Generally, being a dual national (having two or more citizenships, one of which in a TPS-designated country) does not prohibit an applicant from applying for TPS.
However, a dual national applicant should very carefully consider his or her "operative nationality" and "firm resettlement" issues before applying for TPS.
It is advisable to consult an attorney before applying.
Operative Nationality
Although US law recognizes dual nationality, a person may claim only one nationality at a time for immigration matters within the United States. This singular “operative nationality” becomes the crucial first test in assessing whether the dual national may qualify for TPS.
USCIS generally looks at how the applicant entered the US in order to determine operative nationality. For example, what passport they used to travel to the United States, and when applying for extension or change of status, how did they identify their nationality on forms and applications?
If you entered with a passport from a TPS-designated country and that country is shown on the I-94, it’s safe to say you have met the operative nationality test. If so, move to the next analysis.
Firm Resettlement
Even if the dual national passes the operative nationality test, the USCIS officer may still challenge by issuing a request for additional evidence (RFE) and assess whether the dual national may have firmly resettled in another country.
The law state that a noncitizen is “considered to be firmly resettled if, prior to arrival in the United States, he or she entered into another country with, or while in that country, received, an offer of permanent resident status, citizenship, or some other type of permanent resettlement”.
Under the firm resettlement analysis, simply having a passport from the non-TPS country without living in that non-TPS-country should not give rise to a firm resettlement finding. However, ask an advise from an attorney before applying.
Even if the dual national did enter the non-TPS-country, the applicant may still establish that they are not subject to the firm settlement bar by showing that there were no significant ties or there were restrictive conditions in the non-TPS-country.
USCIS explained these factors in a March 29, 2021 Questions and Answers on “Designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status,” by stating the following:
"TPS applicants may submit evidence regarding when and how they obtained their non-TPS citizenship, the nature of their family and other ties to the non-TPS country, whether they have lived in the other country, when and how long they lived in that country, dates of visits to the non-TPS country of citizenship, and any other information that the applicant believes may be relevant to the firm resettlement issue. ".
More information on TPS is here.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for TPS, you must:
Briefly in Russian:
Нередко человек, подающий на TPS, имеет два или более гражданства.
В каких ситуациях USCIS утверждает TPS таким лицам с двойным гражданством, у которых потенциально есть безопасная страна?
1) Вначале проводится анализ по какому паспорту человек въехал в США, какое гражданство было заявлено при въезде.
2) Если это гражданство страны, где TPS статус был объявлен, то второй элемент теста - проживал ли человек в безопасной стране своего второго гражданства, какая связь с этой страной?
Нередки случаи, коглда именно по этому пункту USCIS присылает RFE или запрос на дополнительные документы, и отказы по этому сонованию также бывают.
Если вы сомневаетесь, лучше проконсультироваться с адвокатом перед подачей заявления на TPS.
However, a dual national applicant should very carefully consider his or her "operative nationality" and "firm resettlement" issues before applying for TPS.
It is advisable to consult an attorney before applying.
Operative Nationality
Although US law recognizes dual nationality, a person may claim only one nationality at a time for immigration matters within the United States. This singular “operative nationality” becomes the crucial first test in assessing whether the dual national may qualify for TPS.
USCIS generally looks at how the applicant entered the US in order to determine operative nationality. For example, what passport they used to travel to the United States, and when applying for extension or change of status, how did they identify their nationality on forms and applications?
If you entered with a passport from a TPS-designated country and that country is shown on the I-94, it’s safe to say you have met the operative nationality test. If so, move to the next analysis.
Firm Resettlement
Even if the dual national passes the operative nationality test, the USCIS officer may still challenge by issuing a request for additional evidence (RFE) and assess whether the dual national may have firmly resettled in another country.
The law state that a noncitizen is “considered to be firmly resettled if, prior to arrival in the United States, he or she entered into another country with, or while in that country, received, an offer of permanent resident status, citizenship, or some other type of permanent resettlement”.
Under the firm resettlement analysis, simply having a passport from the non-TPS country without living in that non-TPS-country should not give rise to a firm resettlement finding. However, ask an advise from an attorney before applying.
Even if the dual national did enter the non-TPS-country, the applicant may still establish that they are not subject to the firm settlement bar by showing that there were no significant ties or there were restrictive conditions in the non-TPS-country.
USCIS explained these factors in a March 29, 2021 Questions and Answers on “Designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status,” by stating the following:
"TPS applicants may submit evidence regarding when and how they obtained their non-TPS citizenship, the nature of their family and other ties to the non-TPS country, whether they have lived in the other country, when and how long they lived in that country, dates of visits to the non-TPS country of citizenship, and any other information that the applicant believes may be relevant to the firm resettlement issue. ".
More information on TPS is here.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for TPS, you must:
- Be a national of a country designated for TPS, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in the designated country;
- File during the open initial registration or re-registration period, or you meet the requirements for late initial filing during any extension of your country’s TPS designation (Late initial filers see ‘Filing Late’ section below);
- Have been continuously physically present (CPP) in the United States since the effective date of the most recent designation date of your country; and
- Have been continuously residing (CR) in the United States since the date specified for your country. (See your country’s TPS web page to the left). The law allows an exception to the continuous physical presence and continuous residence requirements for brief, casual and innocent departures from the United States. When you apply or re-register for TPS, you must inform USCIS of all absences from the United States since the CPP and CR dates. USCIS will determine whether the exception applies in your case.
- Have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States;
- Are found inadmissible as an immigrant under applicable grounds in INA section 212(a), including non-waivable criminal and security-related grounds;
- Are subject to any of the mandatory bars to asylum. These include, but are not limited to, participating in the persecution of another individual or engaging in or inciting terrorist activity;
- Fail to meet the continuous physical presence and continuous residence in the United States requirements;
- Fail to meet initial or late initial TPS registration requirements; or
- If granted TPS, you fail to re-register for TPS, as required, without good cause.
Briefly in Russian:
Нередко человек, подающий на TPS, имеет два или более гражданства.
В каких ситуациях USCIS утверждает TPS таким лицам с двойным гражданством, у которых потенциально есть безопасная страна?
1) Вначале проводится анализ по какому паспорту человек въехал в США, какое гражданство было заявлено при въезде.
2) Если это гражданство страны, где TPS статус был объявлен, то второй элемент теста - проживал ли человек в безопасной стране своего второго гражданства, какая связь с этой страной?
Нередки случаи, коглда именно по этому пункту USCIS присылает RFE или запрос на дополнительные документы, и отказы по этому сонованию также бывают.
Если вы сомневаетесь, лучше проконсультироваться с адвокатом перед подачей заявления на TPS.
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