Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026

This bill, known as the "Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026," proposes to designate Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This designation would enable eligible nationals of Afghanistan who are currently in the United States to apply for temporary protection from deportation and secure employment authorization. The initial period for this designation is set to commence upon the bill's enactment and will extend until July 1, 2029.

To qualify for TPS, Afghan nationals must demonstrate continuous physical presence in the U.S. since the enactment date, meet immigrant admissibility standards with certain exceptions, and register by providing biometric and biographic data for criminal and national security background checks. The Secretary of Homeland Security is tasked with processing applications within 90 days, with a potential 150-day extension for national security reasons. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for fee waivers for eligible applicants and allows for consent to travel abroad under specific emergency circumstances.