Haitians Have Weeks To File For Protective Status
WASHINGTON - Haitians who qualify for Temporary Protected Status in the U.S. now have a matter of weeks to ensure they get their applications in. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services this week reminded Haitian nationals that the registration deadline for TPS is now Jan. 18, 2011. The TPS designation for Haiti will remain in effect through July 22, 2011 but Haitian nationals who have continuously resided in the United States since Jan. 12, 2010 must file their applications for TPS no later than the Jan. 18th deadline. 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. TPS was granted to Haitians following the devastating earthquake of Jan. 12, 2010, which claimed over 200,000 lives in Haiti.
