TPS holders in Alaska: check your work permit — don't assume it was extended

Alaskans with Temporary Protected Status should look at the expiration date on their work permit card and not assume it's still valid. Federal changes this year have shortened or eliminated the automatic extensions many TPS workers have long relied on — and an expired card can mean losing a job when an employer's verification system doesn't recognize it.

"Look at the expiration date on your work permit card. Do not assume it was extended," the state Office of Citizenship Assistance said in its July newsletter.

The rules have shifted more than once this year, and the details now differ by country — each has its own dates on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. The automatic extension that once ran as long as 540 days has been sharply cut, which advocates warn could leave some workers temporarily without valid proof they're allowed to work, even when they've done nothing wrong.

The advice from the state office is direct: check your country's page often, and if your status or work permit is ending soon, talk to an immigration attorney. Free help is available — the Alaska Bar Association is holding a legal clinic by phone and Zoom on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., with interpreters provided.