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USCIS to Begin Accepting Haitian TPS Applications on January 21 |
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Written by Jordana Hart
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Wednesday, 20 January 2010 |
The notice announcing the designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be published in the Federal Register on January 21, USCIS has announced. It is available in the Alerts section of the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov. The notice will be available online today for review at http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/public-inspection/. The USCIS will begin accepting TPS applications from Haitian nationals on Thursday, January 21.
USCIS Director Alejandro N. Mayorkas is slated to meet with immigration advocates in Miami today to review the Haitian TPS process, including a possibility of expedited handling and a possible waiver of all filing fees related to the application process. The total filing fee is $470, which includes $50 for Form I-821 (TPS application), $340 for Form I-765 (work authorization), and $80 for fingerprints. Without a grant of a waiver by USCIS, each applicant must pay the filing fees or file a request for an individual waiver of these fees with their applications.
Only Haitians in the U.S. prior to and/or on January 12, 2010, the date of the earthquake, are eligible to apply for TPS. Applicants have 180 days as of January 21, 2010 to apply for a grant of 18 months of TPS protection. USCIS can, and may, extend the 18-month TPS status if it deems the situation in Haiti requires it. Applicants with at least one felony conviction and/or two misdemeanor convictions will generally not qualify for TPS.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 20 January 2010 )
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