TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS (TPS) GRANTED TO HAITIANS

On January 21st 2010, the US Government introduced Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for undocumented Haitian Citizens residing in the United States after the earthquake in Haiti on January 12th 2010.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is available to undocumented Haitian immigrants for a period of eighteen months.

To be eligible for TPS: Haitian Nationals must have been living in the United States on or before January 12, 2010 AND must have registered during the mandatory registration period.

Registration Period: January 21st, 2010 – January 18th, 2011

Number of days left to register: 0

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TPS

Can I apply for Advanced Parole and travel outside the US? I lived in the United States for many years as an undocumented immigrant (illegally). I now have an approved I-821 TPS petition and I-765 work card.

NO. If you were Out of Status at the time you filed TPS, this office recommends you do not travel outside the United States. Even though you can apply and may be approved for Advanced Parole, the act of leaving the United States triggers a ten-year bar that will become a problem if you have the opportunity to gain Legal Permanent Residency at some later date.

I am Haitian and I arrived in the United States after January 12th 2010. Can I apply for TPS?

NO. You must have been physically present in the United States on or before January 12th 2010 to be eligible.

I am an undocumented Haitian. I was resident in the United States prior to January 12th 2010. I did not file my application for TPS during the Registration Period Jan 21 2010 to January 18th 2011. Can I file now?

NO. The registration period has ended. Approved TPS petitions are valid for eighteen months. The US Government has not yet extended that timeframe. Historically, extensions are granted only to those who filed during the initial registration period.

I have an approved I-821 TPS for Haiti. What will happen after it expires on July 22nd 2011?

The US government may extend TPS to Haitians for an additional eighteen months. A decision on this should happen sometime in March 2011. Historically, TPS recipients must reapply or renew their Protected Status.

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