Temporary Protected Status (TPS)A designation that lets nationals of certain countries facing conflict or disaster stay and work in the United States temporarily.See it in the glossary for Sudan and Ukraine is scheduled to end on October 19, 2026, and neither designation has been extended or terminated in public notices found as of October 3. Both countries received 18-month extensions that began April 20, 2025, according to Federal RegisterThe daily journal of the U.S. government where proposed and final rules, notices and executive orders are published.See it in the glossary notices for Sudan and Ukraine, and both run through that date.
Sudan and Ukraine TPS: what the notices say
The Department of Homeland Security published both extensions on January 17, 2025. The Ukraine notice estimated about 103,700 current beneficiaries were eligible to re-register. Existing beneficiaries had to re-register between January 17 and March 18, 2025 to keep their status through October 19, 2026.
USCIS has continued to list the same end date. In an August 14 update for Sudan, the agency said the designation and related benefits are set to terminate on October 19, 2026. It also said certain expired TPS work permits are extended through that date for people whose renewal applications were still pending.
The review deadline has passed
Federal law requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to review conditions in a TPS country at least 60 days before the designation expires, as the Federal Register notice explains. For an October 19 end date, that point fell on August 20. Public notices found as of October 3 do not show a decision to extend or terminate either designation.
Silence at this stage is not unusual under this administration. For El Salvador, whose designation was due to end September 9, DHS said holders remained protected while its decision was pending. Sudan and Ukraine are two of the few designations still in effect, after the administration ended many others, including Haiti’s.
What to watch before October 19
Three things will settle the status of these designations:
- A Federal Register notice from DHS extending or terminating Sudan’s designation, Ukraine’s, or both.
- Updated USCIS guidance on work permit validity, which employers rely on when completing Form I-9.
- Any court order that changes the effect of a termination, as has happened with other countries.
For how designations, terminations and work permits fit together, see our explainer on TPS updates. We will update this article when DHS publishes a decision.