a List A, 
List B, or List C document as described in the Employment Eligibility 
Verification (Form I-9) Instructions. An acceptable receipt is one that 
shows an employee has applied to replace a document that was lost, 
stolen or damaged. If you present an acceptable receipt, you must 
present your employer with the actual document within 90 days. 
Employers may not reject a document based on a future expiration date.
    If your EAD has an expiration date of May 21, 2016, and states ``A-
12'' or ``C-19'' under ``Category,'' it has been extended automatically 
for 6 months by virtue of this Federal Register Notice, and you may 
choose to present your EAD to your employer as proof of identity and 
employment authorization for Employment Eligibility Verification (Form 
I-9) through November 21, 2016 (see the subsection titled ``How do my 
employer and I complete the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form 
I-9) using an automatically extended EAD for a new job?'' for further 
information). To minimize confusion over this extension at the time of 
hire, you should explain to your employer that USCIS has automatically 
extended your EAD through November 21, 2016, based on your Temporary 
Protected Status. You are also strongly encouraged, although not 
required, to show your employer a copy of this Federal Register Notice 
confirming the automatic extension of employment authorization through 
November 21, 2016. As an alternative to presenting your automatically 
extended EAD, you may choose to present any other acceptable document 
from List A, or a combination of one selection from List B and one 
selection from List C.

What documentation may I show my employer if I am already employed but 
my current TPS-related EAD is set to expire?

    Even though EADs with an expiration date of May 21, 2016, that 
state ``A-12'' or ``C-19'' under ``Category'' have been automatically 
extended for 6 months by this Federal Register Notice, your employer 
will need to ask you about your continued employment authorization once 
May 21, 2016, is reached to meet its responsibilities for Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). Your employer does not need to 
complete a new Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) to 
reverify your employment authorization until November 21, 2016, the 
expiration date of the automatic extension, but may need to reinspect 
your automatically extended EAD to check the expiration date and code 
to record the updated expiration date on your Employment Eligibility 
Verification (Form I-9) if your employer did not keep a copy of this 
EAD at the time you initially presented it. You and your employer must 
make corrections to the employment authorization expiration dates in 
Section 1 and Section 2 of Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-
9) (see the subsection titled

[[Page 15338]]

``What corrections should my current employer and I make to Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) if my EAD has been automatically 
extended?'' for further information). You are also strongly encouraged, 
although not required, to show this Federal Register Notice to your 
employer to explain what to do for Employment Eligibility Verification 
(Form I-9).
    By November 21, 2016, the expiration date of the automatic 
extension, your employer must reverify your employment authorization. 
At that time, you must present any unexpired document from List A or 
any unexpired document from List C on Employment Eligibility 
Verification (Form I-9) to reverify employment authorization, or an 
acceptable List A or List C receipt described in the Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) instructions. Your employer is 
required to reverify on Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) 
the employment authorization of current employees upon the 
automatically extended expiration date of a TPS-related EAD, which is 
November 21, 2016, in this case. Your employer should use either 
Section 3 of the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) 
originally completed for the employee or, if this section has already 
been completed or if the version of Employment Eligibility Verification 
(Form I-9) is no longer valid, complete Section 3 of a new Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) using the most current version. 
Note that your employer may not specify which List A or List C document 
employees must present, and cannot reject an acceptable receipt. An 
acceptable receipt is one that shows an employee has applied to replace 
a document that was lost, stolen or damaged.

Can my employer require that I produce any other documentation to prove 
my current TPS status, such as proof of my Sierra Leonean citizenship 
or proof that I have re-registered for TPS?

    No. When completing Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), 
including reverifying employment authorization, employers must accept 
any documentation that appears on the ``Lists of Acceptable Documents'' 
for Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) that reasonably 
appears to be genuine and that relates to you or an acceptable List A, 
List B, or List C receipt. Employers may not request documentation that 
does not appear on the ``Lists of Acceptable Documents.'' Therefore, 
employers may not request proof of Sierra Leonean citizenship or proof 
of re-registration for TPS when completing Employment Eligibility 
Verification (Form I-9) for new hires or reverifying the employment 
authorization of current employees. Refer to the ``Note to Employees'' 
section of this Notice for important information about your rights if 
your employer rejects lawful documentation, requires additional 
documentation, or otherwise discriminates against you based on your 
citizenship or immigration status, or your national origin. Note that 
although you are not required to provide your employer with a copy of 
this Federal Register Notice, you are strongly encouraged to do so to 
help avoid confusion.

