Haiti News

On January 25, 2010 the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) is warning Hatians to be cautious of immigration fraud. Some people will try and take advantage of Haitians attempting to request for temporary protected status (TPS) by demanding ridiculous fees. While others give bad recommendations that could dash any hope of someone's chances to apply for the program and further may put them at risk for serious immigration consequences. For further information about Haiti TPS go to: www.uscis.gov and click on "Haiti Earthquake Response" on the home page, or call 1-800-375-5283 anytime.

On January 18, 2010 the United States federal government stated it would allow humanitarian paroles to Haitian orphans that are expecting to be adopted to United States citizens before the earthquake happened. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wants to maintain the direction on keeping families together in Haiti. The humanitarian parole policy will be handled on each individual circumstances to the following kids:

• Kids who have already been determined as orphans and are suitable for intercountry adoption by the government of Haiti and are being adopted by American citizens.

• Kids who have been formerly been recognized by an adoption agency or facilitator as worthy for inter-country adoption and have been coordinated to American citizen potential adoptive caregiver.

Ms. Napolitano is leaving options open for other impoverished orphans to be examined for the humanitarian parole. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said United States citizens with an awaiting adoption cases in Haiti should contact the DHS with accurate information regarding their cases to the following email address.   HaitianAdoptions@dhs.gov 

 

On January 15, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security designated Haiti as a nation whose nationals qualify for temporary protected status. Temporary Protected Status is a temporary benefit or status that can be granted to people from countries that have been designated as qualifying nations. To qualify for TPS the country must have suffered a natural disaster, a political emergency or other condition that leaves the country in such a devasted state that the return of people to their country safely is not possible.

Someone who is granted TPS is granted legal status in the United States for usually 18 months and they can also apply for work authorizaiton. Before the 18 month period expires, the Department of Homeland Security announces whether the designation of a country as elgible for TPS will be extended. Once the designation is no longer extended, beneficiaries of TPS return to whatever status they had before the grant of TPS.