Haitians in the U.S. before the devastating earthquake near the Haitian capital on Jan. 12 will be eligible for temporary work status. In order to minimize damage that would be incurred with the migration of Haitian nationals during times of crisis, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for any Haitian national in the United States as of Jan. 12, 2010.
TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to nationals of a certain country where “temporary negative conditions” such as armed conflict or environmental disaster prevent them from safely returning to their country and the local government from adequately handling their return, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Web site.
An individual with TPS can obtain an employment authorization document (EAD), cannot be repatriated from the United States or detained by the Department of Homeland Security, and may apply for travel authorization, according to the U.S. immigration department.
The Temporary Protected Status will allow those eligible to continue working in the United States for the next 18 months, and will also allow Haitians in the U.S. and those with no nationality who last resided in Haiti to support their families back home by sending back money.
“This is a disaster of historic proportions,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in a press release. “Providing a temporary refuge for Haitian nationals who are currently in the United States and whose personal safety would be endangered by returning to Haiti is part of this administration’s continuing efforts to support Haiti’s recovery.”
“At this moment of tragedy in Haiti it is tempting for people suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake to seek refuge elsewhere. But attempting to leave Haiti now will only bring more hardship to the Haitian people and nation,” said Napolitano in the release.
She added that those who try to travel to the U.S. after Jan. 12 will be repatriated.
Currently, countries designated for TPS include El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, and Sudan.
USCIS estimates that around 100,000 to 200,000 people will be eligible in the 18-month designation of TPS for Haiti.
Haitians in the United States eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status should go to www.uscis.gov or call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833 (TTY).
TPS for Haiti
TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to nationals of a certain country where “temporary negative conditions” such as armed conflict or environmental disaster prevent them from safely returning to their country and the local government from adequately handling their return, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Web site.
An individual with TPS can obtain an employment authorization document (EAD), cannot be repatriated from the United States or detained by the Department of Homeland Security, and may apply for travel authorization, according to the U.S. immigration department.
The Temporary Protected Status will allow those eligible to continue working in the United States for the next 18 months, and will also allow Haitians in the U.S. and those with no nationality who last resided in Haiti to support their families back home by sending back money.
“This is a disaster of historic proportions,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in a press release. “Providing a temporary refuge for Haitian nationals who are currently in the United States and whose personal safety would be endangered by returning to Haiti is part of this administration’s continuing efforts to support Haiti’s recovery.”
“At this moment of tragedy in Haiti it is tempting for people suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake to seek refuge elsewhere. But attempting to leave Haiti now will only bring more hardship to the Haitian people and nation,” said Napolitano in the release.
She added that those who try to travel to the U.S. after Jan. 12 will be repatriated.
Currently, countries designated for TPS include El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, and Sudan.
USCIS estimates that around 100,000 to 200,000 people will be eligible in the 18-month designation of TPS for Haiti.
Haitians in the United States eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status should go to www.uscis.gov or call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833 (TTY).
TPS for Haiti
