Six-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status Benefits for Orderly Transition Before Termination of Sierra Leone's Designation for Temporary Protected Status, 66054-66059 [2016-23249]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 186 (Monday, September 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66054-66059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23249]



[[Page 66054]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[CIS No. 2589-16; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2014-0009]
RIN 1615-ZB57


Six-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status Benefits for 
Orderly Transition Before Termination of Sierra Leone's Designation for 
Temporary Protected Status

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The designation of Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status 
(TPS) is set to expire on November 21, 2016. After reviewing relevant 
country conditions and consulting with the appropriate U.S. Government 
(Government) agencies, the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) 
has determined that conditions in Sierra Leone no longer support its 
designation for TPS and is therefore extending TPS benefits for 6 
months for the purpose of orderly transition before the TPS designation 
of Sierra Leone terminates. This termination will be effective May 21, 
2017, 6 months following the end of the current designation.
    To provide for an orderly transition, nationals of Sierra Leone 
(and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra 
Leone) who have been granted TPS under the Sierra Leone designation 
will automatically retain their TPS and have their current TPS-based 
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) extended through May 20, 2017. 
However, an individual's TPS may still be withdrawn because of 
ineligibility for TPS. On May 21, 2017, nationals of Sierra Leone (and 
aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra 
Leone) who have been granted TPS under the Sierra Leone designation 
will no longer have TPS.

DATES: The designation of Sierra Leone for TPS is terminated effective 
at 12:01 a.m., local time, on May 21, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
     For further information on TPS, please visit the U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) TPS Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps. You can find specific information about the 
termination of Sierra Leone's TPS designation by selecting ``Sierra 
Leone'' from the menu on the left side of the TPS Web page.
     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

DHS--Department of Homeland Security
DOS--Department of State
EAD--Employment Authorization Document
EVD--Ebola Virus Disease
FNC--Final Nonconfirmation
Government--U.S. Government
INA--Immigration and Nationality Act
OSC--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
WHO--World Health Organization

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 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 criteria described in INA section 244(c), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c) 
and 8 CFR part 244.
     When the Secretary terminates a country's TPS designation, 
beneficiaries return to the same immigration status they maintained 
before TPS, if any (unless that status has since expired or been 
terminated), or to any other immigration status they lawfully obtained 
while registered for TPS.

When 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 conditions included high EVD transmission 
rates in wide-spread 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). The Secretary last announced a 6-
month extension of TPS for Sierra Leone on March 22, 2016, based on his 
determination that although there were significant improvements, 
conditions supporting the designation persisted. See Extension of the 
Designation of Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status, 81 FR 15334 
(Mar. 22, 2016).

What authority does the Secretary have to terminate 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 Government agencies, 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 the Department of Homeland Security (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

[[Page 66055]]

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, but such 
termination may not take effect earlier than 60 days after the date the 
Federal Register notice of termination is published, or if later, the 
expiration of the most recent previous extension of the country 
designation. See INA section 244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B). The 
Secretary may determine the appropriate effective date of the 
termination and the expiration of any TPS-related documentation, such 
as EADs, for the purpose of providing an orderly transition. See id.; 
INA section 244(d)(3), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(d)(3).

Why is the Secretary terminating the designation of Sierra Leone for 
TPS as of May 21, 2017, after a 6-month extension of TPS benefits for 
the purpose of orderly transition?

