Immigration

US Updates TPS Rules for Haiti and Syria: New I-9 and E-Verify Guidance Issued

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released updated guidance regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries from Haiti and Syria, introducing new compliance rules for employers using Form I-9 and E-Verify.

The update, issued in late March 2026, follows court-ordered decisions that temporarily halted the termination of TPS protections for both countries. As a result, USCIS has aligned and unified the instructions for employers, replacing earlier country-specific guidance.

🔍 Key Update: EAD Extension

According to USCIS, certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to TPS beneficiaries from Haiti and Syria are now automatically extended through July 1, 2026.

This administrative extension allows eligible individuals to continue working legally in the United States while legal proceedings remain ongoing.

📋 What Employers Must Do

For employees under TPS from Haiti and Syria, employers are required to follow these updated steps:

• Enter “as per court order” in Section 1 of Form I-9

• Record July 1, 2026 as the expiration date in Section 2

• Use July 1, 2026 as the work authorization expiration date in E-Verify

• Add a note in the “Additional Information” field referencing the court-ordered extension

• Keep a copy of the latest USCIS Form I-9 Central notice with the employee’s records

These instructions officially replace previous USCIS guidance issued earlier in March 2026 for each country.

⚖️ Legal Context and Impact

The changes come after U.S. courts intervened to prevent immediate termination of TPS protections for affected individuals. This means that thousands of Haitian and Syrian nationals currently living and working in the United States can continue their employment without interruption—for now.

Immigration experts note that this extension is temporary and depends heavily on ongoing legal challenges. Future decisions could either extend protections further or lead to termination.

🌍 Broader Implications

TPS provides humanitarian protection to individuals from countries facing war, natural disasters, or extraordinary conditions. Haiti continues to struggle with political instability and humanitarian crises, while Syria remains affected by prolonged conflict.

This update ensures short-term stability for both workers and employers but also highlights the uncertainty surrounding long-term immigration policies in the U.S.