USCIS Announces Six Additional Months for Haitian Nationals to Seek Temporary Protected Status

WASHINGTON, July 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that eligible Haitian nationals will have an additional 180 days to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a relief program launched in response to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti earlier this year. The new registration deadline is Jan. 18, 2011.

"Since the earthquake, USCIS has maintained an ongoing dialogue with Haitian community leaders and advocates, and we have heard that many Haitians need more time to apply for TPS," said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. "Extending the registration period will afford more eligible individuals a chance to remain safely in the United States at this time of crisis and devastation in Haiti."

TPS registration permits eligible Haitian nationals to continue living in the United States and to obtain work authorization for the duration of the program.  Since the TPS program began, USCIS has conducted extensive outreach to communicate its important benefits and to provide clear information about the application process.  USCIS continues to encourage eligible Haitians to apply for TPS as soon as possible before the January 18, 2011, registration deadline.  Waivers of the application fees are available to those who can demonstrate an inability to pay.

In conversations with the public, USCIS has heard many reasons that eligible individuals have not yet applied for TPS.  Due to the devastation in Haiti, some individuals may have had difficulty obtaining documents needed for the TPS application process. Others may need further opportunity to gather funds for the application fees or to learn about the process for fee waivers.  Extending the registration period will provide those individuals with additional time needed to prepare their applications.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano designated Haiti for TPS for an 18-month period beginning on January 21, 2010.  The designation applies to Haitians who have continuously resided in the United States since January 12, 2010, when the earthquake occurred; Haitian nationals who first entered the United States after that date are not eligible.  Further details are available in the Federal Register Notices published by the Department of Homeland Security on January 21, 2010, and today.

For TPS information and application forms, please visit www.uscis.gov or call the toll-free USCIS Forms line at 1-800-870-3676.

USCIS Update -- July 12, 2010

Temporary Protected Status Registration Period Extended for Haitian Nationals

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced an extension to the registration period for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Haiti. Initially, the 180-day registration period for nationals of Haiti was from Jan. 21 through July 20, 2010. This registration period is now being extended through Jan. 18, 2011.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously published a Federal Register Notice on Jan. 21, 2010, announcing the TPS designation of Haiti for 18 months, from Jan. 21, 2010 through July 22, 2011. The designation applies only to Haitians who have continuously resided in the United States since Jan. 12, 2010; TPS will not be granted to Haitian nationals who first entered the United States after Jan. 12, 2010.

Haitian nationals eligible for TPS are strongly encouraged to register as soon as possible within the registration period that now ends on Jan. 18, 2011.  

TPS applicants must submit both the Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to register.  Applicants must pay the Form I-821 fee. Applicants age 14 and older must also submit the biometric service fee.  Applicants who are age 14 through 65 who request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) must pay the Form I-765 fee.  Applicants under age 14 or over age 65 who request an EAD do not need to pay the Form I-765 fee. If an individual is only seeking to register for TPS, the applicant must still file Form I-765 for data-gathering purposes, but the Form I-765 fee is not required. Applicants who can demonstrate an inability to pay may request a fee waiver for any of these fees. Failure to submit the required applications with any required fees and the biometric fee, or a properly documented fee waiver request, will result in the rejection of the application. For information on TPS fee waivers, please visit the "Questions and Answers: Requesting Waiver of Fees Temporary Protected Status Applicants" webpage.

Further details on the designation of TPS for Haiti, including the application requirements and procedures, are available at www.uscis.gov on the TPS page under Haiti's designation and in the Federal Register Notices published on Jan. 21, 2010 and today.

TPS forms are available online or by calling the toll-free USCIS Forms line, 1-800-870-3676. For more information on USCIS humanitarian programs, visit www.uscis.gov or call 1-800-375-5283.

SOURCE U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services