Extension and Redesignation of Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status, 69945-69953 [2023-22375]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69945-69953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22375]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[CIS No. 2762-23; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2022-0005]
RIN 1615-ZB95


Extension and Redesignation of Cameroon for Temporary Protected 
Status

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department 
of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Notice of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extension and 
redesignation.

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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 Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status 
(TPS) for 18 months, beginning on December 8, 2023, and ending on June 
7, 2025. This extension allows existing TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS 
through June 7, 2025, so long as they otherwise continue to meet the 
eligibility requirements for TPS. Existing TPS beneficiaries who wish 
to extend their status through June 7, 2025, must re-register during 
the 60-day re-registration period described in this notice. The 
Secretary is also redesignating Cameroon for TPS. The redesignation of 
Cameroon allows additional Cameroonian nationals (and individuals 
having no nationality who last habitually resided in Cameroon) who have 
been continuously residing in the United States since October 5, 2023, 
to apply for TPS for the first time during the initial registration 
period described under the redesignation information in this notice. In 
addition to demonstrating continuous residence in the United States 
since October 5, 2023, and meeting other eligibility criteria, initial 
applicants for TPS under this designation must demonstrate that they 
have been continuously physically present in the United States since 
December 8, 2023, the effective date of this redesignation of Cameroon 
for TPS.

DATES: 
    Extension of Designation of Cameroon for TPS: The 18-month 
designation of Cameroon for TPS begins on December 8, 2023, and will 
remain in effect for 18 months, ending on June 7, 2025. The extension 
impacts existing beneficiaries of TPS.
    Re-Registration: The 60-day re-registration period for existing 
beneficiaries runs from October 10, 2023 through December 11, 2023. 
(Note: It is important for re-registrants to timely re-register during 
the registration period and not to wait until their Employment 
Authorization Documents (EADs) expire, as delaying re-registration 
could result in gaps in their employment authorization documentation.)
    Redesignation of Cameroon for TPS: The 18-month redesignation of 
Cameroon for TPS begins on December 8, 2023, and will remain in effect 
for 18 months, ending on June 7, 2025. The redesignation impacts 
potential first-time applicants and others who do not currently have 
TPS.
    First-Time Registration: The initial registration period for new 
applicants under the Cameroon TPS redesignation begins on October 10, 
2023 and will remain in effect through June 7, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
     You may contact Ren[aacute] Cutlip-Mason, Chief, 
Humanitarian Affairs Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 
by mail at 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746, or by 
phone at 800-375-5283.
     For further information on TPS, including guidance on the 
registration 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 Cameroon's TPS designation by selecting 
``Cameroon'' from the menu on the left side of the TPS web page.
     If you have additional questions about TPS, please visit 
uscis.gov/tools. Our online virtual assistant, Emma, can answer many of 
your questions and point you to additional information on our website. 
If you are unable to find your answers there, you may also call our 
USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).
     Applicants seeking information about the status of their 
individual cases may check Case Status Online, available on the USCIS 
website at uscis.gov, or visit the USCIS Contact Center at https://www.uscis.gov/contactcenter.
     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
CFR--Code of Federal Regulations
DHS--U.S. Department of Homeland Security
DOS--U.S. Department of State
EAD--Employment Authorization Document
FNC--Final Nonconfirmation
Form I-131--Application for Travel Document
Form I-765--Application for Employment Authorization
Form I-797--Notice of Action
Form I-821--Application for Temporary Protected Status
Form I-9--Employment Eligibility Verification
Form I-912--Request for Fee Waiver
Form I-94--Arrival/Departure Record
FR--Federal Register
Government--U.S. Government
IER--U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Immigrant 
and Employee Rights Section
IJ--Immigration Judge
INA--Immigration and Nationality Act
SAVE--USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program
Secretary--Secretary of Homeland Security
TPS--Temporary Protected Status
TTY--Text Telephone
USCIS--U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S.C.--United States Code

[[Page 69946]]

Purpose of This Action (TPS)

    Through this notice, DHS sets forth procedures necessary for 
nationals of Cameroon (or individuals having no nationality who last 
habitually resided in Cameroon) to (1) re-register for TPS and to apply 
for renewal of their EADs with USCIS or (2) submit an initial 
registration application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD.
    Re-registration is limited to individuals who have previously 
registered for TPS under the prior designation of Cameroon and whose 
applications have been granted. Failure to re-register properly within 
the 60-day re-registration period may result in the withdrawal of your 
TPS following appropriate procedures. See 8 CFR 244.14.
    For individuals who have already been granted TPS under Cameroon's 
designation, the 60-day re-registration period runs from October 10, 
2023 through December 11, 2023. USCIS will issue new EADs with a June 
7, 2025, expiration date to eligible Cameroonian TPS beneficiaries who 
timely re-register and apply for EADs. Given the time frames involved 
with processing TPS re-registration applications, DHS recognizes that 
not all re-registrants may receive new EADs before their current EADs 
expire. Accordingly, through this Federal Register notice, DHS 
automatically extends the validity of certain EADs previously issued 
under the TPS designation of Cameroon through December 7, 2024. 
Therefore, as proof of continued employment authorization through 
December 7, 2024, TPS beneficiaries can show their EADs that have the 
notation A-12 or C-19 under Category and a ``Card Expires'' date of 
December 7, 2023. This notice explains how TPS beneficiaries and their 
employers may determine which EADs are automatically extended and how 
this affects the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, E-
Verify, and USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) 
processes.
    Individuals who have a Cameroon TPS application (Form I-821) and/or 
Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) that was still 
pending as of October 10, 2023 do not need to file either application 
again. If USCIS approves an individual's pending Form I-821, USCIS will 
grant the individual TPS through June 7, 2025. Similarly, if USCIS 
approves a pending TPS-related Form I-765, USCIS will issue the 
individual a new EAD that will be valid through the same date. There 
are currently approximately 2,090 beneficiaries under Cameroon's TPS 
designation.
    Under the redesignation, individuals who currently do not have TPS 
may submit an initial application during the initial registration 
period that runs from October 10, 2023 and runs through the full length 
of the redesignation period ending June 7, 2025. In addition to 
demonstrating continuous residence in the United States since October 
5, 2023, and meeting other eligibility criteria, initial applicants for 
TPS under this redesignation must demonstrate that they have been 
continuously physically present in the United States since December 8, 
2023,\1\ the effective date of this redesignation of Cameroon, before 
USCIS may grant them TPS. DHS estimates that approximately 7,900 
individuals may become newly eligible for TPS under the redesignation 
of Cameroon.
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    \1\ The ``continuous physical presence date'' (CPP) is the 
effective date of the most recent TPS designation of the country, 
which is either the publication date of the designation announcement 
in the Federal Register or such later date as the Secretary may 
establish. The ``continuous residence date'' (CR) is any date 
established by the Secretary when a country is designated (or 
sometimes redesignated) for TPS. See INA sec. 244(b)(2)(A) 
(effective date of designation); 244(c)(1)(A)(i-ii) (CR and CPP date 
requirements); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(2)(A); 1254a(c)(1)(A)(i-ii).
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What Is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

     TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible 
nationals of a foreign state designated for TPS under the INA, or to 
eligible individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in 
the designated foreign state, regardless of their country of birth.
     During the TPS designation period, TPS beneficiaries are 
eligible to remain in the United States, may not be removed, and are 
authorized to obtain EADs so long as they continue to meet the 
requirements of TPS.
     TPS beneficiaries may also apply for and be granted travel 
authorization as a matter of DHS discretion.
     To qualify for TPS, beneficiaries must meet the 
eligibility standards at INA section 244(c)(1)-(2), 8 U.S.C. 
1254a(c)(1)-(2).
     When the Secretary terminates a foreign state's TPS 
designation, beneficiaries return to one of the following:
    [cir] The same immigration status or category that they maintained 
before TPS, if any (unless that status or category has since expired or 
terminated); or
    [cir] Any other lawfully obtained immigration status or category 
they received while registered for TPS, as long as it is still valid 
beyond the date TPS terminates.

When was Cameroon designated for TPS?

    Cameroon was initially designated on the basis of ongoing armed 
conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Cameroon that 
prevented nationals of Cameroon from returning in safety. See 
Designation of Nationals of Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status, 87 
FR 34706 (June 7, 2022).

What authority does the Secretary have to extend the designation of 
Cameroon 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, to designate a foreign state (or part thereof) for TPS if 
the Secretary determines that certain country conditions exist.\2\ The 
decision to designate any foreign state (or part thereof) is a 
discretionary decision, and there is no judicial review of any 
determination with respect to the designation, termination, or 
extension of a designation. See INA sec. 244(b)(5)(A), 8 U.S.C. 
1254a(b)(5)(A). The Secretary, in his or her discretion, may then grant 
TPS to eligible nationals of that foreign state (or individuals having 
no nationality who last habitually resided in the designated foreign 
state). See INA sec. 244(a)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A).
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    \2\ INA section 244(b)(1) ascribes this power to the Attorney 
General. Congress transferred this authority from the Attorney 
General to the Secretary of Homeland Security. See Homeland Security 
Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135 (2002). The 
Secretary may designate a country (or part of a country) for TPS on 
the basis of ongoing armed conflict such that returning would pose a 
serious threat to the personal safety of the country's nationals and 
habitual residents, environmental disaster (including an epidemic), 
or extraordinary and temporary conditions in the country that 
prevent the safe return of the country's nationals. For 
environmental disaster-based designations, certain other statutory 
requirements must be met, including that the foreign government must 
request TPS. A designation based on extraordinary and temporary 
conditions cannot be made if the Secretary finds that allowing the 
country's nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is 
contrary to the U.S. national interest. INA sec. 244(b)(1); 8 U.S.C. 
1254a(b)(1).
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    At least 60 days before the expiration of a foreign state's TPS 
designation or extension, the Secretary, after consultation with 
appropriate U.S. Government agencies, must review the conditions in the 
foreign state designated for TPS to determine whether they continue to 
meet the conditions for the TPS designation. See INA sec. 244(b)(3)(A), 
8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). If the Secretary determines that the foreign 
state

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continues to meet the conditions for TPS designation, the designation 
will be extended for an additional period of 6 months or, in the 
Secretary's discretion, 12 or 18 months. See INA sec. 244(b)(3)(A), 
(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A), (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 sec. 244(b)(3)(B), 8 
U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B).

What is the Secretary's authority to redesignate Cameroon for TPS?

    In addition to extending an existing TPS designation, the 
Secretary, after consultation with appropriate Government agencies, may 
redesignate a country (or part thereof) for TPS. See INA sec. 
244(b)(1), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1); see also INA sec. 244(c)(1)(A)(i), 8 
U.S.C. 1254a(c)(1)(A)(i) (requiring that ``the alien has been 
continuously physically present since the effective date of the most 
recent designation of the state'') (emphasis added).\3\
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    \3\ The extension and redesignation of TPS for Cameroon is one 
of several instances in which the Secretary and, prior to the 
establishment of DHS, the Attorney General, have simultaneously 
extended a country's TPS designation and redesignated the country 
for TPS. See, e.g., Extension and Redesignation of Haiti for 
Temporary Protected Status, 76 FR 29000 (May 19, 2011); Extension 
and Re-designation of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan, 69 FR 
60168 (Oct. 7, 2004); Extension of Designation and Redesignation of 
Liberia Under Temporary Protected Status Program, 62 FR 16608 (Apr. 
7, 1997).
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    When the Secretary designates or redesignates a country for TPS, 
the Secretary also has the discretion to establish the date from which 
TPS applicants must demonstrate that they have been ``continuously 
resid[ing]'' in the United States. See INA sec. 244(c)(1)(A)(ii), 8 
U.S.C. 1254a(c)(1)(A)(ii). The Secretary has determined that the 
``continuous residence'' date for applicants for TPS under the 
redesignation of Cameroon shall be October 5, 2023. Initial applicants 
for TPS under this redesignation must also show they have been 
``continuously physically present'' in the United States since December 
8, 2023, which is the effective date of the Secretary's redesignation 
of Cameroon. See INA sec. 244(c)(1)(A)(i), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(1)(A)(i). 
For each initial TPS application filed under the redesignation, the 
final determination of whether the applicant has met the ``continuous 
physical presence'' requirement cannot be made until December 8, 2023, 
the effective date of this redesignation for Cameroon. USCIS, however, 
will issue employment authorization documentation, as appropriate, 
during the registration period in accordance with 8 CFR 244.5(b).

Why is the Secretary extending the TPS designation for Cameroon and 
simultaneously redesignating Cameroon for TPS through June 7, 2025?

