In the "How can they live with themselves?" department, USCIS has issued warnings about immigration scams targetted at Haitians applying for TPS (Temporary Protected Status). CIS has published a Fact Sheet explaining that no attorney or other representative is needed to file for TPS and outlining what forms are needed, and the fees. CIS has a website dedicated to the services response to earthquake victims, which contains links to many other resource sites.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that eligible Haitian nationals in the United States may begin the application process for Temporary Protected Status. Details and procedures for applying for TPS are provided in the Federal Register notice published today.
On Jan. 15, 2010, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano designated TPS for eligible Haitian nationals as a result of the catastrophic earthquake that occurred in Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.
The TPS designation for Haiti is effective today and will remain in effect through July 22, 2011. The designation means that eligible Haitian nationals will not be removed from the United States and will also be eligible to apply to work in the United States. The 180-day registration period for eligible Haitian nationals to apply for TPS begins today and will end on July 20, 2010.
The designation applies only to those Haitians who resided in the United States on or before Jan. 12, 2010; TPS will not be granted to Haitian nationals who entered the United States after Jan. 12, 2010.
Haiti joins El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, and Sudan as countries currently designated for TPS.