    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 the termination of the TPS designation of 
Sierra Leone, after a 6-month extension of TPS benefits for orderly 
transition, is required because the extraordinary and temporary 
conditions that prompted Sierra Leone's designation for TPS have 
substantially resolved and no longer prevent nationals of Sierra Leone 
from returning in safety.
    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, Ebola was spreading rapidly, with hundreds of new cases 
being reported each week, the health care systems overwhelmed, and 
containment measures causing significant disruptions to individuals' 
ability to access food and earn a livelihood. While the impacts of the 
epidemic pose a lasting challenge to Sierra Leone's economy and the 
capacity of its health system to provide treatment for preventable or 
treatable conditions, at this time, the EVD epidemic has subsided, and 
conditions have improved since the Secretary initially designated 
Sierra Leone for TPS.
    A robust response by the international community and the 
governments of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone has brought the EVD 
epidemic in West Africa under control and begun the long-term work of 
rebuilding regional economies and health systems. 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. After a small 
cluster (2 cases) of EVD in January 2016, the World Health Organization 
(WHO) declared Sierra Leone free of EVD transmission as of March 17, 
2016. As of June 2016, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone were all free 
of EVD transmission. While the risk of flare-ups of EVD remains, 
efforts are underway to promote, over time, robust prevention, 
surveillance, and response capacity across all three countries.
    In Sierra Leone, donors and the Sierra Leone government are closing 
down most of their EVD-specific facilities and transitioning relevant 
equipment to other health care needs. The Sierra Leone government and 
international partners continue to monitor infection control and 
prevention measures at hospitals. Schools are open and business hours 
have been extended to help jump-start economic activity. The U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention has no Ebola-related Travel Health Notice in place for 
Sierra Leone as of the date of this Notice.
    While health systems and facilities remain fragile, medical centers 
are no longer overwhelmed by patients with EVD. High rates of child 
mortality both before and since the EVD epidemic are indicative of the 
overall fragility of the health system. Although this is comparable to 
other countries in the region, systems in Sierra Leone must also be 
able to address ongoing issues of trust between healthcare facilities 
and communities, as well as continue to care for Ebola survivors who 
have a series of ongoing and previously unforeseen health conditions, 
both of which will continue to exacerbate and underscore the fragility 
of these systems. Normal business activity and national life have 
largely resumed, although work is ongoing to rebuild Sierra Leone's 
economy and health care system. On March 29, 2016, the WHO Director-
General declared the end of the Public Health Emergency of 
International Concern regarding the EVD outbreak in West Africa. In 
conjunction with ending the public health emergency, the WHO emphasized 
there should be no restrictions on travel and trade with Guinea, 
Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
    Based upon this review and after consultation with appropriate 
Government agencies, the Secretary has determined that Sierra Leone no 
longer continues to meet the statutorily required conditions for a TPS 
designation on the basis of extraordinary and temporary conditions, 
because the extraordinary and temporary conditions that prompted Sierra 
Leone's TPS designation have substantially resolved and no longer 
prevent nationals of Sierra Leone from returning to Sierra Leone in 
safety. Therefore, after a 6-month extension of TPS benefits for 
orderly transition, the Secretary is terminating the TPS designation of 
Sierra Leone effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, on May 21, 2017. See 
INA section 244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B).
    To provide for an orderly transition, individuals who have been 
granted TPS under Sierra Leone's designation will automatically retain 
TPS and have their current EADs extended until the termination date. 
See INA section 244(d)(3), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(d)(3). DHS may, however, 
withdraw TPS from any beneficiary who fails to continue meeting the 
requirements for TPS. See INA section 244(c)(3), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(3). 
There are approximately 1,180 current Sierra Leone TPS beneficiaries. 
These persons are urged to use the time before termination of their TPS 
to prepare for and arrange their departure from the United States or, 
in the alternative, to apply for other immigration benefits for which 
they are eligible.

Notice of Six-Month Extension of TPS Benefits for Orderly Transition 
Before Termination 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 Sierra Leone no longer meets the 
conditions for designation of TPS under 244(b)(1) of the Act. 8 U.S.C. 
1254a(b)(1).
    Accordingly, I order as follows:
    (1) Pursuant to INA section 244(b)(3)(B), the designation of Sierra 
Leone for TPS is terminated effective at

[[Page 66056]]

