Temporary Protected Status for Haiti Extended for Six Months

From USCIS News:

WASHINGTON— Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Haiti (and eligible individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) through Jan. 22, 2018. After consulting with the appropriate U.S. government agencies and reviewing country conditions, Secretary Kelly has determined that a limited, six-month extension is warranted. Although Haiti has made significant progress in recovering from the January 2010 earthquake that prompted its designation, conditions in Haiti supporting its designation continue to be met at this time.

Current beneficiaries of Haiti’s TPS designation seeking to extend their TPS must re-register by July 24, 2017. TPS beneficiaries who re-register may request a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Those who re-register and request a new EAD during the 60-day re-registration period may receive an automatic extension of their expiring EAD for up to 180 days from the date their current EAD expires. Current EADs will not be automatically extended without a new EAD request. If a beneficiary’s EAD request is approved, they will receive a new EAD with an expiration date of Jan. 22, 2018. TPS beneficiaries are strongly encouraged to re-register and file their EAD applications as early as possible to avoid lapses in documentation of employment authorization.

During this six-month extension, beneficiaries are encouraged to prepare for their return to Haiti in the event Haiti’s designation is not extended again, including requesting updated travel documents from the government of Haiti. At least 60 days before Jan. 22, 2018, Secretary Kelly will re-evaluate the designation for Haiti and will determine whether another extension, a redesignation, or a termination is warranted, in full compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act. The designation of TPS was intended by Congress to be temporary, and the Secretary will fully re-evaluate the country conditions to determine whether Haiti’s TPS designation should continue.

To re-register, current TPS beneficiaries must submit:

·         Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status (re-registrants do not need to pay the Form I-821 application fee).

·         The biometric services fee (or a fee-waiver request) if they are 14 years old or older.

·         Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, regardless of whether they want an EAD.

·         The Form I-765 application fee or a fee-waiver request, but only if they want an EAD. If the re-registrant does not want an EAD, no Form I-765 application fee is required.

Applicants may request that USCIS waive the Form I-765 application fee and/or biometric services fee based on an inability to pay. To do so, applicants must file Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or submit a written request. Fee-waiver requests must be accompanied by supporting documentation. USCIS will reject the TPS application of any applicant who fails to submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee-waiver request.

Additional information about TPS for Haiti, including guidance on eligibility, the application process and where to file, is available online at uscis.gov/tps. Further details about this extension of TPS for Haiti, including the application requirements and procedures, appear in a Federal Register notice published today.

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