TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS (TPS) is a temporary immigration status that is granted to eligible nationals of designated countries around the world. The Attorney General of the United States may provide TPS status to aliens in the United Sates, who are temporary unable to return to their homeland because of ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions.  TPS beneficiaries are not required to leave the United States when their country is designated under TPS.  They also may seek work authorization, However TPS does not lead to permanent resident status. When the Attorney General terminates a country's TPS designation, beneficiaries return to the same immigration status they maintained before TPS (unless that status had since expired or been terminated) or to any status they may have acquired while registered for TPS.
Countries whilch are currently designated under the TPS program are listed below:

BURUNDI             
NICARAGUA
EL SALVADOR   
SIERRA LEONE
HONDURAS          
SOMALIA
LIBERIA                
SUDAN
MONSTSERRAT  

TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS for El Salvador to be extended.  This TPS extension which covers about 290,000 Salvadorans, will take effect on September 9, 2003 until March 9, 2005.

"Salvadorans who have been granted TPS must re-register during the registration period which begins July 16, 2003 and will remain open until September 15, 2003".