    DHS has reviewed country conditions in Cameroon. Based on the 
review, including input received from DOS and other U.S. Government 
agencies, the Secretary has determined that an 18-month TPS extension 
is warranted because ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and 
temporary conditions supporting Cameroon's TPS designation remain. The 
Secretary has further determined that redesignating Cameroon for TPS 
under INA section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C) is warranted 
and is changing the ``continuous residence'' and ``continuous physical 
presence'' dates that applicants must meet to be eligible for TPS. The 
``continuous residence'' date now being October 5, 2023, and the 
``continuous physical presence'' date now being December 8, 2023, the 
effective date of this redesignation of Cameroon for TPS.

Overview

    Since 2014, ongoing armed conflict between the Government of 
Cameroon and nonstate armed groups in the Far North Region, 
specifically Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province 
(ISWAP), has resulted in killings, kidnappings, displacement, and 
destruction of civilian infrastructure. While battling these nonstate 
armed groups, the Government of Cameroon is also attempting to control 
the continuing secessionist crisis in the Northwest and Southwest 
Regions. Extraordinary and temporary conditions, including the 
secessionist crisis, human rights abuses by members of armed groups and 
forces, food insecurity, spread of disease, and mass displacement 
continue to prevent Cameroonian nationals (and those who last 
habitually resided in Cameroon) from returning to Cameroon in safety.

Scale and Impact of Conflict and Other Violence

    In 2014, Boko Haram launched its first attacks in the Far North 
Region of Cameroon, and in 2015, a splinter group ISWAP established 
itself as a highly active and violent Islamic State affiliate.\4\ 
Cameroon continues to face serious attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP in 
the Far North Region.\5\ Recent, large-scale attacks by Boko Haram have 
resulted in civilian and soldier deaths, the destruction of hundreds of 
homes, and the looting of shops, markets, ranches, and farms.\6\ A 
separate attack that killed two civilians also forced the closure of a 
Far North hospital for several months, preventing thousands of people 
from accessing health services.\7\ Boko Haram has also continued to 
abduct children for use as child soldiers or suicide bombers.\8\ 
Earlier this year, ISWAP reportedly abducted 20 fishermen in the Far 
North Region after they refused to pay taxes levied by the group, and 
in another incident, ISWAP militants attacked a military outpost and 
stole military equipment.\9\
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    \4\ Cameroon: Confronting Boko Haram, International Crisis 
Group, Nov. 16, 2016, available at https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/cameroon/cameroon-confronting-boko-haram (last 
visited July 12, 2023); Facing the Challenge of the Islamic State in 
West Africa Province, International Crisis Group, May 16, 2019, 
available at https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/west-africa/nigeria/273-facing-challenge-islamic-state-west-africa-province (last 
visited July 12, 2023); and Boko Haram and the Islamic State West 
Africa Province, Congressional Research Service, Feb. 24, 2022, 
available at https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/IF10173.pdf.
    \5\ Cameroon says military deployed after new militant attack 
kills at least a dozen, VOA, Aug. 3, 2023, available at https://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-says-military-deployed-after-boko-haram-attack/7210055.html (last visited Sept. 26, 2023); Cameroon asks for 
more border troops after new Boko Haram attacks, VOA, May 31, 2023, 
available at https://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-asks-for-more-border-troops-after-new-boko-haram-attacks/7116890.html (last 
visited Sept. 26, 2023); Children and armed conflict; Report of the 
Secretary-General [A/77/895-S/2023/363], UN General Assembly, UN 
Security Council, June 5, 2023, available at https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/document/secretary-general-annual-report-on-children-and-armed-conflict-2/; Cameroon: Events of 2022, 
Human Rights Watch, available at https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/cameroon (last visited July 3, 2023).
    \6\ Cameroon's Large-Scale Boko Haram Attacks Leave Thousands 
Homeless, VOA News, April 19, 2023, available at https://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-s-large-scale-boko-haram-attacks-leave-thousands-homeless-/7057215.html (last visited June 30, 2023).
    \7\ Cameroon, Amnesty International, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/west-and-central-africa/cameroon/report-cameroon/ (last visited July 3, 2023).
    \8\ U.S. Dep't of State, 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: 
Cameroon, June 15, 2023, available at https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/cameroon/ (last visited Sept. 26, 
2023); U.S. Dep't of State, 2022 Country Report on Human Rights 
Practices: Cameroon (Mar. 20, 2023), available at https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cameroon/ (last visited July 12, 2023).
    \9\ The situation in Central Africa and the activities of the 
United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa; Report of the 
Secretary-General [S/2023/389], U.N. Security Council, May 21, 2023, 
available at https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2093063/N2313778.pdf.
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    The Far North has also seen violence between fishing, farming, and 
herding

[[Page 69948]]

communities vying for limited natural resources that have been 
dwindling in the Lake Chad Basin region due to climate change.\10\ 
While such clashes are not new, the increasing use and accessibility of 
firearms due to the presence of Boko Haram and ISWAP has escalated 
violence and displacement.\11\ Overall, the confluence of intercommunal 
violence, presence of militant groups, and increased competition over 
natural resources has resulted in widespread humanitarian distress 
including frequent thefts, destruction of property, physical attacks, 
extortions, murders, and kidnappings.\12\
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    \10\ Conflict Analysis in Lake Chad Basin 2020-2021, U.N. 
Development Programme, Aug. 4, 2022, available at https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-08/Conflict%20Analysis%20in%20the%20Lake%20Chad%20Basin.pdf.
    \11\ Violent Extremism in the Sahel, Center for Preventive 
Action, March 27, 2023, available at https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violent-extremism-sahel (last visited July 
6, 2023).
    \12\ Cameroon Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023 (March 2023), 
U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), May 
11, 2023, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/cameroon/cameroon-humanitarian-needs-overview-2023-march-2023 (last visited 
July 6, 2023).
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Crisis in the Northwest & Southwest Regions