12:01 a.m., local time, on May 21, 2017, 6 months following the end of 
the current designation.
    (2) DHS estimates that there are approximately 1,180 nationals of 
Sierra Leone (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually 
resided in Sierra Leone) who currently receive TPS benefits.
    (3) To provide for an orderly transition, nationals of Sierra Leone 
(and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Sierra 
Leone) who have been granted TPS under the Sierra Leone designation 
will automatically retain TPS until the May 21, 2017 termination date. 
However, an individual's TPS may still be withdrawn before this date 
pursuant to INA section 244(c)(3) and 8 CFR 244.14 because of 
ineligibility for TPS.
    (4) TPS-related EADs that expire on November 21, 2016, are extended 
automatically through May 20, 2017, for qualified nationals of Sierra 
Leone (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in 
Sierra Leone).
    (5) Information concerning the termination of TPS for nationals of 
Sierra Leone (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually 
resided in Sierra Leone) will be available at local USCIS offices upon 
publication of this Notice and through the USCIS National Customer 
Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. This information will be published on 
the USCIS Web site at www.USCIS.gov.

Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.

If I currently have TPS under Sierra Leone's designation, do I need to 
re-register to keep my TPS until May 21, 2017, the termination date?

    No. If you already have been granted TPS benefits through the 
Sierra Leone TPS program, you do not have to re-register to keep your 
TPS benefits. You will automatically retain TPS until the termination 
date. However, your TPS may still be withdrawn under INA section 
244(c)(3) and 8 CFR part 244 because of ineligibility for TPS. 8 U.S.C. 
1254a(c)(3), 8 CFR 244.14. When termination becomes effective on May 
21, 2017, you will no longer have TPS.

Why is the Secretary automatically extending the validity of EADs from 
November 21, 2016, through May 20, 2017?

    The Secretary has decided to extend automatically the validity of 
EADs to provide for an orderly transition leading up to the effective 
date for the termination of the Sierra Leone TPS designation. 
Therefore, the validity of the applicable EADs is extended for a period 
of 6 months, through May 20, 2017. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(2) and (d)(3).

Must qualified individuals apply for the automatic extension of their 
TPS-related EADs through May 20, 2017?

    No. Qualified individuals do not have to apply for this extension 
of their TPS-related EADs through May 20, 2017.

What may I do if I believe that returning to Sierra Leone is not 
possible or preferable for me?

    This Notice terminates the designation of Sierra Leone for TPS. 
Nationals of Sierra Leone (and aliens having no nationality who last 
habitually resided in Sierra Leone) in the United States who believe 
returning to Sierra Leone is not possible or preferable for them may be 
eligible to apply for another immigration status, such as lawful 
permanent residence, asylum, or a nonimmigrant status. Eligibility for 
these and other immigration benefits is determined individually on a 
case-by-case basis. For information about eligibility and how to apply, 
visit the USCIS Web site at www.USCIS.gov or call the USCIS National 
Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

How does the termination of TPS affect my immigration status and what 
can I do?

    After the termination of the TPS designation of Sierra Leone 
becomes effective on May 21, 2017, former TPS beneficiaries will 
maintain the same immigration status they held before TPS (unless the 
status has since expired or been terminated) or any other status they 
may have acquired while registered for TPS. Accordingly, if a TPS 
beneficiary held no lawful immigration status before being granted TPS 
and did not obtain any other status during the TPS period, he or she 
may be subject to removal upon the termination of the TPS designation. 
TPS-related EADs will expire on May 20, 2017, and will not be renewed.
    Termination of the TPS designation for Sierra Leone does not 
necessarily affect pending applications for other forms of immigration 
status, relief, or protection. However, former TPS beneficiaries will 
begin to accrue unlawful presence as of May 21, 2017, if they have not 
been granted any other immigration status, relief, protection, or 
authorization to remain in the United States.

Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

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

    To get case status information about your 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 May 20, 2017?

    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 last designation of TPS for 
Sierra Leone; and
     Have an EAD with a marked expiration date of November 21, 
2016, bearing the notation ``A-12'' or ``C-19'' on the face of the card 
under ``Category.''

