Part 1: Type of application
An initial application (1.a.) or re-registration (1.b.), who granted TPS, whether you are filing Form I-765 for an EAD at the same time, and the name of the designated TPS country.
I-821
Application for Temporary Protected Status
- Agency
- USCIS
- Revision
- Edition 01/20/25
- Fillable fields
- 478
- Pages
- 13
- Official source
- USCIS form page
- Checked
- October 20, 2026
Form I-821: Application for Temporary Protected Status
Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, is how a national of a country designated for TPS, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided there, applies for Temporary Protected Status. The instructions say the same form is used to re-register for TPS.
The USCIS page says TPS applicants wait to file until the Federal Register notice for their country is published. A first-time applicant registers during the period set in the notice announcing the designation or re-designation, and a TPS holder re-registers during the period set in the notice announcing an extension. The country pages on the USCIS Temporary Protected Status page give the dates.
The instructions say Form I-821 is only for TPS and not for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which uses Form I-821D. A request for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is made on Form I-765, filed with Form I-821 or later.
What's on Form I-821
Part 2: Information about you
Names, U.S. mailing address, A-Number, Social Security number, birth details, countries you entered before the United States, citizenship, marital status, last entry, Form I-94, passport, current status and any immigration proceedings.
Part 3: Biographic information
Ethnicity, race, height, weight, eye color and hair color. The instructions say this can reduce the time spent at a biometrics appointment.
Parts 4 to 6: Spouse, former spouses and children
The instructions say Parts 4 and 5 are completed only for a late initial application. Part 6 lists your children, their addresses and any TPS they have had.
Part 7: Eligibility standards
Nationality, date of entry and residence since, travel through other countries, and Items 8 to 41 on criminal history, persecution, security grounds and other admissibility questions.
Parts 8 to 11: Signatures and extra space
Your statement, contact details and signature, the interpreter and preparer sections, and additional information space in Part 11.
How to fill out Form I-821
- 1
Check the dates for your country
The USCIS page says to wait for the Federal Register notice for your TPS country and to file during the registration or re-registration period it sets. The country pages also explain when a late filing may be possible.
- 2
Pick 1.a. or 1.b. in Part 1
The instructions say 1.a. is for anyone who does not have TPS now, even after an earlier application, with prior filings described in Part 11. 1.b. is only for a current TPS holder re-registering, who also completes Item 2.
- 3
Complete the fields USCIS checks first
The USCIS page says the form is rejected without the Part 1 type of application, your family name, a U.S. mailing address, your date of birth, or, for re-registration, your A-Number.
- 4
Decide on the EAD in Item 3
Select 3.a. if Form I-765 is filed with this application, or 3.b. if no EAD is requested now. The instructions say waiting means the EAD arrives several weeks after a later Form I-765 is filed.
- 5
Answer every Part 7 question
The instructions say all of Part 7 is answered, and any Yes to Items 3 to 41 is explained in Part 11 with the places and dates of the events.
- 6
Sign Part 8
The instructions say a stamped or typewritten name is not accepted, and a parent or legal guardian may sign for an applicant under 14. This page lets you fill the form online free, then print it for signature.
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Where to file, evidence and fees
Filing options
The USCIS page says all applicants eligible under a current designation may file Form I-821 online. A paper application goes to the address listed on the TPS page for the country. The instructions say people in Immigration Court proceedings file with that court.
Fee
The fee is on the USCIS Fee Schedule page, and the instructions point to Form G-1055. The USCIS page says certain inflation-adjusted H.R.-1 fees took effect Oct. 16, 2026, and that requests postmarked on or after that date without the proper filing fee are rejected. Check the fee on the day you file.
Identity, nationality, entry and residence
The instructions list copies of a passport, a birth certificate with photo identification or a national identity document, plus proof of entry such as Form I-94, and proof of residence such as pay stubs, rent receipts, utility bills, school or medical records.
Re-registration documents
The instructions say re-registration does not need copies of documents, though USCIS may ask for more. A first re-registration with USCIS after an Immigration Judge or Board of Immigration Appeals grant includes a copy of that decision.
Criminal records
The instructions ask for certified copies of arrest reports, court dispositions and sentencing documents for any arrest, charge or conviction, even if the record was sealed or expunged, and explain what to send when records are not available.
Biometrics and travel
The instructions say applicants give fingerprints, photographs and a digital signature, and USCIS may reuse earlier biometrics for re-registration. An EAD is not a travel document, and travel abroad uses Form I-131 for an Advance Parole Document.
Related forms
I-765
Application for Employment Authorization
161 fields, 7 pages
I-131
Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records
339 fields, 14 pages
I-821D
Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
234 fields, 7 pages
G-1145
E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance
6 fields, 1 page
I-102
Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document
115 fields, 5 pages
G-28
Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative
101 fields, 4 pages
Who files Form I-821?
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Questions about Form I-821
Does my family get TPS when I am approved?
No. The instructions say there is no derivative TPS. Each spouse, child or parent files a separate Form I-821 and qualifies individually.
Can Form I-821 be filed online?
Yes. The USCIS page says all applicants eligible to file under one of the current designations may file online. A paper application goes to the address on the TPS page.
When can I file Form I-821?
The USCIS page says to wait until the Federal Register notice for your country is published, then file during the registration or re-registration period that notice sets.
Is Form I-765 filed at the same time?
It can be. The instructions say Form I-765 is needed only to request an EAD, and it may be filed with Form I-821 or later. Filing later means the EAD comes several weeks after that Form I-765 is filed.
Is Form I-821 used for DACA?
No. The instructions say Form I-821 is only for TPS. DACA requests use Form I-821D.
Can I travel outside the United States with TPS?
The instructions say an EAD is not a travel document. A TPS holder who travels abroad and returns requests an Advance Parole Document with Form I-131.
What is the Form I-821 filing fee?
USCIS fees change, so this page does not list one. The I-821 page points to the USCIS Fee Schedule and says certain new inflation-adjusted H.R.-1 fees apply to requests postmarked on or after Oct. 16, 2026.