    Cameroon is a majority French-speaking (Francophone) nation with 
two majority English-speaking (Anglophone) regions.\13\ The country 
continues to face a secessionist insurgency in the Anglophone areas: 
Northwest Region and Southwest Region.\14\
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    \13\ A Second Look at Cameroon's Anglophone Special Status, 
International Crisis Group, March 31, 2023, available at https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/cameroon/b188-second-look-cameroons-anglophone-special-status (last visited June 30, 2023).
    \14\ A Second Look at Cameroon's Anglophone Special Status, 
International Crisis Group, March 31, 2023, available at https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/central-africa/cameroon/b188-second-look-cameroons-anglophone-special-status (last visited June 30, 2023).
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    Anglophone separatists continue to commit human rights abuses 
against both government forces and civilians, engaging in killings, 
kidnappings, and other means of forceful control over large parts of 
the Anglophone regions.\15\ Separatists have restricted the movement of 
persons and goods in the areas under their control, ``sometimes in a 
deliberate attempt to harass and intimidate the local population,'' and 
often use weekly lockdowns called ``ghost towns'' during which all 
businesses, schools, and places of worship must close.\16\ 30 women 
were reportedly abducted by separatists in May 2023 after participating 
in peaceful protests against separatist violence and taxes, with some 
of the women tortured, beaten, and shot.\17\ Separatist groups have 
targeted civilian infrastructure and their violence has acutely 
impacted on access to education.\18\ More than half of the schools in 
the Northwest and Southwest regions remain closed for the 2022-2023 
school year, according to the United Nations.\19\ Armed groups have 
also attacked health care facilities, including an attack against a 
hospital in June 2022 that deprived 85,000 people of access to health 
care.\20\
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    \15\ Cameroon, Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect, 
May 31, 2023, available at https://www.globalr2p.org/countries/cameroon/ (last visited July 3, 2023).
    \16\ U.S. Dep't of State, 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights 
Practices: Cameroon, May 21, 2023, available at https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cameroon/ (last visited July 3, 2023).
    \17\ Atrocity Alert No. 349: Ukraine, Cameroon and Afghanistan, 
Reliefweb, May 31, 2023, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/atrocity-alert-no-349-ukraine-cameroon-and-afghanistan 
(last visited July 13, 2023).
    \18\ Cameroon: Events of 2022, Human Rights Watch, 2023, 
available at https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/cameroon (last visited July 3, 2023).
    \19\ UNICEF Education Case Study: Cameroon, July 2023, last 
visited October 1, 2023. https://www.unicef.org/media/141551/file/Learning%20where%20it%20is%20difficult%20to%20learn:%20Radio%20programmes%20help%20keep%20children%20learning%20in%20Cameroon.pdf.
    \20\ Cameroon: Events of 2022, Human Rights Watch, 2022, 
available at https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/cameroon (last visited July 3, 2023).
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Human Rights Abuses by Government Security Forces

    Reports indicate that Cameroonian government security forces have 
engaged in human rights violations, often in areas where they are 
engaged in separatist clashes. Reportedly, ``Security forces have 
perpetrated extrajudicial killings and widespread sexual and gender-
based violence, burned Anglophone villages and subjected individuals 
with suspected separatist ties to arbitrary detention, torture and ill-
treatment.'' \21\ Recently, members of the Cameroonian army killed 
three people and burned homes in Yer village and destroyed homes and 
shops in the city of Kumbo.\22\ Both attacks were believed to be 
retaliation for attacks on the military by armed separatists.\23\ 
According to Amnesty International, ``the response to the crisis from 
political and judicial authorities has, so far, involved further human 
rights violations. Instead of genuinely investigating crimes by armed 
separatists, authorities have accused certain individuals denouncing 
atrocities of being armed separatists or supporters and have 
arbitrarily arrested and detained them.'' \24\ Investigations into 
human rights abuses by authorities appear rare and, when investigations 
are opened, proceedings are slow or public information is 
unavailable.\25\
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    \21\ Cameroon, Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect, 
May 31, 2023, available at https://www.globalr2p.org/countries/cameroon/ (last visited July 3, 2023).
    \22\ Cameroon: With or against us: People of the North-West 
region of Cameroon caught between the army, armed separatists and 
militias, Amnesty International, July 4, 2023, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr17/6838/2023/en/ (last visited July 
13, 2023).
    \23\ Cameroon: With or against us: People of the North-West 
region of Cameroon caught between the army, armed separatists and 
militias, Amnesty International, July 4, 2023, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr17/6838/2023/en/ (last visited July 
13, 2023).
    \24\ Cameroon: Rampant atrocities amid Anglophone regions must 
be stopped and investigated, Amnesty International, July 3, 2023, 
available at: https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/cameroon-rampant-atrocities-amid-anglophone-regions-must-be-stopped-and-investigated/ (last visited September 25, 2023).
    \25\ Cameroon: With or against us: People of the North-West 
region of Cameroon caught between the army, armed separatists and 
militias, Amnesty International, July 4, 2023, available at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr17/6838/2023/en/ (last visited July 
13, 2023).
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Humanitarian Situation

    The humanitarian situation in Cameroon is serious, with one out of 
every six people in Cameroon needing humanitarian assistance and 
protection, amounting to 4.7 million people.\26\ An estimated 77 
percent of the population in need of humanitarian assistance are women 
and children.\27\ Moreover, an estimated 478,106 foreign nationals have 
sought refuge in Cameroon from other countries along with 645,746 other 
returnees and 1,066,254 internally displaced persons already in 
Cameroon.\28\ Humanitarian access remains challenging, as armed groups 
hinder the movement of goods in the areas under their control, and aid 
workers have reported harassment from government authorities and denial 
of passage to areas in need.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Cameroon Humanitarian Needs Overview 2023 (March 2023), 
Reliefweb, May 11, 2023, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/
cameroon/cameroon-humanitarian-needs-overview-2023-march-
2023#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20one%20out%20of,)%2C%20returnees%2C%20or%2
0refugees. (last visited July 3, 2023).
    \27\ Cameroon: Situation Report, OCHA, last updated June 7, 
2023, available at https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/cameroon/ 
(last visited July 3, 2023).
    \28\ Cameroon Multi-Country Office: Refugees and Internally 
Displaced Persons, UNHCR, June 8, 2023, available at https://reliefweb.int/map/cameroon/cameroon-multi-country-office-refugees-and-internally-displaced-persons-figures-available-31-may-2023 (last 
visited June 30, 2023).
    \29\ U.S. Dep't of State, 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights 
Practices: Cameroon, May 21, 2023, available at https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cameroon/ (last visited July 3, 2023).

