Sudanese can stay longer in U.S., continue working

August 14, 2008

WASHINGTON – Immigrants from Sudan granted temporary legal status can stay and continue to work in the U.S. if they reregister with the Department of Homeland Security, the federal government said Thursday.

The government is extending temporary protected status for Sudanese immigrants through May 2, 2010. The extensions are available only to immigrants from Sudan who entered the U.S. by Oct. 4, 2007.

Applications to re-register can be filed from Aug. 15 through Oct. 14, Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Homeland Security Department, said in a news release.

Work permits for Sudanese immigrants who currently have temporary protected status also will be extended. Those due to expire Nov. 2, 2008 will be extended to May 2, 2009.

About 500 people in the U.S. from Sudan are eligible for the extended temporary protected status. Temporary Protected Status is granted to people who cannot safely return to their countries because problems such as natural disasters, wars or other conditions exist. Those granted temporary protected status generally are not deportable.

Armed conflict has been going on in Darfur region of Sudan since early 2003, where ethnic African rebels are fighting the mostly Arab national government. U.N. officials estimate up to 300,000 people have died from the conflict and more than 2.5 million chased from their homes.

Sudanese immigrants who are 14 and older must pay an $80 fingerprinting fee to re-register. Work permits applications cost $340.

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On the Net: www.uscis.gov

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