Due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, the Secretary of Homeland Security has established a program to offer Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. The TPS is available for an initial period of 18 months and is available to persons from designated countries who have been “continuously residing” in the United States since November 20, 2014 and “continuously physically present in” the United States since Nov. 21, 2014. Applicants also undergo thorough security checks. Individuals with certain criminal records or who pose a threat to national security are not eligible for TPS. The eligibility requirements are fully described in the Federal Register notices and on the TPS web page at www.uscis.gov/tps. For more information on TPS for nationals of affected countries, click here. For information on how to apply for TPS, please contact us.