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[[Page 69949]]

    The ongoing regional crises, intercommunal violence, and floods 
have worsened food insecurity in recent years.\30\ An estimated three 
million people in Cameroon are expected to face acute food insecurity 
in 2023.\31\ Additionally, the fastest increases in food prices since 
2008 have exacerbated challenges in this area.\32\ Recent data 
indicates that the cost of food was 9.5 percent higher in the first 
quarter of 2023 than at the same time in 2022.\33\
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    \30\ Cameroon Food Security Outlook Update, June 2023-January 
2024, Reliefweb, July 6, 2023, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/cameroon/cameroon-food-security-outlook-update-june-2023-january-2024 (last visited July 13, 2023).
    \31\ Cameroon: Situation Report, OCHA, last updated June 7, 
2023, available at https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/cameroon/ 
(last visited July 3, 2023).
    \32\ Cameroon Crisis Response Plan 2023, International 
Organization for Migration, Jan. 19, 2023, available at https://crisisresponse.iom.int/response/cameroon-crisis-response-plan-2023 
(last visited July 3, 2023).
    \33\ WFP Cameroon Operational Update--January-March 2023, 
Reliefweb, June 14, 2023, available at https://reliefweb.int/report/cameroon/wfp-cameroon-operational-update-january-march-2023 (last 
visited July 13, 2023).
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    Additionally, Cameroon is experiencing an outbreak of cholera. The 
number of reported cases had been relatively low but increased 
significantly in March 2023, and new cases have been reported in 29 of 
58 districts nationwide.\34\ More than 19,000 cases were reported 
between June 2022 and June 2023, including 1,880 confirmed cases and 
450 recorded deaths.\35\ A global cholera vaccine shortage is 
complicating prevention efforts.\36\
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    \34\ Cameroon: Increase in cholera cases, 1, ACAPS, June 29, 
2023, available at https://www.acaps.org/fileadmin/Data_Product/Main_media/20230629_ACAPS_Briefing_note_Cameroon_increase_in_cholera_cases.pdf.
    \35\ Cameroon: Increase in cholera cases, 1, ACAPS, June 29, 
2023, available at https://www.acaps.org/fileadmin/Data_Product/Main_media/20230629_ACAPS_Briefing_note_Cameroon_increase_in_cholera_cases.pdf.
    \36\ Cameroon: Increase in cholera cases, 1, ACAPS, June 29, 
2023, available at https://www.acaps.org/fileadmin/Data_Product/Main_media/20230629_ACAPS_Briefing_note_Cameroon_increase_in_cholera_cases.pdf.
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    As of May 2023, there were more than one million internally 
displaced persons in Cameroon, concentrated primarily in and around the 
Anglophone regions and the Far North Region.\37\ Boko Haram and ISWAP's 
attacks in the Far North have reportedly contributed to the internal 
displacement of over 378,000 people as of July 2022.\38\ About 3,000 
people were displaced in the Far North Region in March 2023 alone.\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ Cameroon Multi-Country Office: Refugees and Internally 
Displaced Persons, UNHCR, June 8, 2023, available at https://reliefweb.int/map/cameroon/cameroon-multi-country-office-refugees-and-internally-displaced-persons-figures-available-31-may-2023 (last 
visited June 30, 2023).
    \38\ Cameroon: Events of 2022, Human Rights Watch, available at 
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/cameroon 
(last visited July 3, 2023).
    \39\ Cameroon's Large-Scale Boko Harm Attacks Leave Thousands 
Homeless, VOA News, April 19. 2023, available at https://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-s-large-scale-boko-haram-attacks-leave-thousands-homeless-/7057215.html (last visited July 6, 2023).
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    In summary, the ongoing armed conflict between Boko Haram, ISWAP, 
and the Government of Cameroon alongside extraordinary and temporary 
conditions, including the secessionist crisis, has led to significant 
civilian casualties and major disruptions in security and stability. 
This has also contributed to other extraordinary and temporary 
conditions that prevent Cameroonian nationals from returning to 
Cameroon in safety, namely the current humanitarian crisis, including 
human rights abuses, food insecurity, spread of disease, and mass 
displacement.
    Based upon this review and after consultation with appropriate U.S. 
Government agencies, the Secretary has determined that:
     The conditions supporting Cameroon's designation 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).
     There continues to be an ongoing armed conflict in the Far 
North region of Cameroon and, due to such conflict, requiring the 
return to Cameroon of Cameroonian nationals (or individuals having no 
nationality who last habitually resided in Cameroon) would pose a 
serious threat to their personal safety. See INA section 244(b)(1)(A), 
8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A).
     There continue to be extraordinary and temporary 
conditions in Cameroon that prevent Cameroonian nationals (or 
individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in 
Cameroon) from returning to Cameroon in safety, and it is not contrary 
to the national interest of the United States to permit Cameroonian TPS 
beneficiaries 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 Cameroon for TPS should be extended for 
an 18-month period, beginning on December 8, 2023, and ending on June 
7, 2025. See INA section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).
     Due to the conditions described above, Cameroon should be 
simultaneously extended and redesignated for TPS beginning on December 
8, 2023, and ending on June 7, 2025. See INA 244(b)(1)(A) and (C) and 
(b)(2), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A) and (C) and (b)(2).
     For the redesignation, the Secretary has determined that 
TPS applicants must demonstrate that they have continuously resided in 
the United States since October 5, 2023.
     Initial TPS applicants under the redesignation must 
demonstrate that they have been continuously physically present in the 
United States since December 8, 2023, the effective date of the 
redesignation of Cameroon for TPS.
     There are approximately 2,090 current Cameroon TPS 
beneficiaries who are expected to be eligible to re-register for TPS 
under the extension.
     It is estimated that approximately 7,900 additional 
individuals may be eligible for TPS under the redesignation of 
Cameroon. This population includes Cameroonian nationals in the United 
States in nonimmigrant status or without immigration status.

Notice of the Designation of Cameroon for TPS

    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 U.S. Government agencies, the statutory conditions 
supporting Cameroon's designation for TPS on the basis of ongoing armed 
conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions are met and it is 
not contrary to the national interest of the United States to permit 
Cameroonian TPS beneficiaries to remain in the United States 
temporarily. See INA section 244(b)(1)(A) and (C), 8 U.S.C. 
1254a(b)(1)(A) and (C). On the basis of this determination, I am 
simultaneously extending the existing designation of Cameroon for TPS 
for 18 months, beginning on December 8, 2023, and ending on June 7, 
2025, and redesignating Cameroon for TPS for the same 18-month period. 
See INA section 244(b)(1)(A) and (C) and (b)(2); 8 U.S.C. 
1254a(b)(1)(A) and (C) and (b)(2).

