Temporary Protected Status Re-registration Period Extended for Haitian Nationals

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending the re-registration deadline from May 2, 2014 to July 22, 2014 for Haitian nationals who have already been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and seek to maintain that status for an additional 18 months.

USCIS strongly encourages Haitian TPS beneficiaries to apply as soon as possible.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began accepting re-registration applications on March 3, 2014 from TPS Haiti beneficiaries when DHS announced an 18-month extension of the TPS designation for Haiti, from July 23, 2014, through Jan. 22, 2016.

Approximately 51,000 TPS Haiti beneficiaries are expected to file for re-registration. TPS is not available to Haitian nationals who have not continuously resided in the United States since Jan. 12, 2011.

In the March 3, 2014, Federal Register notice announcing the extension of TPS for Haiti, DHS also automatically extended—by six months, through Jan. 22, 2015—the validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for eligible Haitian TPS beneficiaries. This will allow sufficient time for eligible TPS beneficiaries who re-register on time to receive an EAD without any lapse in employment authorization.

To re-register, TPS beneficiaries must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Individuals seeking to re-register do not need to pay the Form I-821 application fee. However, all re-registrants 14 years of age and older must pay a biometric services fee or submit a fee waiver request. All re-registrants seeking employment authorization through Jan. 22, 2016, must also submit the Form I-765 fee (or a fee-waiver request). Re-registrants who do not want employment authorization must still submit a completed Form I-765 but do not need to submit the I-765 fee. Failure to submit the required filing fees or a properly documented fee-waiver request will result in the rejection of the re-registration application.

A notice posted in today’s Federal Register contains more details on the re-registration period’s extension. Applicants can find more information on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/tps or by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-800-375-5283. TPS forms are available free of charge through www.uscis.gov/forms and the toll-free USCIS forms line at 1-800-870-3676.