USCIS Extends El Salvador TPS Work Authorization Through September 9, 2026
Updated: Aug 14
WASHINGTON, August 14, 2026 — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new extension of work authorization for certain El Salvador Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries, allowing them to continue working through September 9, 2026 — the date the current El Salvador TPS designation is set to expire .
The extension applies to eligible Salvadoran TPS beneficiaries who remain qualified for the program but have not yet received their renewed Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) . USCIS is sending notices to affected individuals by mail and, for those with myUSCIS accounts, electronically .
Who Is Eligible?
Beneficiaries with a pending TPS-based EAD renewal application can use an expired EAD with one of the following original expiration dates together with the USCIS extension notice as proof of employment authorization :
Original EAD Expiration Date | Extended Through |
March 9, 2025 | September 9, 2026 |
June 30, 2024 | September 9, 2026 |
December 31, 2022 | September 9, 2026 |
October 4, 2021 | September 9, 2026 |
January 4, 2021 | September 9, 2026 |
January 2, 2020 | September 9, 2026 |
September 9, 2019 | September 9, 2026 |
March 9, 2018 | September 9, 2026 |
Source: USCIS
Employer I-9 and E-Verify Requirements
Employers reverifying employees with pending El Salvador TPS EAD renewals should follow these USCIS guidelines :
Document/System | Action |
Form I-9 (Section 1) | Enter "Sept. 9, 2026" as the expiration date |
Form I-9 (Section 2) | Enter "Sept. 9, 2026" and add a note in the "Additional Information" box |
E-Verify | Enter "Sept. 9, 2026" as the expiration date |
"Employers may download the Alert and TPS El Salvador Automatic Employment Authorization (EAD) Extension webpage and attach them to Form I-9."
Background: Why the Extension Was Needed
Employment authorization for Salvadoran TPS beneficiaries has been in flux for several weeks . Recent government guidance interpreting various policies — including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) that limited TPS EAD validity to one year, TPS termination actions, and the 540-day EAD auto-extension rule — had caused uncertainty for beneficiaries with pending EAD renewals .
On August 5, 2026, a federal court upheld the government's interpretation of these policies . However, late on August 12, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took the unusual step of effectively reviving employment authorization for El Salvador, leading to this latest extension through September 9
Related News
What's Next for El Salvador's TPS Designation
As noted above, El Salvador's TPS designation is set to expire on September 9, 2026 . It is not yet known whether DHS will reauthorize the program for eligible Salvadoran nationals . The designation currently provides protection to over 200,000 Salvadoran beneficiaries .
Official USCIS TPS El Salvador Page: www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-el-salvador
Form I-9 Related News (Aug. 12, 2026): www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/update-on-temporary-protected-status-for-el-salvador-release-aug-12-2026
For the latest U.S. immigration updates, TPS developments, and 2026 policy changes worldwide, visit: visasupdate.com/blog/category/usa
VisasUpdate.com – The world's most trusted visa intelligence hub.
Comments