Alejandro N. Mayorkas,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Eligibility and Employment Authorization for TPS

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

    To register for TPS based on the designation of Cameroon, you must 
submit a Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and 
pay

[[Page 69950]]

the filing fee (or request a fee waiver, which you may submit on Form 
I-912, Request for Fee Waiver). You may be required to pay the 
biometric services fee. If you can demonstrate an inability to pay the 
biometric services fee, you may request to have the fee waived. Please 
see additional information under the ``Biometric Services Fee'' section 
of this notice.
    TPS beneficiaries are eligible for an Employment Authorization 
Document (EAD), which proves their authorization to work in the United 
States. You are not required to submit Form I-765, Application for 
Employment Authorization, or have an EAD to be granted TPS, but see 
below for more information if you want an EAD to use as proof that you 
can work in the United States.
    Individuals who have a Cameroon TPS application (Form I-821) that 
was still pending as of October 10, 2023 do not need to file the 
application again. If USCIS approves an individual's Form I-821, USCIS 
will grant the individual TPS through June 7, 2025.
    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 Form I-821, the Form I-765, and biometric services are also 
described in 8 CFR 103.7(b)(1) (Oct. 1, 2020). In addition, the form 
instructions for the Form I-821 and Form I-765 provide further 
information on requirements and fees for both initial TPS applicants 
and existing TPS beneficiaries who are re-registering.

How can TPS beneficiaries obtain an Employment Authorization Document 
(EAD)?

    Everyone must provide their employer with documentation showing 
that they have the legal right to work in the United States. TPS 
beneficiaries are eligible to obtain an EAD, which proves their legal 
right to work. Those who want to obtain an EAD must file a Form I-765 
and pay the Form I-765 fee (or request a fee waiver, which you may 
submit on Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver). TPS applicants may file 
this form along with their TPS application, or at a later date, 
provided their TPS application is still pending or has been approved. 
Beneficiaries with a Cameroonian TPS-related Form I-765 that was still 
pending as of October 10, 2023 do not need to file the application 
again. If USCIS approves a pending TPS-related Form I-765, USCIS will 
issue the individual a new EAD that will be valid through June 7, 2025.

Refiling an Initial TPS Registration Application After Receiving a 
Denial of a Fee Waiver Request

    If USCIS denies your fee waiver request, you can resubmit your TPS 
application. The fee waiver denial notice will contain specific 
instructions about resubmitting your application.

Filing Information

    USCIS offers the option to applicants for TPS under Cameroon's 
designation to file Form I-821 and related requests for EADs online or 
by mail. When filing a TPS application, applicants can also request an 
EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765, with their Form I-821.
    Online filing: Forms I-821 and I-765 are available for concurrent 
filing online.\40\ To file these forms online, you must first create a 
USCIS online account.\41\ However, if you are requesting a fee waiver, 
you cannot submit the applications online. You will need to file paper 
versions of the fee waiver request and the form for which you are 
requesting the fee waiver.
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    \40\ Find information about online filing at ``Forms Available 
to File Online,'' https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online.
    \41\ https://myaccount.uscis.gov/users/sign_up.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Table 1--Mailing Addresses

    Mail your completed Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected 
Status; Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, if 
applicable; Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver (if applicable); and 
supporting documentation to the proper address in Table 1.

                       Table 1--Mailing Addresses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All States, Territories, and   U.S. Postal Service (USPS): USCIS, Attn:
 District of Columbia.          TPS Cameroon, P.O. Box 4091, Carol
                                Stream, IL 60197-4091.
                               FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: USCIS,
                                Attn: TPS Cameroon (Box 4091), 2500
                                Westfield Drive, Elgin, IL 60124-7836.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If you were granted TPS by an immigration judge (IJ) or the Board 
of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and you wish to request an EAD, please 
mail your Form I-765 application to the appropriate mailing address in 
Table 1. When you are requesting an EAD based on an IJ/BIA grant of 
TPS, please include a copy of the IJ or BIA order granting you TPS with 
your application. This will help us verify your grant of TPS and 
process your application.

Supporting Documents

    The filing instructions on the Form I-821 list all the documents 
needed to establish eligibility for TPS. You may also find information 
on the acceptable documentation and other requirements for applying 
(i.e., registering) for TPS on the USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov/tps under ``Cameroon.''

Travel

    TPS beneficiaries may also apply for and be granted travel 
authorization as a matter of discretion. You must file for travel 
authorization if you wish to travel outside of the United States. If 
granted, travel authorization gives you permission to leave the United 
States and return during a specific period. To request travel 
authorization, you must file Form I-131, Application for Travel 
Document, available at https://www.uscis.gov/i-131. You may file Form 
I-131 together with your Form I-821 or separately. When filing the Form 
I-131, you must:
     Select Item Number 1.d. in Part 2 on the Form I-131; and
     Submit the fee for the Form I-131, or request a fee 
waiver, which you may submit on Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver.
    If you are filing Form I-131 together with Form I-821, send your 
forms to the address listed in Table 1. If you are filing Form I-131 
separately based on a pending or approved Form I-821, send your form to 
the address listed in Table 2 and include a copy of Form I-797 for the 
approved or pending Form I-821.

[[Page 69951]]



                       Table 2--Mailing Addresses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            If you are . . .                      Mail to . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filing Form I-131 together with a Form   The address provided in Table
 I-821, Application for Temporary         1.
 Protected Status.
Filing Form I-131 based on a pending or  USCIS, Attn: I-131 TPS, P.O.
 approved Form I-821, and you are using   Box 660167, Dallas, TX 75266-
 the U.S. Postal Service (USPS): You      0867.
 must include a copy of the receipt
 notice (Form I-797 or I-797C) showing
 we accepted or approved your Form I-
 821.
Filing Form I-131 based on a pending or  USCIS, Attn: I-131 TPS, 2501 S.
 approved Form I-821, and you are using   State Hwy. 121 Business, Ste.
 FedEx, UPS, or DHL: You must include a   400, Lewisville, TX 75067.
 copy of the receipt notice (Form I-797
 or I-797C) showing we accepted or
 approved your Form I-821.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Biometric Services Fee for TPS

    Biometrics (such as fingerprints) are required for all applicants 
14 years of age and older. Those applicants must submit a biometric 
services fee. As previously stated, if you are unable to pay the 
biometric services fee, you may request a fee waiver, which you may 
submit on Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. For more information on 
the application forms and fees for TPS, please visit the USCIS TPS web 
page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps. If necessary, you may be required to 
visit an Application Support Center to have your biometrics captured. 
For additional information on the USCIS biometric screening process, 
please see the USCIS Customer Profile Management Service Privacy Impact 
Assessment, available at https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhsuscispia-060-customer-profile-management-service-cpms.

