On January 21, 2010, the U.S. government officially established Temporary Protected Status for eligible Haitian individuals. Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, will allow you to stay and work lawfully in the United States for 18 months (until July 22, 2011). This period may be extended by the U.S. government in
the future.
You are eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status if:
- You are a citizen/national of Haiti, or have no nationality but last resided in Haiti;
- You have resided in the United States since or before January 12, 2010; AND
- You have been physically present in the United States since January 21, 2010.
You may not be eligible for Temporary Protected Status if you have certain criminal convictions.
If eligible, you must apply for TPS and submit the appropriate forms and documentation by July 20, 2010. The total filing fees are $470, but you may request a fee waiver with appropriate supporting evidence that you are unable to pay the fee.
Please seek legal advice before filing your application for TPS. If you have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense, getting legal help is even more important.
FOR FREE LEGAL HELP, YOU MAY CALL LSNJ-LAW™,
LEGAL SERVICES OF NEW JERSEY’S HOTLINE
Legal Services of New Jersey is a statewide, non-profit organization that provides free legal advice in civil matters and, in certain cases, free representation to low-income New Jersey residents. If you qualify for our services, we may be able to represent you in your TPS application at no cost to you. To find out if you qualify for our services and when an attorney will be available to meet with you about your application, please contact LSNJ-LAW, our statewide, toll-free legal hotline, at 1-888-576-5529, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please state that you are calling about Haitian TPS. Interpreters will be available for Creole, French, and other languages.
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Beware of notaries public! They are not qualified to give you immigration advice or prepare your TPS application! Notaries public have defrauded many TPS applicants in the past, charging thousands of dollars to prepare applications for which immigrants are not even eligible, and filing applications improperly. This can result in you not obtaining benefits that you are entitled to under the law. It can even result in you being placed in removal proceedings and deported from the United States. Remember, you have the right to ask to see an attorney license or accreditation certificate!
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This information last reviewed 2/4/10. |
