Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan ended on July 14, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security published a Federal Register notice on May 13, 2025 terminating the designation after a 60-day wind-down, and no court order has restored it. Roughly 11,000 Afghan nationals lost both their protected status and their work authorization on that date, and USCIS is no longer accepting Afghan TPS applications or issuing TPS-based travel documents. If you held Afghan TPS, the practical question now is which other immigration pathway fits your situation.
When and How the Designation Ended
DHS published the termination notice on May 13, 2025, setting an effective end date 60 days later on July 14, 2025. The notice cited Executive Order 14159, which directed DHS to keep TPS designations in place “only so long as may be necessary to fulfill the textual requirements” of the TPS statute. DHS concluded that conditions in Afghanistan no longer met that threshold.1Federal Register. Termination of the Designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status
Under federal regulations, the termination was automatic. There is no right of appeal, and beneficiaries lost their status on the 60th day without any further proceedings.2eCFR. 8 CFR Part 244 – Temporary Protected Status for Nationals of Designated States
The Lawsuit That Tried to Stop It
A federal case, CASA v. Noem, challenged the termination. The district court denied the plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment on July 10, 2025. The plaintiffs asked the Court of Appeals for an emergency stay; the appellate court denied that request on July 21, 2025, and the case was dismissed shortly after. Nothing in the courts is currently blocking the termination or reviving Afghan TPS.
What Happened to Your Work Authorization
During the wind-down, DHS automatically extended the validity of Afghan TPS-based Employment Authorization Documents through July 14, 2025. That covered EADs in category A-12 (approved TPS) and C-19 (pending TPS with preliminary eligibility) showing a “Card Expires” date of either November 20, 2023 or May 20, 2025.1Federal Register. Termination of the Designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status
After July 14, 2025, those EADs are no longer valid. If you do not hold another basis for work authorization, you are no longer permitted to work legally in the United States. An employer running I-9 reverification against your Afghan TPS EAD will find it expired.
Travel and Reentry After Termination
USCIS is no longer issuing TPS-based travel documents (Form I-512T or I-512L) to Afghan nationals. If you are inside the United States, leaving now without another lawful basis to return will almost certainly bar reentry. If you are already outside the country and relied on Afghan TPS for your reentry authorization, you face serious barriers and should talk to an immigration attorney before attempting to come back.
Immigration Alternatives Still Available
Losing TPS does not automatically mean you have no path to lawful status. Several options may apply, each with its own requirements and timeline.
- Asylum. If you fear persecution by the Taliban or other groups on account of race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group, you can apply for asylum. Applications normally must be filed within one year of arrival, but prior TPS status can qualify as an “extraordinary circumstance” that excuses a late filing. A grant of asylum leads to permanent protection and, eventually, a green card.
- Special Immigrant Visa. Afghans who worked for the U.S. military, the U.S. embassy, U.S. government contractors, or certain international organizations in Afghanistan may qualify for an SIV, which leads directly to lawful permanent residence.
- Family-based immigration. A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or adult child may be able to sponsor you. Some applicants will need a waiver for unlawful presence, but the pathway exists regardless of current status.
- T or U visas. Victims of human trafficking (T) or certain other crimes committed in the United States (U) may qualify for protection leading to lawful status, independent of any other immigration benefit.
Each option involves a separate application, its own evidence, and processing that can run months or years. If you have not already started one of these cases, move quickly: every day after July 14, 2025 without another status is a day of unlawful presence, which carries its own consequences for future applications.
Where to Get Legal Help
Free or low-cost immigration legal help is available through organizations listed in the National Immigration Legal Services Directory maintained by the Immigration Advocates Network. Given the compressed timelines on asylum filings and the complexity of SIV and family petitions, a consultation with an immigration attorney or accredited representative is the right next step for most former Afghan TPS holders.