General Employment-Related Information for TPS Applicants and Their 
Employers

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

    To get case status information about your TPS application, as well 
as the status of your TPS-based EAD request, you can check Case Status 
Online at uscis.gov, or visit the USCIS Contact Center at https://www.uscis.gov/contactcenter. If your Form I-765 has been pending for 
more than 90 days, and you still need assistance, you may ask a 
question about your case online at https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/Intro.do or call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-
1833).

Am I eligible to receive an automatic extension of my current EAD 
through December 7, 2024, through this Federal Register notice?

    Yes. Regardless of your country of birth, provided that you 
currently have a Cameroon TPS-based EAD that has the notation A-12 or 
C-19 under Category and a ``Card Expires'' date of December 7, 2023, 
this Federal Register notice automatically extends your EAD through 
December 7, 2024. Although this Federal Register notice automatically 
extends your EAD through December 7, 2024, you must re-register timely 
for TPS in accordance with the procedures described in this Federal 
Register notice to maintain your TPS and employment authorization.

When hired, what documentation may I show to my employer as evidence of 
identity and employment authorization when completing Form I-9?

    You can find the Lists of Acceptable Documents on Form I-9, 
Employment Eligibility Verification, as well as the Acceptable 
Documents web page at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents. Employers must complete Form I-9 to verify the identity and 
employment authorization of all new employees. Within three days of 
hire, employees must present acceptable documents to their employers as 
evidence of identity and employment authorization to satisfy Form I-9 
requirements.
    You may present any document from List A (which provides evidence 
of both identity and employment authorization) or one document from 
List B (which provides evidence of your identity) together with one 
document from List C (which provides evidence of employment 
authorization), or you may present an acceptable receipt as described 
in the Form I-9 Instructions. Employers may not reject a document based 
on a future expiration date. You can find additional information about 
Form I-9 on the I-9 Central web page at https://www.uscis.gov/I-9Central. An EAD is an acceptable document under List A. See the 
section ``How do my employer and I complete Form I-9 using my 
automatically extended EAD for a new job?'' of this Federal Register 
notice for further information. If your EAD states A-12 or C-19 under 
Category and has a ``Card Expires'' date of December 7, 2023, it has 
been extended automatically by virtue of this Federal Register notice 
and you may choose to present your EAD to your employer as proof of 
identity and employment eligibility for Form I-9 through December 7, 
2024, unless your TPS has been withdrawn or your request for TPS has 
been denied. Your country of birth notated on the EAD does not have to 
reflect the TPS designated country of Cameroon for you to be eligible 
for this extension.

What documentation may I present to my employer for Form I-9 if I am 
already employed but my current TPS-related EAD is set to expire?

    Even though we have automatically extended your EAD, your employer 
is required by law to ask you about your continued employment 
authorization. Your employer may need to re-examine your automatically 
extended EAD to check the ``Card Expires'' date and Category code if 
your employer did not keep a copy of your EAD when you initially 
presented it. Once your employer has reviewed the Card Expiration date 
and Category code, your employer should update the EAD expiration date 
in Section 2 of Form I-9. See the section ``What updates should my 
current employer make to Form I-9 if my EAD has been automatically 
extended?'' of this Federal Register notice for further information. 
You may show this Federal Register notice to your employer to explain 
what to do for Form I-9 and to show that USCIS has automatically 
extended your EAD through December 7, 2024, but you are not required to 
do so. The last day of the automatic EAD extension is December 7, 2024. 
Before you start work on December 8, 2024, your employer is required by 
law to reverify your employment authorization on Form I-9. By that 
time, you must present any document from List A or any document from 
List C on Form I-9 Lists of Acceptable Documents, or an acceptable List 
A or List C receipt described in the

[[Page 69952]]

Form I-9 instructions to reverify employment authorization.
    Your employer may not specify which List A or List C document you 
must present and cannot reject an acceptable receipt.

If I have an EAD based on another immigration status, can I obtain a 
new TPS-based EAD?

    Yes, if you are eligible for TPS, you can obtain a new TPS-based 
EAD, regardless of whether you have an EAD or work authorization based 
on another immigration status. If you want to obtain a new TPS-based 
EAD valid through June 7, 2025, then you must file Form I-765, 
Application for Employment Authorization, and pay the associated fee 
(unless USCIS grants your fee waiver request).

Can my employer require that I provide any other documentation such as 
evidence of my status or proof of my Cameroonian citizenship or a Form 
I-797C showing that I registered for TPS for Form I-9 completion?

    No. When completing Form I-9, employers must accept any 
documentation you choose to present from the Form I-9 Lists of 
Acceptable Documents 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 other documentation, such as proof of 
Cameroonian citizenship or proof of registration for TPS when 
completing Form I-9 for new hires or reverifying the employment 
authorization of current employees. If you present an EAD that USCIS 
has automatically extended, employers should accept it as a valid List 
A document so long as the EAD reasonably appears to be genuine and to 
relate to you. Refer to the ``Note to Employees'' section of this 
Federal Register 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.

How do my employer and I complete Form I-9 using my automatically 
extended EAD for a new job?

    When using an automatically extended EAD to complete Form I-9 for a 
new job before December 8, 2024:
    1. For Section 1, you should:
    a. Check ``A noncitizen authorized to work until'' and enter 
December 7, 2024, as the ``expiration date''; and
    b. Enter your USCIS number or A-Number where indicated. (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:
    a. Determine if the EAD is auto-extended by ensuring it is in 
category A-12 or C-19 and has a ``Card Expires'' date of December 7, 
2023;
    b. Write in the document title;
    c. Enter the issuing authority;
    d. Provide the document number; and
    e. Write December 7, 2024, as the expiration date.
    Before the start of work on December 8, 2024, employers must 
reverify the employee's employment authorization on Form I-9.

