Temporary protected status (TPS) is a federal program that provides temporary protection to foreign nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in the designated country regardless of their country of birth) who are present in the US at the time of country designation and unable to return to the home countries due to severe safety concerns such as war, ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, and other extraordinary conditions.  Generally, a TPS holder is not removable from the US and eligible for work authorization.  TPS doesn't prevent protected persons from adjustment of status based on an immigration petition, nonimmigrant status, and/or any other immigration benefit or protection for which TPS holders may be eligible.

The U visa is a nonimmigrant status created to provide justified immigration relief/protection to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are cooperative with governmental agencies in the investigations of those criminal activities. If you are a victim of the qualifying criminal activity and meet all other requirements, you may be eligible for the U nonimmigrant status.  While U visas are limited to 10K principal applicants each year, the principal petitioners and derivative family members continuously present in the United States may be eligible for employment authorization and deferred action if the pending petition is determined as a bona fide petition.  Finally, U visa holders are eligible for adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident if certain requirements have been met.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was enacted to provide noncitizens who have been abused by their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative the ability to independently petition for immigration benefits such as a "Green Card" without relying on the abuser’s participation in the immigration process. Because some U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident principals are misusing the immigration procedures with the purpose of having financial, physical, or even sexual control over their noncitizen family members, the law (VAWA) allows victims of such abusive and coercive activity to obtain safety and independence from their abusers through self-petitioning for immigration benefits without their abusers' involvement or even their knowledge.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is available to an unmarried person (never married and/or divorced, annulled marriage) under 21 years of age, who is in the United States and needs juvenile court protection due to neglect, abandonment, and/or abuse by a parent.  Those whose SIJS petitions are granted may apply for lawful permanent resident status ("Green Card").  If an immigrant visa for this category of applicants is immediately available, your SIJS application and petition for an adjustment of status can be filed concurrently.