The management of the U.S. Immigration News joins all Americans and kindhearted people all over the world to empathize with all the people of Haiti for the devastation brought upon them by the sudden earthquake of January 12, 2010. The resilience of all Haitians is commendable.

 Special thanks to the United States of America for taking the lead in bringing care and relief to those who survived the devastation. Let me encourage all our readers, particularly the immigrants in America not to seat on the sideline, but to contribute to the relief efforts going on concerning Haiti. Any amount sent to one of the major organizations like the Red Cross will be well spent. Do your part no matter how small and God will do the rest. In line with the kindness of America, the Department of Homeland Security under the leadership of Janet Napolitano immediately after the earthquake and the massive destruction timely announced on January 15, 2010 the provision of a Temporary Protected Status for Haitians who entered the United States on or before January 12, 2010. According to the news “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Janet Napolitano, has determined that an 18-month designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti is warranted because of the devastating earthquake and aftershocks which occurred on January 12, 2010. As a result, Haitians in the United States (and other individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) are unable to return safely to their country. DHS will continue to work with other branches of the United States Government to closely monitor developments in Haiti to determine the need for additional action. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will efficiently and timely process immigration applications for TPS filed by nationals of Haiti.  Further detailed information will be posted in the Federal Register Notice announcing the Secretary’s decision to designate Haiti. DHS estimates that approximately 100,000 to 200,000 individuals will be eligible for TPS.”This news will bring a sigh of relief to all Haitians in the United States who are currently on deportation roll and those who are stranded in the U.S. as illegal aliens. Some of this Haitians lost loved ones in the earthquake. Some of them have loved ones who survived the earthquake but will need help from their family members in the United States. Through the kindness of the Obama administration and the American people, the government has removed one of their worries, which is the likelihood of being deported to the ruins of Haiti.  All Haitians currently residing in the United States will be allowed to apply for work permit which will give them access to social security numbers and driver’s license. They will be able to work and pay taxes under the Temporary Protected Status.  To qualify for the program, an alien must be a citizen of Haiti or have habitually lived in Haiti before coming to the United States. Such applicant must have resided in the United States continuously since entry. The applicant is required to apply for the temporary protected status and the employment authorization card within 180days. After 180days the program will end, but the benefit will continue for those who applied for 18months. This means that the employment authorization card will be valid for 18months.  I want to advise all Haitians in the United States to contact my office immediately as we offer this service at a highly discounted rate to our clients. The total filing fee payable to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services for the TPS, employment authorization card and biometrics is $470. There is also the legal fee for our services as attorney. I want to encourage you to avoid the rush and act now.  According to the Department of Homeland Security on January 21, 2010 “…eligible Haitian nationals in the United States may begin the application process for Temporary Protected Status. Details and procedures for applying for TPS are provided in the Federal Register notice published today…. The TPS designation for Haiti is effective today and will remain in effect through July 22, 2011.  The designation means that eligible Haitian nationals will not be removed from the United States and will also be eligible to apply to work in the United States.  The 180-day registration period for eligible Haitian nationals to apply for TPS begins today and will end on July 20, 2010. The designation applies only to those Haitians who resided in the United States on or before Jan. 12, 2010; TPS will not be granted to Haitian nationals who entered the United States after Jan. 12, 2010. Haiti joins El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, and Sudan as countries currently designated for TPS.”  Please note that children and seniors are also eligible to apply. Any child under the age of 14 or any adult over the age of 65 will only pay the $50 temporary protected status filing fee. Under 14 and over 65 applicants will not be required to pay the $340 for employment authorization card. The USCIS will issue the card to all under 14 and over 65 applicants free of charge. Please do not waste your money, if you send the money you will not be able to get a refund. It is important to file through a qualified immigration attorney rather than notarios and other immigration processing offices. If they make any mistake on your application the filing period could run out before you get any chance to correct their mistake. According to the government, “To prove that you are a national of Haiti, you can submit either a copy of your Haitian passport or a copy of your birth certificate, showing that you were born in Haiti. We expect that most Haitian TPS applicants should have a passport and may submit a copy of it even if it has expired. If you do not have a Haitian passport and are unable to obtain your birth certificate from Haiti, you will need to submit secondary evidence.  This secondary evidence can be any other documentation you already have in your possession from Haiti, showing that you are a national or citizen of Haiti.  Secondary evidence can also be in the form of your baptismal certificate from Haiti, sworn affidavits from close family members providing the specific details of the date and place of your birth and how they know this information.  If any document is not in English it must be accompanied by an English translation.  The person translating the document must certify that he or she is competent in English and the foreign language from which the document is translated and that the translation is true and correct to the best of his or her ability, knowledge and belief. If you are a person with no nationality that last habitually resided in Haiti, you must show that you are stateless. That is, that you have no nationality at all.  You must submit a statement explaining why you are stateless. You must also submit any documentation you may have from Haiti showing that you last habitually resided there. If that documentation is not available, you may submit sworn affidavits from close friends and family members who have direct knowledge of your residence in Haiti. Again, any documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.”This article is for your information only, if you need assistance applying for the Haitian TPS and work permit, please contact Attorney Joseph Famuyide immediately for appointment at 718-647-6767 or send email to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it                                                                                     USI News