United States: USCIS, Immigration Community Respond to the Haiti Earthquake
United States: USCIS, Immigration Community Respond to the Haiti Earthquake
USCIS has implemented a range of humanitarian programs to provide immigration options to Haitian nationals. These include:
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for qualifying Haitian nationals in the United States. TPS will confer to qualifying Haitian nationals work authorization and protection against deportation for up to 18 months. The Haiti TPS application period started January 21 and will remain open for 180 days.
- Assistance to children. USCIS will be allowing requests to expedite certain immigration applications on behalf of Haitian children. Individuals who have filed I-130 permanent residence petitions or I-730 refugee/asylee relative petitions on behalf of minor Haitian children may request expedited processing until July 1. USCIS will also consider humanitarian parole to Haitian children who are being adopted, if there is a final adoption decree issued by the Haitian government or custody has been granted to U.S. citizen adoptive parents for the purpose of emigration and adoption. Other humanitarian parole options may become available to Haitian children.
- Extensions and changes of status for nonimmigrant Haitian nationals. Haitian nationals who are unable to return to their home country and whose nonimmigrant status has expired or is about to expire may request extensions and changes of their nonimmigrant status. USCIS has pledged to approve these requests where possible.
- Extensions of parole. Haitian nationals granted parole to enter the United States may apply for an extension of their parole. Haitian nationals granted advance parole to travel abroad and who are unable to return from Haiti before their parole expires will have their advance parole automatically extended until March 12, 2010.
For more information on USCIS programs for Haitian nationals, click here.
Fragomen attorneys around the country, along with other members of the immigration community, are helping assist Haitian nationals in submitting TPS applications and seeking other U.S. immigration benefits. If you are interested in learning more about options for Haitian nationals, contact your designated Fragomen professional.
Source: Fragomen
