USCIS Gives Some Salvadorans More Time to Work — What It Means for TPS

The measure benefits certain Salvadorans who have not yet received the renewal of their work permit, but it does not mean that TPS has been extended beyond September 9.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that certain Salvadoran beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be able to keep their work permits valid until September 9, 2026, while a decision on the future of the program is still pending.

• Why it matters: The update allows eligible beneficiaries to continue demonstrating that they have authorization to work, but it does not extend TPS for El Salvador beyond its current expiration date.

The Extension Benefits Those Waiting for Their New Permit

USCIS reported on August 12 that it is sending notifications to TPS beneficiaries for El Salvador who are still eligible but have not yet received their renewed Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).

The measure includes documents under category codes A-12 and C-19, as well as pending EAD applications based on TPS.

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• The key date: The permits covered by the measure are extended until September 9, 2026.
• The notification: USCIS will send the notices by mail and electronically to those with a myUSCIS account.

Eligible workers will be able to present their expired EAD, along with the USCIS notification, to their employers to demonstrate that they maintain employment authorization.

Work Permits September 2026: The Announcement Does Not Extend TPS for El Salvador

The update has generated doubts about whether the Government extended protection for Salvadorans again, but that decision has not yet been announced.

Jose Palma, national coordinator of the National TPS Alliance, explained on August 13 that the USCIS update «has nothing to do with the future of TPS» for El Salvador.

According to Palma, USCIS clarified that those who applied for renewal and have not yet received their permit «can continue working until September 9» of 2026.

• The limit: USCIS maintains that the TPS designation for El Salvador and its related benefits are scheduled to end on September 9.

Factchequeado reported that, as of August 14, there was no decision on a new extension or termination published in the Federal Register.

The Future of Salvadoran TPS Remains Pending

TPS for El Salvador had been extended for 18 months by then-Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, in January 2025.

That extension covers the period between March 18, 2025, and September 9, 2026.

Palma pointed out that the decision on a possible future extension or cancellation could be known before the expiration date.

• What’s next: Beneficiaries must be attentive to USCIS updates and any official announcement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Losing TPS Could Increase the Risk of Deportation

The situation would be different if the Government finally decides to terminate protection for El Salvador.

The ACLU of Northern California explains, in general, that when TPS for a country ends, people without another immigration status or a pending application may become illegal and subject to expulsion.

• The risk: The organization warns that this can increase the chances of detention and deportation during an interaction with immigration authorities.

While there is no new official decision, the update announced by USCIS should be understood as an extension of certain work permits until September 9, 2026, and not as a renewal of Salvadoran TPS beyond that date, noted ‘Yahoo News‘ and ‘USCIS‘.