What updates should my current employer make to Form I-9 if my EAD has 
been automatically extended?

    If you presented a TPS-related EAD that was valid when you first 
started your job and USCIS has now automatically extended your EAD, 
your employer may need to re-examine your current EAD if they do not 
have a copy of the EAD on file. Your employer should determine if your 
EAD is automatically extended by ensuring that it contains Category A-
12 or C-19 and has a ``Card Expires'' date of December 7, 2023. Your 
employer may not rely on the country of birth listed on the card to 
determine whether you are eligible for this extension.
    If your employer determines that USCIS has automatically extended 
your EAD, your employer should update Section 2 of your previously 
completed Form I-9 as follows:
    1. Write EAD EXT and December 7, 2024, as the last day of the 
automatic extension in the Additional Information field; and
    2. Initial and date the correction.

    Note: This is not considered a reverification. Employers do not 
reverify the employee until either the automatic extension has 
ended, or the employee presents a new document to show continued 
employment authorization, whichever is sooner. By December 8, 2024, 
when the employee's automatically extended EAD has expired, 
employers are required by law to reverify the employee's employment 
authorization on Form I-9.

If I am an employer enrolled in E-Verify, how do I verify a new 
employee whose EAD has been automatically extended?

    Employers may create a case in E-Verify for a new employee by 
entering the number from the Document Number field on Form I-9 into the 
document number field in E-Verify. Employers should enter December 7, 
2024, as the expiration date for an EAD that has been extended under 
this Federal Register notice.

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

    E-Verify automated the verification process for TPS-related EADs 
that are automatically extended. If you have employees who provided a 
TPS-related EAD when they 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. Before this 
employee starts work on December 8, 2024, you must reverify their 
employment authorization on Form I-9. Employers may 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 USCIS at [email protected]. USCIS accepts calls and emails in English and 
many other languages. For questions about avoiding discrimination 
during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-
Verify), employers may call the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil 
Rights Division, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) Employer 
Hotline at 800-255-8155 (TTY 800-237-2515). IER offers language 
interpretation in numerous languages. Employers may also email IER at 
[email protected] or get more information online at www.justice.gov/ier.

Note to Employees

    For general questions about the employment eligibility verification 
process, employees may call USCIS at 888-897-7781 (TTY 877-875-6028) or 
email USCIS at [email protected]. USCIS accepts calls in 
English, Spanish and many other languages. Employees or job applicants 
may also call the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 
Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER)

[[Page 69953]]

Worker Hotline at 800-255-7688 (TTY 800-237-2515) for information 
regarding employment discrimination based on citizenship, immigration 
status, or national origin, including discrimination related to Form I-
9 and E-Verify. The IER Worker 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 as 
described in the Form I-9 Instructions. Employers may not require extra 
or additional documentation beyond what is required for Form I-9 
completion. Further, employers participating in E-Verify who receive an 
E-Verify case result of ``Tentative Nonconfirmation'' (mismatch) must 
promptly inform employees of the mismatch and give such employees an 
opportunity to take action to resolve the mismatch. A mismatch means 
that the information entered into E-Verify from Form I-9 differs from 
records available to DHS.
    Employers may not terminate, suspend, delay training, withhold or 
lower pay, or take any adverse action against an employee because of a 
mismatch while the case is still pending with E-Verify. A Final 
Nonconfirmation (FNC) case result is received when E-Verify cannot 
confirm an employee's 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). For more information about E-Verify-related discrimination 
or to report an employer for discrimination in the E-Verify process 
based on citizenship, immigration status, or national origin, contact 
IER's Worker Hotline at 800-255-7688 (TTY 800-237-2515). Additional 
information about proper nondiscriminatory Form I-9 and E-Verify 
procedures is available on the IER website at https://www.justice.gov/ier and the USCIS and E-Verify websites at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central and https://www.e-verify.gov.

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

    For Federal purposes, if you present an automatically extended EAD 
referenced in this Federal Register notice, you do not need to show any 
other document, such as a Form I-797C, Notice of Action reflecting 
receipt of a Form I-765 EAD renewal application or this Federal 
Register notice, to prove that you qualify for this extension. 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, show you are authorized 
to work based on TPS or other status, or that may be used by DHS to 
determine if you have TPS or another immigration status. Examples of 
such documents are:
     Your current EAD with a TPS category code of A-12 or C-19, 
even if your country of birth noted on the EAD does not reflect the TPS 
designated country of Cameroon;
     Your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record;
     Your Form I-797, Notice of Action, reflecting approval of 
your Form I-765; or
     Form I-797 or Form I-797C, Notice of Action, reflecting 
approval or receipt of a past or current Form I-821, if you received 
one from USCIS.
    Check with the government agency requesting documentation regarding 
which document(s) the agency will accept. Some state and local 
government agencies use the SAVE program to confirm the current 
immigration status of applicants for public benefits.
    While SAVE can verify that an individual has TPS, each agency's 
procedures govern whether they will accept an unexpired EAD, Form I-
797, Form I-797C, or Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. If an agency 
accepts the type of TPS-related document you present, such as an EAD, 
the agency should accept your automatically extended EAD, regardless of 
the country of birth listed on the EAD. It may assist the agency if 
you:
    a. Give the agency a copy of the relevant Federal Register notice 
showing the extension of TPS-related documentation in addition to your 
recent TPS-related document with your A-number, USCIS number, or Form 
I-94 number;
    b. Explain that SAVE will be able to verify the continuation of 
your TPS using this information; and
    c. Ask the agency to initiate a SAVE query with your information 
and follow through with additional verification steps, if necessary, to 
get a final SAVE response verifying your TPS.
    You can also ask the agency to look for SAVE notices or contact 
SAVE if they have any questions about your immigration status or 
automatic extension of TPS-related documentation. 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 https://save.uscis.gov/casecheck/. CaseCheck is a free 
service that lets you follow the progress of your SAVE verification 
case using your date of birth and one immigration identifier number 
(such as A-number, USCIS number, or Form I-94 number) or Verification 
Case Number. If 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 on or will act on a SAVE verification 
and you do not believe the SAVE response is correct, the SAVE website, 
https://www.uscis.gov/save, has detailed information on how to make 
corrections or update your immigration record, make an appointment, or 
submit a written request to correct records.

[FR Doc. 2023-22375 Filed 10-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-P