What happens after November 21, 2016, for purposes of employment 
authorization?

    After November 21, 2016, employers may no longer accept the EADs 
that this Federal Register Notice automatically extended. New EADs 
requested and issued under this TPS extension will also expire on 
November 21, 2016, unless automatically extended by a subsequent 
Federal Register Notice.

How do my employer and I complete Employment Eligibility Verification 
(Form I-9) using an automatically extended EAD for a new job?

    When using an automatically extended EAD to complete Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) for a new job before November 21, 
2016, you and your employer should do the following:
    1. For Section 1, you should:
    a. Check ``An alien authorized to work;''
    b. Write the automatically extended EAD expiration date (November 
21, 2016) in the first space; and
    c. Write your alien number (USCIS number or A-number) in the second 
space (your EAD or other document from DHS will have your USCIS number 
or A-number printed on it; the USCIS number is the same as your A-
number without the A prefix).
    2. For Section 2, employers should record the:
    a. Document title;
    b. Issuing authority;
    c. Document number; and
    d. Automatically extended EAD expiration date (November 21, 2016).
    By November 21, 2016, employers must reverify the employee's 
employment authorization in Section 3 of the Employment Eligibility 
Verification (Form I-9).

What corrections should my current employer and I make to Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) if my EAD has been automatically 
extended?

    If you are an existing employee who presented a TPS-related EAD 
that was valid when you first started your job but that EAD has now 
been automatically extended, your employer may reinspect your 
automatically extended EAD if the employer does not have a photocopy of 
the EAD on file, and you and your employer should correct your 
previously completed Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) as 
follows:
    1. For Section 1, you should:
    a. Draw a line through the expiration date in the first space;
    b. Write ``November 21, 2016'' above the previous date;
    c. Write ``TPS Ext.'' in the margin of Section 1; and
    d. Initial and date the correction in the margin of Section 1.
    2. For Section 2, employers should:
    a. Draw a line through the expiration date written in Section 2;
    b. Write ``November 21, 2016'' above the previous date;
    c. Write ``EAD Ext.'' in the margin of Section 2; and
    d. Initial and date the correction in the margin of Section 2.
    By November 21, 2016, when the automatic extension of EADs expires, 
employers must reverify the employee's employment authorization in 
Section 3.

If I am an employer enrolled in E-Verify, what do I do when I receive a 
``Work Authorization Documents Expiration'' alert for an automatically 
extended EAD?

    If you are an employer who participates in E-Verify and you have an 
employee who is a TPS beneficiary who provided a TPS-related EAD when 
he or she first started working for you, you will receive a ``Work 
Authorization Documents Expiring'' case alert when this EAD is about to 
expire. Usually, this message is an alert to complete Section 3 of the 
Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) to reverify an 
employee's employment authorization. For existing employees with TPS-
related EADs that have been automatically extended, employers should 
dismiss this alert by clicking the red ``X'' in the ``dismiss alert'' 
column and follow the instructions above explaining how to correct the 
Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). By November 21, 2016, 
employment authorization must be reverified in Section 3. Employers 
should never use E-Verify for reverification.

[[Page 15339]]

Note to All Employers

    Employers are reminded that the laws requiring proper employment 
eligibility verification and prohibiting unfair immigration-related 
employment practices remain in full force. This Notice does not 
supersede or in any way limit applicable employment verification rules 
and policy guidance, including those rules setting forth reverification 
requirements. For general questions about the employment eligibility 
verification process, employers may call USCIS at 888-464-4218 (TTY 
877-875-6028) or email I-9Central@dhs.gov. Calls and emails are 
accepted in English and many other languages. For questions about 
avoiding discrimination during the employment eligibility verification 
process, employers may also call the U.S. Department of Justice, Office 
of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices 
(OSC) Employer Hotline, at 800-255-8155 (TTY 800-237-2515), which 
offers language interpretation in numerous languages, or email OSC at 
osccrt@usdoj.gov.

