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.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued FAQs on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. The FAQs address how to apply, when to apply, what to do if required documents are unavailable, how to apply for work authorization, how to request a waiver of the filing fee, and much more. The FAQ link is here. It is also published in French and Haitian Creole.
Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/unitednationsdevelopmentprogramme/4273888823/.
The US has suspended removals (deportation) to Haiti because of the recent earthquake. In a press release, DHS stated
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary John Morton today halted all removals to Haiti for the time being in response to the devastation caused by yesterday’s earthquake. ICE continues to closely monitor the situation.
The New York Times reported on the news yesterday. The article states that there are an estimated 30,000 Haitians awaiting removal, however sending them back to Haiti now would endanger them.
The paper also refers to the push now to give Haitians Temporary protected Status (TPS). This status is given to people from certain countries that have suffered natural disasters, wars, or other extreme situations. TPS allows immigrants from the country to stay in the US and work as long as the TPS applies. Haiti has been requesting this status for years, after a series of natural disasters. These include floods in 2004 that left more than 5,000 people dead or missing, and 4 major storms in 2008 that killed at least 800 people and destroyed most of Haiti’s food crops.
TPS seems like a really obvious move for Haitians now, doesn't it?
Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/37913760@N03/4273890315/.
