The Department of Homeland Security has published a Federal Register notice formally ending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Burma (Myanmar). Current beneficiaries—about 4,000 people—will lose work authorization and protection from removal at 11:59 p.m. on 26 January 2026.
USCIS says improved governance, the lifting of the state of emergency, and planned elections show that Burma no longer meets the statutory criteria for TPS. Human-rights groups dispute that assessment, citing ongoing conflict, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on civil liberties.
![DHS Terminates Temporary Protected Status for Burma (Myanmar) Effective 26 Jan 2026]()
Employers that hired Burmese nationals under automatic EAD extensions must plan for workforce changes or assist with alternative status—such as H-1B, O-1, or employer-sponsored green cards—well before the January deadline. Travel managers should caution TPS holders that departure from the United States after the effective date will trigger loss of status and could complicate any future visa applications.
The termination aligns with the administration’s broader effort to narrow use of humanitarian immigration tools. Mobility programs should audit employee populations to identify TPS beneficiaries from Burma and update I-9 records as required once new documentation is issued or work authorization lapses.
USCIS says improved governance, the lifting of the state of emergency, and planned elections show that Burma no longer meets the statutory criteria for TPS. Human-rights groups dispute that assessment, citing ongoing conflict, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on civil liberties.
Employers that hired Burmese nationals under automatic EAD extensions must plan for workforce changes or assist with alternative status—such as H-1B, O-1, or employer-sponsored green cards—well before the January deadline. Travel managers should caution TPS holders that departure from the United States after the effective date will trigger loss of status and could complicate any future visa applications.
The termination aligns with the administration’s broader effort to narrow use of humanitarian immigration tools. Mobility programs should audit employee populations to identify TPS beneficiaries from Burma and update I-9 records as required once new documentation is issued or work authorization lapses.
