Temporary Protected Status Granted to Haitians in the U.S.

On January 15, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that Haitians in the U.S. would be given Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12.  TPS allows Haitians here without authorization or with temporary visas to stay and work in the U.S. for 18 months (unless TPS is extended beyond the initial period). 

To be eligible, Haitians in the U.S. must have been in the U.S. since January 12.  Haitians may register for TPS and work authorization as soon as the official notice is published in the Federal Register.  The registration period will last 180 days.

Persons registering for TPS will have to prove they are nationals of Haiti and have been in the U.S. since January 12.  Fees are $50 for the TPS application, $80 for the biometrics fee, and $340 for work authorization.  (Fee waivers are possible.)

USICS has posted a question and answer page on its Web site, with details about qualifications, fees, what forms to use, what kind of evidence is expected, and other information.  You can find it here.  On this page, you can also find links to the TPS application form (I-821) and links to instructions in English, Creole and French, and links to the application form for work authorization, with instructions in English and French.

USCIS has also posted a question and answer page on what other relief measures might be available to Haitians. You can find that page here.