USCIS warns Haitians applying for temporary protected status to be aware of immigration scams. USCIS has a dedicated website providing guidance on its response to Haiti at www.uscis.gov/haitianearthquake.

Representation
You do not need to have an attorney or a representative to apply for temporary protected status. If you choose to have a representative when filing an application or petition with USCIS, you may be represented by an attorney or an accredited representative of a recognized organization. Your representative must file a “Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative” form (Form G-28) with your TPS application. Please visit the “Finding Legal Advice” page on the USCIS website for more important information on this topic.

A list of free or low-cost legal service providers and a list of BIA accredited representatives are available on our website at the above link.

USCIS Forms & Fees
All USCIS forms are available at no charge on www.uscis.gov/forms or by calling the USCIS Forms hotline at (800) 870-3676. Applications for temporary protected status cannot be submitted online. The fee to submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, is $50. A biometrics fee of $80 is also required. The fee to file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, is $340. If you cannot afford the fees, a fee waiver may be available.

Helpful Tips
The following tips will help you to avoid becoming a victim of an immigration scam:

• DO NOT sign any blank papers or documents that you do not understand
• DO NOT sign any documents that contain false or inaccurate information
• DO NOT let anyone keep your original documents
• DO NOT pay more than a nominal fee to someone who is not an attorney or make payments on the internet
• DO make photocopies of all documents prepared or submitted for you
• DO get a receipt any time you pay someone to assist you in completing or submitting forms
• DO verify that your attorney is licensed or your representative is accredited by BIA

For additional information on how to avoid becoming a victim of an immigration scam and how to verify whether an attorney is licensed or a representative is accredited by BIA, please visit the “Don’t Be a Victim of Immigration Fraud” and “Finding Legal Advice” links at www.uscis.gov/haitianearthquake.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that eligible Haitian nationals in the United States may file for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).  Please be aware that some unauthorized practitioners may try to take advantage of you by claiming they can file TPS forms. These same individuals may ask that you pay them to file such forms. USCIS wants to ensure that all potential TPS applicants know how to secure legitimate, accurate legal advice and assistance.

A list of accredited representatives and free or low-cost legal providers is available on the USCIS website under Resources/Finding Legal Advice. Please see USCIS’ Fact Sheet, “USCIS Warns of Immigration Scams Targeting Haitian Applicants for Temporary Protected Status” for helpful tips and further information on how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that eligible Haitian nationals in the United States may begin the application process for Temporary Protected Status.

The TPS designation for Haiti is effective 21st Jan 2010 and will remain in effect through July 22, 2011.  The designation means that eligible Haitian nationals will not be removed from the United States and will also be eligible to apply to work in the United States.  The 180-day registration period for eligible Haitian nationals to apply for TPS begins today and will end on July 20, 2010.

The designation applies only to those Haitians who resided in the United States on or before Jan. 12, 2010; TPS will not be granted to Haitian nationals who entered the United States after Jan. 12, 2010.

Haiti joins El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, and Sudan as countries currently designated for TPS.

The USCIS Office of Public Engagement would like to invite you to join in a discussion with Kathleen Stanley, Chief, Office of Intake and Document Production on how eligible Haitian nationals should properly file for Temporary Protected Status. This dialogue will cover how to fill out the forms, both the Form I-821 (Application for Temporary Protected Status) and the Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization). We will also discuss the documentation required with each of these forms and provide guidance on the documents required for fee waivers.

We would like to ensure that these instructions are shared with groups and organizations that are most engaged in the Haitian community and encourage you to forward this invitation to any other stakeholders that are active in this community.

January 21, 2010 @ 2:00 pm EST

To join the call – Please dial:

Number: 1-888-946-7614
Passcode: 4155316

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Mary Herrmann, at mary.herrmann@dhs.gov or call on 202.272.1213.

The USCIS Office of Public Engagement and International Operations Division, in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of State, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection, will host a national conference call with stakeholders to outline Haitian adoptions policy and address questions or concerns.

Meeting schedule:

Thursday, January 21, 2010
11:00 am – 1:00 pm EST
Tomich Conference Center
111 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20001

USCIS welcomes the participation of any interested stakeholders but would like to ensure that they are hearing from those of you who are most engaged with the Haitian community. For details on how to join this meeting, please click the link below:

Read more at USCIS