H.R. 9899: Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026

This bill would make Afghanistan eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under U.S. immigration law. TPS is a temporary immigration status that can let eligible people from a designated country live and work in the United States for a period of time.

What the bill changes

• It treats Afghanistan as if it had been officially designated for TPS.
• The initial TPS designation would run from the date the bill becomes law until July 1, 2029.
• The Department of Homeland Security would have to accept and process TPS applications and any related work authorization requests from Afghan nationals.
• DHS would generally need to decide each application within 90 days of receiving it.
• DHS could extend that deadline by up to 150 more days for an individual applicant if there is specific derogatory information and more time is needed for national security review, with notice to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

Who could qualify

An Afghan national could be eligible if they:

• have been continuously physically present in the United States since the date the bill becomes law;
• are generally admissible under immigration law and not otherwise barred from TPS; and
• register for TPS using the normal process, including providing biometric and biographic information and passing criminal and national security background checks.

Travel and fees

• The Secretary of Homeland Security would have to allow a TPS recipient to travel abroad temporarily in emergency or extenuating circumstances, if the person gets prior approval.
• A person granted TPS under this bill could apply for a fee waiver for TPS-related filing fees.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill would create a temporary legal pathway for certain Afghans already in the United States to stay in the country and apply for work authorization, as long as they meet the bill’s requirements and pass the required checks. It would not create permanent residency or citizenship, and the protection would be temporary unless later extended by other action.

Relevant Companies

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