What is Form I-821?
Form I-821 is how people from a country the U.S. Government has designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) apply for that status, which protects them from removal and lets them work while the designation lasts. It is used for initial applications during a country's registration period, for late initial filings when certain conditions are met, and for re-registration each time a designation is extended.
The thirteen-page form asks about your identity, U.S. addresses, last entry and immigration history, and then a long set of eligibility and admissibility questions. Parts 4 to 6, about your current spouse, former spouses and children, are only for late initial filers. If you want a work permit, file Form I-765 with your I-821. The designated countries and their registration windows are announced in the Federal Register and on the USCIS TPS page, so check the dates for your country before you file.
FileIt guides you through the form in plain English: it shows the family parts only when you turn them on, reminds you to explain any eligibility question that applies, and prints your answers into the official USCIS PDF. You print it and sign it by hand. FileIt saves the filled PDF in your vault and never files anything for you.
- Who fills it
- A national of a TPS-designated country (or a person with no nationality who last habitually resided there) who is in the United States.
- Types
- Initial application (including late initial filing) or re-registration.
- Work permit
- Request one by filing Form I-765 with the I-821 (item 3.a).
- Signatures
- The applicant signs by hand. An interpreter and a preparer sign too if they helped.
- Edition
- 01/20/25 (OMB No. 1615-0043, expires 02/28/2027).
- Agency
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security
Who needs to fill out Form I-821?
- Nationals of a TPS-designated country who are applying during that country's initial registration period.
- Current TPS holders re-registering when their country's designation is extended.
- People who qualify for late initial filing, for example as the spouse or child of a TPS-eligible person.
- Applicants who previously applied but don't currently have TPS (they file as initial applicants and describe the earlier filings).
When to use Form I-821
- During the registration or re-registration period announced for your country.
- Outside the initial period only if you meet the late initial filing conditions in the instructions.
- With Form I-765 if you want an Employment Authorization Document.
What you need before you start
- Proof of identity and nationality, such as a passport or national identity document.
- Your addresses, date of last entry into the United States, and any I-94, passport and travel document details.
- Evidence of continuous residence and continuous physical presence since the dates set for your country.
- Details of any immigration proceedings, and of any arrests or charges with court records.
- For late initial filers: your current and former spouses' and children's details.
What’s on Form I-821
The 2025 edition has 13 pages. FileIt asks for it in 12 parts:
- Attorney or accredited representative (top of page 1)Preparer
- Part 1. Type of applicationApplicant
- Part 2. Information about youApplicant
- Part 3. Biographic informationApplicant
- Part 4. Information about your current spouse (late initial filers only)Applicant
- Part 5. Information about your former spouses (late initial filers only)Applicant
- Part 6. Information about your children (late initial filers only)Applicant
- Part 7. Eligibility standardsApplicant
- Part 8. Applicant's statement, contact information and certificationApplicant
- Part 9. Interpreter's contact information, certification and signatureInterpreter
- Part 10. Person preparing this application, if other than the applicantPreparer
- Part 11. Additional informationApplicant
How to fill out Form I-821, step by step
1 Part 1. Type of application
Initial or re-registration, who granted your TPS if you're re-registering, whether you're also requesting a work permit, and the designated country you're applying under.
2 Part 2. Information about you
Names, U.S. mailing and physical addresses, identity numbers, birth details, countries of residence and citizenship, marital status, your last entry, current status and any immigration proceedings.
3 Part 3. Biographic information
Ethnicity, race, height, weight, eye and hair color.
4 Parts 4 to 6. Family (late initial filers only)
Your current spouse, up to two former spouses and two children, including whether they have or had TPS. FileIt keeps these parts off unless you switch them on.
5 Part 7. Eligibility standards
Your nationality and date of entry, travel through other countries, any status offered by another country, and about 70 Yes/No admissibility questions. Explain each Yes in Part 11.
6 Parts 8 to 11. Statement, helpers and extra space
Your statement and contact details, the interpreter and preparer if anyone helped, and Part 11 for anything that didn't fit, with your name and A-Number printed at the top.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing outside your country's registration or re-registration window without meeting the late initial filing conditions.
- Choosing re-registration when you don't currently have TPS.
- Forgetting Form I-765 when you want a work permit.
- Answering Yes in Part 7 without a full explanation in Part 11.
- Typing a name instead of signing by hand.
After you fill it out
Print the application, check every page, sign Part 8 by hand and file it, with Form I-765 if you want a work permit, as the USCIS TPS page for your country directs.
Attend your biometrics appointment and keep every receipt and notice.
FileIt keeps the filled PDF in your vault, so you can start from it when it's time to re-register.
Fill out Form I-821 online with FileIt
- Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
- Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 323 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
- Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
- Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.
FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.
Start Form I-821 now — it’s freeForm I-821: frequently asked questions
What is Temporary Protected Status?
A temporary status for nationals of countries the U.S. has designated because of conditions such as armed conflict or natural disasters. People with TPS are protected from removal and can get work authorization while the designation lasts.
Is Form I-821 used for re-registration?
Yes. Select item 1.b in Part 1 and say whether USCIS or an immigration judge granted your TPS. Parts 4 to 6 are skipped.
Which countries are designated?
The list changes. USCIS publishes the current designations and registration dates on its TPS page; FileIt doesn't track them.
Do I have to complete Parts 4, 5 and 6?
Only if you are filing a late initial application. Otherwise leave them blank.
Do I need Form I-765?
Only if you want an Employment Authorization Document. File it with your I-821 and mark item 3.a.
Can I fill out Form I-821 online with FileIt?
Yes. FileIt guides you through the paper form and prints your answers on the official USCIS PDF. You print it and sign it by hand; FileIt doesn't file it.
Official sources
- Blank form (PDF), published by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-821.pdf
- Official instructions and guidance: https://www.uscis.gov/i-821
- Edition shown on this page: 01/20/25 (OMB 1615-0043, expires 02/28/2027) (checked 2026-10-19).
FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-19.