When your TPS (Temporary Protected Status) terminates, your work authorization document (Employment Authorization Document or EAD) becomes invalid on the termination effective date, and you can no longer legally work in the United States. You revert to whatever immigration status you held before TPS; if that status offers no work authorization and you have no other lawful basis to work, you become subject to deportation.
TPS terminations happen nationwide, affecting tens of thousands of workers at once. Four countries have terminations scheduled between now and October 2026: Haiti (ended July 27, 2026), El Salvador (September 9, 2026), Sudan (October 19, 2026), and Ukraine (October 19, 2026). Understanding what termination means for your work authorization and what steps to take before the deadline is essential for anyone on an active TPS grant.
Table of Contents
- What Happens to Your Work Authorization
- Current TPS Terminations and Affected Workers
- What You Must Do Before TPS Terminates
- What Employers Must Verify
- Where You Stand Without Other Relief
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens to Your Work Authorization
Your EAD (Form I-766) is valid only for as long as your TPS status lasts. When TPS terminates, the document expires on the termination effective date and no longer authorizes work in the United States. Your employer cannot legally accept it for Form I-9 employment eligibility verification, even if the card itself has a later expiration date printed on it.
The termination notice triggers what immigration law calls a "reversion" to your prior status. If you entered the country without inspection, overstayed a visa, or held any other non-immigrant or immigrant status before TPS, you revert to that status. If that prior status carried work authorization—such as H-1B or asylum—you may retain it; if not, you lose work authorization immediately.
Current TPS Terminations and Affected Workers
Haiti's TPS ended July 27, 2026; El Salvador terminates September 9, 2026; Sudan and Ukraine both terminate October 19, 2026. Each termination affects tens of thousands of workers, many of whom have built lives and employment histories in the United States over two decades or more. The law requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish a termination notice in the Federal Register at least 60 days before the effective date, providing beneficiaries advance notice to explore alternatives. Even with this notice, many beneficiaries discover the termination late and scramble to find alternative immigration relief or face immediate work authorization loss.
What You Must Do Before TPS Terminates
Time is critical. check your current EAD expiration date and your TPS termination date immediately. Some TPS beneficiaries receive automatic extensions of their EAD through the termination effective date if they filed a timely renewal application; if your renewal was not filed on time, you may have no extension.
Explore alternative immigration relief now. This could include asylum (if you fled persecution), cancellation of removal, U visa (if you are a crime victim), family-based sponsorship, or employer-based green card sponsorship. Consult an immigration attorney immediately—filing deadlines are strict, and missing one means losing eligibility for relief entirely. Inform your employer of the termination date and your status; do not wait until after termination.
What Employers Must Verify
Employers cannot accept an EAD showing TPS category A12 or C19 after the termination date for Form I-9 verification purposes. Before the termination effective date, you must verify that each affected employee has alternative work authorization—such as a green card, valid visa, or a newly issued EAD based on a different immigration benefit. If an employee cannot produce alternative work authorization by the termination date, they cannot legally continue working.
Employers who knowingly hire workers without valid authorization face substantial fines and potential criminal liability. Many employers now conduct proactive verification sessions, asking affected employees to provide documents 60 days before termination to allow time for alternative applications to be filed and approved.
Where You Stand Without Other Relief
Your ability to remain in the U.S. after TPS ends depends on your individual circumstances. If you have another immigration status or pending application, you may retain or gain work authorization separately. If you have none, you revert to your prior status, which may offer no right to work and leaves you deportable. This is why consulting an immigration attorney before the deadline is essential—they can identify relief options specific to your case and file applications in the correct order to avoid gaps in authorization.
Many nonprofits offer low-cost or free consultations. If you are unsure of your prior immigration status or do not know whether you have other options, an attorney can help clarify your position before time runs out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stay in the U.S. after my TPS ends if I don't have another visa?
You can remain in the U.S., but you cannot legally work and you are deportable without alternative relief filed before the deadline.
Will my employer be fined if I keep working after TPS ends?
Yes. Employers who knowingly hire workers without valid authorization face substantial penalties and potential criminal liability.
Are there any automatic work-authorization extensions after TPS terminates?
Only if you filed a timely TPS renewal application before the deadline. If you did not, no extension is available.
What is the difference between my EAD expiration date and my TPS termination date?
Your EAD may show a date months away, but it becomes invalid on the TPS termination date, regardless of the card's printed expiration.