Note to Employees

    For general questions about the employment eligibility verification 
process, you may call USCIS at 888-897-7781 (TTY 877-875-6028) or email 
I-9Central@dhs.gov. Calls are accepted in English and many other 
languages. You may also call the OSC Worker Information Hotline at 800-
255-7688 (TTY 800-237-2515) for information regarding employment 
discrimination based upon citizenship status, immigration status, or 
national origin, or for information regarding discrimination related to 
Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) and E-Verify. The OSC 
Worker Information Hotline provides language interpretation in numerous 
languages.
    To comply with the law, employers must accept any document or 
combination of documents from the Lists of Acceptable Documents if the 
documentation reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the 
employee, or an acceptable List A, List B, or List C receipt described 
in the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) Instructions. 
Employers may not require extra or additional documentation beyond what 
is required for Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) 
completion. Further, employers participating in E-Verify who receive an 
E-Verify case result of ``Tentative Nonconfirmation'' (TNC) must 
promptly inform employees of the TNC and give such employees an 
opportunity to contest the TNC. A TNC case result means that the 
information entered into E-Verify from Employment Eligibility 
Verification (Form I-9) differs from Federal or state government 
records.
    Employers may not terminate, suspend, delay training, withhold pay, 
lower pay, or take any adverse action against you based on your 
decision to contest a TNC or because the case is still pending with E-
Verify. A Final Nonconfirmation (FNC) case result is received when E-
Verify cannot verify your employment eligibility. An employer may 
terminate employment based on a case result of FNC. Work-authorized 
employees who receive an FNC may call USCIS for assistance at 888-897-
7781 (TTY 877-875-6028). If you believe you were discriminated against 
by an employer in the E-Verify process based on citizenship or 
immigration status or based on national origin, you may contact OSC's 
Worker Information Hotline at 800-255-7688 (TTY 800-237-2515). 
Additional information about proper nondiscriminatory Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) and E-Verify procedures is 
available on the OSC Web site at https://www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc/ 
and the USCIS Web site at https://www.dhs.gov/E-verify.

Note Regarding Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies (Such as 
Departments of Motor Vehicles)

    While Federal Government agencies must follow the guidelines laid 
out by the Federal Government, State and local government agencies 
establish their own rules and guidelines when granting certain 
benefits. Each State may have different laws, requirements, and 
determinations about what documents you need to provide to prove 
eligibility for certain benefits. Whether you are applying for a 
Federal, State, or local government benefit, you may need to provide 
the government agency with documents that show you are a TPS 
beneficiary and/or show you are authorized to work based on TPS. 
Examples are:
    (1) Your unexpired EAD;
    (2) A copy of this Federal Register Notice if your EAD is 
automatically extended under this Notice;
    (3) A copy of your Application for Temporary Protected Status 
Notice of Action (Form I-797) for this re-registration;
    (4) A copy of your past or current Application for Temporary 
Protected Status Approval Notice (Form I-797), if you received one from 
USCIS; and/or
    (5) If there is an automatic extension of work authorization, a 
copy of the fact sheet from the USCIS TPS Web site that provides 
information on the automatic extension.
    Check with the government agency regarding which document(s) the 
agency will accept. You may also provide the agency with a copy of this 
Federal Register Notice.
    Some benefit-granting agencies use the USCIS Systematic Alien 
Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE) to verify the current 
immigration status of applicants for public benefits. If such an agency 
has denied your application based solely or in part on a SAVE response, 
the agency must offer you the opportunity to appeal the decision in 
accordance with the agency's procedures. If the agency has received and 
acted upon or will act upon a SAVE verification and you do not believe 
the response is correct, you may make an InfoPass appointment for an 
in-person interview at a local USCIS office. Detailed information on 
how to make corrections, make an appointment, or submit a written 
request to correct records under the Freedom of Information Act can be 
found at the SAVE Web site at https://www.uscis.gov/save, then by 
choosing ``How to Correct Your Records'' from the menu on the right.

[FR Doc. 2016-06330 Filed 3-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-97-P