Venezuela TPS Act of 2025

Summary#

This bill designates Venezuela under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act so that nationals of Venezuela can be eligible for temporary protected status (TPS). The designation starts on the date the bill becomes law and lasts 18 months.

To be eligible, a person must be a Venezuelan national who has been continuously physically present in the United States since the date the bill becomes law, must be admissible as an immigrant (subject to existing exceptions in section 244), and must register for TPS in the way the Secretary of Homeland Security requires.

The Secretary of Homeland Security must give prior consent for brief, temporary travel abroad for people granted TPS when emergency or extenuating circumstances require the trip. A returning person with that consent is treated the same as other returning people with TPS.

The Secretary may charge a $360 application fee for people who are eligible for TPS only because of this designation. The Secretary must allow applicants to request a fee waiver.

The bill also says budgetary effects should be determined by reference to a PAYGO statement submitted by the House Budget Committee chairman before the vote, if such a statement is submitted.

The bill was introduced in the House on May 8, 2025. Sponsors listed include Darren Soto, Maria Salazar, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, among others. It was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on the Budget.

What it means for you#

• If you are a national of Venezuela and have been continuously physically present in the United States since this bill becomes law, you could register to request TPS under the rules the Secretary sets.
• You must meet admissibility requirements and register as required.
• For short emergency trips abroad, you can seek prior consent from the Secretary and, if approved, return under the same treatment as other TPS holders.
• An application fee of $360 can be charged, but you may apply for a fee waiver.
• The TPS designation would last 18 months from enactment.

Expenses#

• The bill authorizes a $360 application fee for eligible applicants who qualify only because of this designation.
• The Secretary must allow fee-waiver applications.
• No publicly available information on overall federal budget costs is included in the bill text; the bill directs that budgetary effects be determined by a PAYGO statement from the House Budget Committee chairman if that statement is submitted before the vote.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.