USCIS Reminds Haitians to Register for TPS by July 20, 2010

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a reminder to Haitian nationals who are eligible for temporary protected status (TPS) to file a registration application for TPS by July 20, 2010. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced an 18-month designation of TPS for Haiti commencing on January 21, 2010. [FN1] Haitian nationals (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) who have continuously resided in the U.S. since January 12, 2010, and who remain in continual physical presence in the U.S. since January 21, 2010, may apply for TPS within the 180-day registration period.

The announcement indicates that, as of April 9, 2010, USCIS had received approximately 44,500 TPS application packages, more than 10% of which were rejected for such things as not including the appropriate filing fee or, in the alternative, a fee waiver request, not completing the biographical information, and submitting unsigned forms and/or incorrect forms. USCIS thus cautions applicants to thoroughly review their application packets before submitting them.

The announcement and other information pertaining to USCIS'action in connection with the earthquake in Haiti can be found at http://www.uscis.gov/haitianearthquake
The announcement can be found at 75 Fed. Reg. 3476 (Jan. 21, 2010)