What Is TPS? People who are granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are protected from removal, granted employment authorization (with an Employment Authorization Document,) and are eligible to apply for travel abroad authorization (Application for Travel Document, Form I-131).
A travel document lets the U.S. government know about your travel plans. This is for anyone who is not a U.S. citizen but is living in the USA. You can use a travel document instead of a visa as proof of travel authorization. You must get your travel document before you leave the country.
How long does it take to approve TPS? The processing time for a TPS application ranges from 10 to 18 months for most applicants. Form I-821 processing times are affected by several factors such as designated country, initial or re-registration, and service center.
If you are a TPS beneficiary applying for a new travel authorization document, you should continue to use Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. If you have a pending Form I-131, you do not need to file a new application.
The travel document usually arrives within 150 days (sometimes longer) after submitting your application. You can't leave the country until you have your approved travel document in hand, so you should expect to spend the 3–5 months after submitting your green card application in the United States.
To obtain a reentry permit, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. You should file this application well in advance of your planned trip. Filing instructions and forms are available on our Web site at cis. The instructions on the form will give you more details.
To apply for TPS travel authorization or advance parole, you must file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. If you are filing Form I-131 together with Form I-821, send your forms to the address listed for your country.