Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill designates Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status, letting eligible Afghan nationals already in the U.S. stay and work legally without fear of deportation until July 1, 2029.
• To qualify, a person must have been continuously present in the U.S. since the law is enacted and must pass criminal and national security background checks, including fingerprinting.
• DHS must generally decide on TPS applications within 90 days, though officials can take up to 150 additional days if they need to review specific security concerns about an applicant.
• People granted this status can request permission to travel abroad temporarily for emergencies and will be allowed back into the U.S. under the same protected status when they return.
• Applicants who cannot afford the filing fees can ask the government to waive them, making the process more accessible for low-income Afghan nationals.