USCIS is extending employment work permits for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries from El Salvador through September 9, 2026, to prevent work authorization from lapsing while their permit renewal applications remain pending. TPS is a humanitarian designation allowing foreign nationals from designated countries facing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or epidemic to live and work legally in the U.S., though it carries no path to permanent residency and requires periodic renewal or re-designation by the Department of Homeland Security. USCIS announced the extension on September 3, 2026 for eligible Salvadoran TPS holders whose work authorization documents (EADs) have expired but who hold pending renewal applications. The extension addresses a critical gap: renewal applications take longer to process than permit expiration dates, leaving workers without valid documentation during the application review period.
Official resources:
- Apply through Uscis’s official page — Use this page to review requirements and apply directly.
- Read the official notice from E Verify — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- Who Qualifies for the Extension
- Using the Expired Permit Plus Extension Notice as Proof of Work
- What Employers Must Record on Employment Forms
- Other TPS Countries and Shorter Extension Windows
- After September 9, 2026—What You Need to Know
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who Qualifies for the Extension
The extension applies only to El Salvador TPS beneficiaries meeting specific criteria. you qualify if you hold an expired employment authorization document with category code A-12 or C-19 (the designations for TPS-based work authorization), have filed a Form I-765 renewal application, and remain eligible for TPS protection.
According to USCIS, beneficiaries are receiving notices by mail and through the myUSCIS online account portal. Salvadoran TPS itself remains in effect through september 9, 2026, but its future is uncertain. DHS has not yet announced whether the designation will be extended, terminated, or allowed to expire as scheduled. This uncertainty affects both the work authorization extension and protection from deportation, making the September 9 deadline significant for holders seeking permanent solutions.
Using the Expired Permit Plus Extension Notice as Proof of Work
You do not need to wait for a new permit card in hand to maintain continuous work authorization. The expired TPS-based EAD combined with the USCIS extension notice serves as valid proof of identity and continued employment authorization through September 9, 2026. This allows eligible workers to present documentation to employers without interruption while their I-765 renewal is being processed.
Present both documents together to your employer or during form I-9 completion. The expired permit card shows you held valid TPS-based work authorization, and the extension notice document proves USCIS has extended your eligibility through the deadline. Without the extension notice, the expired card alone would not meet employment verification requirements.
What Employers Must Record on Employment Forms
Employers have specific obligations when workers present the expired permit plus extension notice combination. On Form I-9 and in the E-Verify system, employers must enter "Sept. 9, 2026" as the expiration date. This date reflects the endpoint of the extension and is not the actual expiration of the I-9 employment record itself.
Document retention requirements remain standard: employers must keep both the expired EAD and the extension notice on file as evidence of employment authorization. If your renewal application approves before September 9, you will receive a new EAD card with a later expiration date, which supersedes the extension.
Other TPS Countries and Shorter Extension Windows
El Salvador is not the only country receiving extension relief. USCIS extended work permits for TPS beneficiaries from Burma, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen through July 17, 2026, or July 24 for Haiti, following the June 2026 Supreme Court decision that allowed termination of TPS for certain designations. Ukraine beneficiaries received a separate extension through October 19, 2026, aligned with Ukraine's TPS termination date.
A policy change starting July 22, 2025 has reduced extension periods for new renewal applications. For Form I-765 renewals filed on or after that date, automatic extensions are capped at one year—or the duration of the TPS designation if shorter—replacing the previous up-to-540-day extension period. This creates tighter renewal windows across multiple countries.
After September 9, 2026—What You Need to Know
The September 9 deadline marks both the end of the work authorization extension and El Salvador's current TPS designation date. If DHS terminates or allows El Salvador TPS to expire without extending it, beneficiaries lose both work authorization and protection from removal. If the designation is renewed, a new TPS period will begin and new work permits will be issued.
Do not wait until September 9 to address your status. If your I-765 renewal application is still pending, check myUSCIS regularly for approval or status updates. If the TPS designation is not extended and your application is not yet approved, you may become deportable with no work authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an expired work permit card alone without the extension notice?
No. You must present both the expired TPS-based EAD and the USCIS extension notice together as proof of employment authorization through September 9, 2026.
What happens if my I-765 renewal approves before September 9?
You will receive a new work permit card with an updated expiration date, which replaces the extension notice. Use the new card once you receive it.
Is the El Salvador TPS designation certain to continue after September 9?
No. DHS has not announced whether El Salvador TPS will be extended, terminated, or allowed to expire. The extension covers work permits only through that date, not protection status itself.
Do employers need to do anything special with the extension notice?
Yes. Employers must record "Sept. 9, 2026" as the expiration date on Form I-9 and in E-Verify, and retain both the expired EAD and extension notice on file.