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 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.'' Or you may

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present an acceptable receipt for a List A, List B, or List C document 
as described in the Form I-9 Instructions. An acceptable receipt 
includes a document that shows an employee has applied to replace a 
required document that was lost, stolen, or damaged. If you present an 
acceptable receipt for the application of a replacement document, 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 November 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 Form I-9 through November 20, 
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 
May 20, 2017. You may also show your employer a copy of this Federal 
Register Notice confirming the automatic extension of employment 
authorization through May 20, 2017. As an alternative to presenting 
your automatically extended EAD, you may choose to present any other 
acceptable document from List A, a combination of one selection from 
List B and one selection from List C, or a valid receipt.

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 November 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, 2017, is reached to meet its responsibilities for Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). Your employer may need to re-
inspect 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 he or she 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 ``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 May 20, 2017, the expiration date of the automatic extension, 
your employer must reverify your employment authorization. If you are 
employment authorized beyond the expiration date of the automatic 
extension, 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 
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 no later than the automatically extended expiration 
date of a TPS-related EAD, which is May 20, 2017, in this case. Your 
employer should use either Section 3 of Employment Eligibility 
Verification (Form I-9) originally completed for you or, if this 
section has already been completed or if the version of Employment 
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) is no longer valid (check the date 
in the upper right-hand corner of the form), 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 described in the 
Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) Instructions and 
includes one that shows an employee has applied to replace a required 
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?

    No. When completing Form I-9, including reverifying employment 
authorization, employers must accept any documentation that appears on 
the ``Lists of Acceptable Documents'' for 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.

What happens after May 20, 2017, for purposes of employment 
authorization?

    After May 20, 2017, employers may no longer accept the EADs that 
this Federal Register Notice automatically extended.

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 May 21, 2017, 
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 (May 20, 
2017) 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 (May 20, 2017).
    No later than May 20, 2017, employers must reverify your employment 
authorization in Section 3 of 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 need to reinspect your 
automatically extended EAD if your employer does not have a

[[Page 66058]]

photocopy of the EAD on file, and you and your employer should correct 
your previously completed 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 ``May 20, 2017'' 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 ``May 20, 2017'' 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.
    No later than May 21, 2017, when the automatic extension of EADs 
expires, employers must reverify your employment authorization in 
Section 3.

As an employer, what are my Employment Eligibility Verification (Form 
I-9) obligations after May 20, 2017?

    Employers are required to reverify an employee's employment 
authorization in Section 3 of Employment Eligibility Verification (Form 
I-9) by the expiration date of an automatically extended EAD. Your 
employee must present unexpired documentation from either List A or 
List C (or an acceptable Form I-9 receipt) showing he or she is still 
authorized to work. Employers may not ask for specific documents; 
employees choose which List A or List C documents to present from the 
Lists of Acceptable Documents.

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 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 the 
auto-extension period for this EAD is about to expire. E-Verify will 
not send an alert for the original November 21, 2016 expiration date. 
By May 20, 2017, employment authorization must be reverified in Section 
3. Employers should not use E-Verify for reverification.

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 Federal Register 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, including discrimination related to 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 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, 
immigration status, or 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);
    (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

[[Page 66059]]

agency with a copy of this Federal Register Notice.
    Some benefit-granting agencies use the USCIS Systematic Alien 
Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE) to confirm the current 
immigration status of applicants for public benefits. In most cases, 
SAVE provides an automated electronic response to benefit granting 
agencies within seconds but occasionally verification can be delayed. 
You can check the status of your SAVE verification by using CaseCheck 
at the following link: https://save.uscis.gov/casecheck/, then by 
clicking the ``Check Your Case'' button. CaseCheck is a free service 
that lets you follow the progress of your SAVE verification using your 
date of birth and one immigration identifier number. 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 ``For Benefits Applicants'' from the menu on the left and 
selecting ``Questions about your Records?''.

[FR Doc. 2016-23249 Filed 9-22-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 9111-97-P