TPS for Hondurans 2026: Requirements, Renewal & Key Dates

Temporary Protected Status for Honduras is no longer listed by USCIS as an active designation. The last regular extension ended in 2025, and later court proceedings did not leave a new re-registration period, renewal process, or general TPS-based work authorization in effect for 2026. Before filing a form, traveling, or presenting an employment document, check the exact category and expiration date shown on your records.

Current Honduras TPS Status

The Department of Homeland Security published the Honduras termination notice in the Federal Register on July 8, 2025. The notice set the effective termination time as 11:59 p.m. local time on September 8, 2025.

Several court actions followed. On December 31, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California set aside the termination in National TPS Alliance et al. v. Noem et al., case number 3:25-cv-05687-TLT.

That judgment did not remain a current basis for active Honduras TPS. On February 9, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit stayed the district court judgment while the appeal continued. On July 14, 2026, the appeals court vacated the district court judgment and sent the case back for further proceedings. The appellate case is numbered 26-199.

The December 31, 2025 judgment should therefore not be presented as a current order keeping Honduras TPS active in July 2026.

What TPS Termination Means

A person no longer keeps TPS status, protection from removal, or employment authorization solely because they previously held Honduras TPS. An individual may have a different position if another valid status, a work permit under another category, or a separate immigration filing applies.

The Federal Register notice explains that after a country designation ends, beneficiaries return to the status or category they held before TPS, if it remains valid. They may also keep another immigration status lawfully obtained while registered for TPS, provided that status has not expired.

• Past TPS does not automatically become lawful permanent residence.
• A Form I-821 receipt does not by itself prove that TPS remains active.
• A Form I-797 notice must be read in full because its effect depends on the filing and category.
• A Honduran passport proves identity and nationality but does not grant U.S. immigration status.
• A family petition, residence application, or other immigration case must be reviewed separately.

No Re-Registration Period Is Open in 2026

Older instructions describing how to “renew” or “maintain” Honduras TPS no longer match the current status. The last expanded re-registration period ran from November 6, 2023 through July 5, 2025.

As of July 22, 2026, USCIS has not announced:

• A new Honduras TPS designation.
• An extension beyond September 8, 2025.
• A new re-registration period.
• General initial registration for Honduran nationals.
• A current automatic EAD extension based on Honduras TPS.

Applications Filed Before Termination

A person who filed Form I-821, Form I-765, or another application before termination should check the individual case record. USCIS may continue issuing administrative notices on a pending filing even though the country designation has ended.

Keep the following records together:

• A complete copy of every submitted form.
• Form I-797 notices.
• Payment records.
• Biometrics appointment notices.
• Requests for evidence.
• USCIS decisions.
• Copies of both sides of the EAD.
• Documents from any separate immigration case.

Do not submit a second packet to correct the first one without reading the notice you received. Duplicate filings may create extra fees, delays, or separate case records.

A12 and C19 Work Permits

TPS-related Employment Authorization Documents usually show category A12 or C19. The termination notice automatically extended certain Honduran EADs only through September 8, 2025.

The transition extension covered A12 or C19 cards with one of these printed expiration dates:

• January 5, 2018.
• July 5, 2018.
• January 5, 2020.
• January 4, 2021.
• October 4, 2021.
• December 31, 2022.
• June 30, 2024.
• July 5, 2025.

The extension for those cards ended on September 8, 2025. They should not be used in July 2026 as current proof of work authorization based only on Honduras TPS.

Work Authorization Under Another Category

A person may still be employment-authorized through another category. Check whether you have:

• A valid EAD with a different category.
• Lawful permanent resident status.
• A nonimmigrant status that permits employment.
• A USCIS notice expressly extending another EAD.
• A valid document combination accepted for Form I-9.

For Form I-9, an employee may choose which valid documents to present from the acceptable document lists. An employer should not demand one specific card when the employee can provide another valid option.

Travel Outside the United States

TPS beneficiaries could request travel authorization using Form I-131. Termination of the country designation changes the legal basis connected to that document.

