TPS for Guatemalans: Status, Renewal, Travel (2026)

Important: This page provides general information about TPS as it has applied to Guatemalans historically. It does NOT constitute legal advice and should not be relied on for individual immigration decisions. For your specific situation, consult a licensed US immigration attorney.

Current status (checked July 20, 2026): Guatemala has no active TPS designation — and has never been designated, despite years of advocacy following hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020. If you’re seeing news about TPS “extensions,” “terminations,” or “expirations,” it concerns other countries’ designations (Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and others), not Guatemala. Guatemalans in the USA cannot currently apply for TPS. Confirm the designation list anytime at uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a US immigration designation administered by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It grants temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to nationals of designated countries facing conditions that prevent safe return. This page covers TPS as it has applied to Guatemalans, current status considerations, and the general framework.

TPS framework overview

The Temporary Protected Status program was established by the Immigration Act of 1990. Under TPS:

• The Secretary of Homeland Security designates specific countries based on conditions making safe return temporarily impossible
• Designations may be based on: ongoing armed conflict, natural disasters, epidemics, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions
• Designated nationals already in the USA can register for TPS protection
• Status grants work authorization (EAD card) and protection from deportation
• Status is renewable as long as the country designation continues
• A designation lasts 6 to 18 months, and the government must review it at least 60 days before it ends (8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(2)-(3))

Guatemala-specific TPS history

Guatemala has been considered for TPS designation in connection with natural disasters at various points. Designations have been made and ended based on changing assessments of conditions in Guatemala.

Historical note: Whether Guatemala currently has an active TPS designation, and the eligibility requirements for that designation, change based on USCIS announcements. The information below is the framework — confirm current designation status at uscis.gov before taking any action.

How to apply (when designation is active)

If a TPS designation for Guatemala is active and you are eligible:

Eligibility requirements (general)

• Be a national of the designated country (Guatemala)
• Have been continuously physically present in the USA from a specific date forward
• Have been continuously residing in the USA from a specific date forward
• Not have certain criminal convictions
• Register during the initial designation period or extension period

Application process

1. Complete and submit USCIS forms (Form I-821 plus Form I-765 for work authorization)
2. Pay required filing fees — these changed substantially under 2025 US law (H.R. 1): for applications postmarked on or after January 1, 2026, the initial TPS registration fee (Form I-821) is $510 and the additional H.R. 1 fee for an initial TPS work permit (Form I-765) is $560. From October 16, 2026 (requests postmarked on or after that date), a DHS notice published October 1, 2026 (Federal Register 2026-20187) raises them to $520 and $570; the additional H.R. 1 fee for a TPS work-permit renewal stays at $280. These are not the full filing costs: G-1055 edition 10/26/26, checked October 31, 2026, lists a separate $30 biometric services fee for I-821, and for initial and renewal TPS I-765 filings lists $520 paper / $470 online, plus the applicable H.R. 1 fee. The schedule lists $0 for I-821 re-registration, plus the biometric services fee. These H.R. 1 fees adjust annually for inflation and fee waivers do not apply to them — verify the current amounts on the USCIS fee schedule before filing
3. Submit supporting evidence:
   • Proof of nationality (passport, birth certificate, national ID)
   • Proof of continuous presence in USA from required dates (utility bills, rental records, employment records, school records)
   • Proof of identity
4. Attend biometric appointment if required
5. Wait for the USCIS decision; check current USCIS processing times

After approval

If approved, you receive:

• TPS approval notice
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD card)
• Travel authorization is separate (Form I-512T for approved TPS holders; checked October 31, 2026)

Maintaining TPS status

Once granted:

• Re-register during the open re-registration period for your country (the USCIS TPS page lists filing during that period as an eligibility requirement)
• Keep all documents current (EAD card has expiration; renew before it expires)
• Maintain continuous US presence (extended absences can complicate status)
• Avoid criminal convictions that would disqualify you

Travel under TPS

USCIS requires TPS holders to obtain TPS travel authorization (Form I-512T) before departure. A person with a pending TPS application instead requests advance parole (Form I-512L). Both requests use Form I-131 (checked October 31, 2026).

