Department of Homeland Security January 11, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard published in the Federal Register of January 9, 2012, a notice announcing a National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC) public meeting on January 18-19, 2012, in Arlington, VA. This notice corrects that previous notice to add an explanation for why 15-days advance notice was not given.

This Notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) has extended the designation of El Salvador for temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months from its current expiration date of March 9, 2012 through September 9, 2013. The Secretary has determined that an extension is warranted because the conditions in El Salvador that prompted the TPS designation continue to be met. There continues to be a substantial, but temporary, disruption of living conditions in El Salvador resulting from a series of earthquakes in 2001, and El Salvador remains unable, temporarily, to handle adequately the return of its nationals. This Notice also sets forth procedures necessary for nationals of El Salvador (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in El Salvador) with TPS to re-register and to apply for an extension of their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) (Forms I- 766) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Re- registration is limited to persons who previously registered for TPS under the designation of El Salvador and whose applications have been granted or remain pending. Certain nationals of El Salvador (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in El Salvador) who have not previously applied for TPS may be eligible to apply under the late initial registration provisions. USCIS will issue new EADs with a September 9, 2013 expiration date to eligible Salvadoran TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for EADs under this extension. Given the timeframes involved with processing TPS re-registration applications, DHS recognizes that all re-registrants may not receive new EADs until after their current EADs expire on March 9, 2012. Accordingly, this Notice automatically extends the validity of EADs issued under the TPS designation of El Salvador for 6 months, through September 9, 2012, and explains how TPS beneficiaries and their employers may determine which EADs are automatically extended and their impact on Form I-9 and E-Verify processes.