Since Ethiopia isn’t showing up in the online dropdown for Form I-821, that usually means the system has not been updated to reflect the current designation yet, especially given the January 30, 2026 court stay in African Communities Together v. Noem, which temporarily halted implementation of the TPS designation for several African countries. Because of that stay, the online system may not allow you to select Ethiopia at this time.

In situations like this, the safest and most practical approach is to file a paper Form I-821 and include all supporting documentation with your TPS application. You should mail it to the correct USCIS filing address along with Form I-765 if you are also applying for an Employment Authorization Document. Be sure to include a written statement explaining that Ethiopia was not available in the online dropdown due to the current court stay and system limitations, copies of any relevant notices about the TPS designation and the court stay, all supporting evidence required for a TPS application.

Since TPS designations and court stays are evolving quickly, you might also consider consulting an immigration attorney or community legal provider to help confirm that this is still the best method at the time you submit.