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President Obama Grants Ebola Work Permit & TPS To Citizens of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone

To ease the suffering of affected immigrants and alleviate their pain, the United States has been magnanimous enough, after the outcry of stakeholders, to grant temporary protected status to citizens of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the three hard hit nations in Africa by the deadly Ebola virus.

Many thanks to the government of the United States for extending the same humanitarian immigration assistance extended to Haiti, during the earthquake, to Africa recognizing that Ebola is also a disaster of grave magnitude.

The Law Office of Joseph Famuyide is now calling on citizens of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in the United States who are not in any legal status to come forward to receive this benefit. The filing period commenced on November 21, 2014. All prospective applicants must apply before May 20, 2015. 

According to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Memo released on November 20, 2014, “Due to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has announced his decision to designate Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months.  As a result, eligible nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone who are currently residing in the United States may apply for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Federal Register notices provide details and procedures for applying for TPS and are available atwww.uscis.gov/tps.

The TPS designations for the three countries are effective Nov. 21, 2014 and will be in effect for 18 months. The designations mean that eligible nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone (and people without nationality who last habitually resided in one of those three countries) will not be removed from the United States and are authorized to work and obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The 180-day TPS registration period begins Nov. 21, 2014 and runs through May 20, 2015.

To be eligible for TPS, applicants must demonstrate that they satisfy all eligibility criteria, including that they have been “continuously residing” in the United States since Nov. 20, 2014 and “continuously physically present in” the United States since Nov. 21, 2014.  Applicants also undergo thorough security checks.  Individuals with certain criminal records or who pose a threat to national security are not eligible for TPS. The eligibility requirements are fully described in the Federal Register notices and on the TPS Web page atwww.uscis.gov/tps

Liberians currently covered under the two-year extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) based onPresident Obama’s Sept. 26, 2014 memorandummay apply for TPS. If they do not apply for TPS within the initial 180-day registration period, they risk being ineligible for TPS because they will have missed the initial registration period. Liberians covered by DED who already possess or have applied for an EAD do not need to also apply for one related to this TPS designation. However, such individuals who are granted TPS may request a TPS-related EAD at a later date as long as the TPS designation for Liberia remains in effect.

Applicants may request that USCIS waive any or all fees based on demonstrated inability to pay by filing Form I-912,Request for Fee Waiver, or by submitting a written request. Fee-waiver requests must be accompanied by supporting documentation. USCIS will reject any TPS application that does not include the required filing fee or a properly documented fee-waiver request.”

Liberians in particular who are currently on Deferred Enforced Departure must consult with an attorney immediately. They still need to apply for the current TPS to be eligible for work permit now or in the future under the program.

The eligibility requirements are very simple. It appears everyone in the U.S. from the eligible countries will qualify except immigrants with certain criminal records.

This article is for your information only; it is not a legal advice. If want to apply for this benefit or If you have any question, please feel free to contact Attorney Famuyide at 718-647-6767 or send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

                                                                                    USI News

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