Before leaving the United States, review:

• The expiration date on the travel document.
• The category under which it was approved.
• Whether the document depended on TPS.
• Whether you have a pending residence application or another filing.
• Whether you have a hearing or proceeding before an immigration court.
• Whether you have another valid document for returning to the United States.

Do not buy tickets or leave the country based only on an old TPS-related document. Travel authorization issued before termination may require individual review before use.

What a Honduran Consulate Can Do

Honduran consulates do not administer TPS. They cannot renew it, reactivate it, or issue a U.S. work permit. They can help with Honduran documents that may be needed for other matters.

• Passport issuance or renewal.
• National Identification Document services when available.
• Civil records and certificates.
• Consular powers of attorney and authorizations.
• Corrections or verification of information in Honduran documents.

Keeping these documents current may help establish identity, nationality, or family relationships. They do not replace U.S. immigration status or employment authorization.

Steps for Former Honduras TPS Holders

1. Check your USCIS account. Read each notice and confirm whether any filing remains pending.
2. Organize your records. Include Forms I-821, I-765, I-797, the EAD, passport, and Form I-94.
3. Confirm work authorization. Do not rely on an extension that ended in September 2025.
4. Separate other cases. A family petition or another application follows its own rules.
5. Review appointment dates. TPS termination does not automatically cancel interviews or court hearings.
6. Update your address. USCIS and immigration courts may use different address-change procedures.
7. Use authorized legal help. Speak with a licensed attorney or an EOIR-accredited representative.

Finding Authorized Immigration Help

In the United States, someone using the title “notario” is not automatically authorized to provide immigration legal advice. Before giving anyone money, forms, or personal documents, confirm that the person is:

• A lawyer with a current license.
• A representative accredited by the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
• A representative working through an organization recognized by the Department of Justice.

Accredited representatives may provide immigration services only through recognized organizations. EOIR also maintains a list of providers that offer free legal services in immigration court proceedings.

Common Questions About Honduras TPS in 2026

Can I Renew Honduras TPS?

There is no general renewal or re-registration period open as of July 22, 2026. Do not file Form I-821 as a Honduras renewal unless USCIS issues new instructions that apply to your situation.

Can I Apply for Honduras TPS for the First Time?

There is no active Honduras designation allowing general initial applications. Older late-registration rules should not be used as though the designation remains active.

Did the December 31, 2025 Decision Restore TPS?

The district court initially set aside the termination. The Ninth Circuit stayed that judgment on February 9, 2026 and vacated it on July 14, 2026. The December judgment does not currently keep Honduras TPS active.

Is My A12 or C19 EAD Still Valid?

Not under the old Honduras automatic extension. That extension ended on September 8, 2025. Check whether you have another valid EAD or employment authorization under a different category.

Does a Form I-797 Receipt Allow Me to Work?

Not in every case. Its effect depends on the form, category, and exact language in the notice. A Form I-821 receipt does not by itself grant employment authorization.

Can the Honduran Consulate Renew My TPS?

No. TPS is administered by the U.S. government. A Honduran consulate can issue Honduran documents but cannot grant U.S. immigration status.

What If I Have Another Pending Case?

A family petition, residence application, or another case continues under its own rules. Review the deadlines and notices for that filing without assuming it depends on TPS.

Sources

• USCIS: Temporary Protected Status Designated Country — Honduras
  — Official page showing the country status, applicable dates, and Honduras notices.
• USCIS: Temporary Protected Status
  — Official country list with dates and court-related status updates.
• Federal Register: Termination of the Designation of Honduras for TPS
  — Published notice setting the September 8, 2025 termination date and transition rules for certain EADs.
• Federal Register: Extension of Re-Registration Periods
  — Confirms the final expanded re-registration period that applied to Honduras.
• USCIS I-9 Central: Acceptable Documents
  — Official document lists for identity and employment authorization verification.
• USCIS: Find Legal Services
  — Official instructions for locating authorized assistance and avoiding unqualified providers.
• EOIR: Recognition and Accreditation Program
  — Explains who may serve as an accredited immigration representative.
• EOIR: Recognized Organizations and Accredited Representatives
  — Official rosters for checking current recognition and accreditation.
• EOIR: List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers
  — Official list of organizations and attorneys offering free assistance in immigration court proceedings.