To request the appropriate travel authorization:

1. File Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records, with USCIS; use Part 1, Item 4 for approved TPS or Item 5.C for a pending initial TPS application
2. Provide reason for travel (humanitarian, educational, employment, family emergency)
3. Check the applicable fee: G-1055 edition 10/26/26 lists $630 paper / $580 online for TPS travel authorization and advance parole based on a pending initial TPS application; certain applicants may be eligible for a fee waiver (checked October 31, 2026). See the USCIS fee schedule
4. Wait for USCIS to approve the travel document; the USCIS TPS page checked October 31, 2026 does not give a fixed processing period for this request
5. Travel only after receiving the approved travel document

Critical: USCIS says leaving without TPS travel authorization may cause loss of TPS and prevent re-entry. If the TPS application is pending, leaving without advance parole may result in denial of that application and inability to re-enter (checked October 31, 2026). Advance parole is not a safe harbor either: the USCIS Form I-131 page says that since Aug. 13, 2026 (Matter of Delcarmen-Lara), departing after obtaining an Advance Parole Document counts as a departure for the 3- and 10-year unlawful-presence bars of INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i), for people who accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence. See advance parole and travel to Guatemala and get case-specific legal advice before booking.

If you need to travel for a family emergency in Guatemala:

• Ask USCIS about urgent handling of the travel authorization appropriate to your pending or approved TPS
• Consult an immigration attorney before departure
• Do not travel based on assumption that your TPS will protect you abroad

Work authorization

TPS includes the right to work in the USA via Employment Authorization Document (EAD card):

• Use the EAD as proof of work authorization (I-9 form, employer paperwork)
• Renew before expiration (USCIS provides renewal windows)
• The EAD is valid for the period stated on the card

If your EAD lapses while you have a pending renewal:

• USCIS sometimes grants automatic extensions during renewal processing
• Confirm current automatic extension policies before assuming
• Employers may require updated documentation during gaps

Pathways beyond TPS

TPS itself does not lead to a green card or US citizenship. To pursue permanent immigration status, TPS holders need a separate basis for immigration:

Family-based:

• Marriage to US citizen or green card holder
• Petition by US citizen child (over 21) or parent
• Other qualifying family relationships

Employment-based:

• Employer sponsorship for green card
• Specialized work visa pathways

Other:

• Asylum (separate process, distinct from TPS)
• Special immigrant status for certain circumstances
• Diversity visa lottery

The interaction between TPS and other immigration applications is complex. Always consult an immigration attorney before pursuing parallel applications — some can affect or jeopardize others.

What to do right now

Regardless of current Guatemalan TPS designation status:

1. Maintain documentation: Keep originals of birth certificate, Guatemalan passport, DPI, and any prior US immigration documents

2. Track USCIS announcements: Sign up for USCIS email updates at uscis.gov for any Guatemala designation changes

3. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for case-specific advice about any of:

   • Current TPS application
   • Renewal under existing TPS
   • Pathway to permanent status
   • Travel under the authorization appropriate to pending or approved TPS
   • Family-based immigration options

4. Avoid unauthorized practice of law: “Notarios” or non-attorney consultants often misrepresent themselves as immigration experts in Guatemalan-American communities. Use only licensed immigration attorneys (US licensed, not Guatemalan attorneys) for US immigration matters.

Free and low-cost resources

For Guatemalans in the USA who can’t afford private attorneys:

• CARECEN-LA, CARECEN-DC, CARECEN-NY: Central American immigration legal aid organizations
• USCIS itself: uscis.gov has resources and forms (no fee for information)
• Local Catholic Charities Immigration Services: Many dioceses operate immigration legal aid
• Pro bono attorney programs: State bar associations maintain referral lists for low-income immigrants
• Law school clinics: ask law schools near you whether they run an immigration clinic and what it charges

What’s next

Once your immigration status is settled and stable, other diaspora services become relevant:

• Renew Guatemalan passport from USA — for authorized travel
• Renew DPI from USA — for return travel and identification
• Send money to Guatemala — to support family
• Power of attorney — to manage Guatemalan affairs from the USA

For Guatemalan civil registry matters that touch your US immigration case (marriage certificates, birth certificates, criminal record clearances), consulate document services can provide certified copies for use in US immigration proceedings.