DED Covered Country – Lebanon

On July 26, 2024, President Biden issued a Memorandum on the Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Lebanese Nationals to defer for 18 months the removal of eligible Lebanese nationals who were present in the United States on July 26, 2024, except for those:

• Who have voluntarily returned to Lebanon after July 26, 2024;
• Who have not continuously resided in the United States since July 26, 2024;
• Who are inadmissible under section 212(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)) or deportable under section 237(a)(4) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(4));
• Who have been convicted of any felony or 2 or more misdemeanors committed in the United States, or who meet any of the criteria in section 208(b)(2)(A) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A));
• Who are subject to extradition;
• Whose presence in the United States the secretary of homeland security has determined is not in the interest of the United States or presents a danger to public safety; or
• Whose presence in the United States the secretary of state has reasonable grounds to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

Employment Authorization

You are eligible for employment authorization during the DED period if you:

• Are a Lebanese national as described in the Federal Register notice cited above;
• Were present in the United States on July 26, 2024;
• Have continuously resided in the United States since July 26, 2024; and
• Are otherwise eligible for DED.

Examples of documents that you can submit to establish presence or continuous residence include, but are not limited to, copies of any of the following:

• Passport;
• Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record;
• Employment records;
• Rent receipts, bills or receipts for utilities (gas, electric, telephone, etc.), or letters from companies showing dates when the applicant received service;
• Passport entries;
• Bank books with dated transactions;
• Selective Service card;
• Attestations of your residence by churches, unions, or other organizations;
• Affidavits;
• Money order receipts for money sent into or out of the United States;
• Birth certificates of children born in the United States;
• Correspondence between you and others; or
• Your Social Security card.

How to Apply for an Employment Authorization Document

If you are covered under DED for Lebanese nationals and you want a DED-based Employment Authorization Document (EAD) valid through Jan. 25, 2026, follow the instructions provided in the Federal Register notice to apply for an EAD.

You must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and pay the associated fee (or request a fee waiver). On Form I-765, indicate that you are covered under DED for Lebanese nationals by putting “(a)(11)” in response to Question 27. You may request a fee waiver by submitting Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or a written request.

If we need biometrics to produce a secure EAD, we will notify you of your appointment to appear at a USCIS application support center.

You may check general processing times for Form I-765 on our processing times page.

How to Request Authorization to Travel Outside the United States

DHS may provide travel authorization as a discretionary benefit of DED for eligible Lebanese nationals. You must file for advance parole if you wish to travel outside of the United States temporarily. Advance parole authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to allow you to return to the United States during a specified period. A CBP inspector will make the final decision on your reentry. If you leave the United States without first receiving advance parole, you may no longer be eligible for DED and may not be permitted to reenter the United States.

Please also be advised that if you voluntarily return to Lebanon, you will not be permitted to resume DED in the United States. The presidential memorandum providing for DED for Lebanese nationals excludes individuals who voluntarily return to Lebanon after July 26, 2024.

To request advance parole, you must file Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records, and pay the associated fee. The filing instructions on Form I-131 list all the documents you must provide. You may also find information about acceptable documentation and DED eligibility on USCIS’ Deferred Enforced Departure webpage.

You may file Form I-765 and Form I-131 together or separately.