HAITI-T.P.S. IMMIGRATION
Only $525.00 Attorney Fee for home visit
in Tri-State NY/NJ area
Prepared and Reviewed by Licensed Immigration Attorney
As a result of the terrible earthquake in Haiti, President Obama granted Temporary Protected Status T.P.S. to Haitian citizens then living in the United States. Original applications started Thursday, January 21, 2010 and continued until January 18, 2011. On May 17, 2011, the United States finally announced that T.P.S. would be extended until January 22, 2013 for those who originally filed.
And, this is new, the U.S. also announced on May 17, 2011 that it will newly grant T.P.S. until January 22, 2013 to those who did NOT originally file T.P.S. but who continuously resided in the United States on or before January 12, 2011, one year after the earthquake.
NEW DATES AS OF MAY 19, 2011
1. Previous work authorizations automatically extended six months from July 22, 2011.
2. For individuals who have already been granted Haiti T.P.S., the 90-day
re-registration period will run from May 23, 2011 through August 22,
2011.
3. Under the redesignation, for individuals who currently do not have T.P.S.,
or a T.P.S. application pending, they may apply for T.P.S. from May 19, 2011
through November 15, 2011.
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What is T.P.S.?
T.P.S. allows a citizen of Haiti who was continuously in the United States on or before (January 12, 2010 for renewal) or (January 12, 2011 for a new application) to become temporarily legal in the United States until January 22, 2013. With T.P.S. approval a person receives work authorization and has enough points to obtain a driver’s license and a legal social security number. Remember the children who were not born in the United States because with their T.P.S. and their social security number, there may be possible $pecial tax benefit$awaiting you. A person may be illegal and undocumented and have a deportation order and be detained AND still do a T.P.S. application and become temporarily legal. (Historically people from other countries with T.P.S. have also had their T.P.S. times extended for many, many years and have become fully legalized, but there is no guarantee.) After receiving T.P.S., T.P.S. needs to be timely renewed or the person loses T.P.S.
How much?
A. Renewal
The government fee for renewing T.P.S. for a person 14 to 65 years is a total of $465.00:
a) $0 for the renewal application; and
b) $85.00 for biometrics (fingerprints and photos); and
c) $380.00 for the employment authorization, totaling $465.00.
(For children under 14, the total government fee is $0. Do it for the tax benefits.)
(For adults 66+, the total government fee is $85.00.); and
d) The attorney fee for a home visit is only an additional $525.00 for each adult and child. Thus the total needed to renew each T.P.S. application is $525.00 + $465.00=$990.00.
B. New T.P.S. Application
The government fee for applying for a NEW T.P.S. application for a person 14 to 65 years is a total of $515.00:
a) $50 for the new application; and
b) $85.00 for biometrics (fingerprints and photos); and
c) $380.00 for the employment authorization, totaling $515.00.
(For children under 14, the total government fee is $0. Do it for the tax benefits.)
(For adults 66+, the total government fee is $135.00.); and
d) The attorney fee for a home visit is only an additional $525.00 for each adult and child. Thus the total needed for a new application is $525.00 + $515.00=$1,040.00.
What documents are needed?
A. To Renew Your T.P.S.
The previous T.P.S. application and two passport photos.
The person also needs to show:
1) The person received T.P.S. relief, provable by a:
a) T.P.S. authorization document from immigration; or
b) employment authorization card from T.P.S.
2) The person continuously RESIDED IN the United States ON OR BEFORE the date of the original T.P.S. application and on or before January 12, 2010:
a) bills with the applicant's name and address, such as a cell phone bill or medical bill;
b) copies of wire transfers with the applicant's name and address;
c) Other documents, see below, showing the person resided in the United States AFTER the TPS application:
1. Employment records, pay-stubs, W-2, certification of taxes, tax return.
2. Rent receipts, utility bills, cell phone bill with name and date.
3. School records of children.
4. Hospital or medical records.
5. Letters with envelope.
6. Money order receipts, bank transactions, birth certificates of children born in United States.
7. Letters from another person.
8. Receipts with name.
9. Any other document showing name and date, including past immigration documents.
We suggest the applicant have a minimum of five (5) documents showing the person lived in the United States since the original T.P.S. application.
B. New T.P.S.
If you continuously resided in the United States since one year AFTER the earthquake, since January 12, 2011, you may also apply for T.P.S. If you have applied before for yourself and you have kids not born in the United States that did not apply, you should apply for them to obtain a social security number to take advantage of $pecial tax benefit$. Look at the above documents to see what documents you have to show you and the kids were continuously here since January 12, 2011.
What if the person has a criminal conviction?
It depends. One felony or two misdemeanors are not allowed with T.P.S., but there are certain waivers. Obtain a copy of the criminal disposition/traffic ticket over $500.00 and have it for the attorney to review and to include with the T.P.S. application. If you applied for T.P.S. and you have since had criminal problems, you will need a copy of all the papers from court.
What if the person left the U.S. after receiving T.P.S.?
It depends. If the person had permission of the government and the person was gone a short time, no problem. If the person left the U.S. and did not have government permission, the person could lose T.P.S.
What is the T.P.S. application process?
First, have the following:
a) document to show the person received T.P.S. (unless you are newly applying); and
b) documents to show the person has continuously resided in the United States since applying for T.P.S. (or since January 12, 2011 if newly applying); and
d) two (2) (good looking) passport photographs; and
e) a money order in the amount of (renewal $465.00) (new $515.00) made out to: "Department of Homeland Security"; and
f) another money order or cash in the amount of $525.00 for the attorney to prepare and review the papers; and
g) all papers of any criminal conviction or traffic ticket over $500.00; and
h) the previous T.P.S. application and any previous political asylum petition application.
Second, call (973) 985-8641 to schedule a home appointment in New York or New Jersey.
Third, the T.P.S. application will then be prepared, reviewed by you and the attorney, signed and the attorney will then mail it to the government. Are you ready to be legal, to work, to have a driver's license to have a social security card until at least until January 2013?
Merrill J. Clark, Avocat
110 Wall Street, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10005
Telephone NY (646) 706-7031; NJ (973) 985-8641
Fax NY (646) 706-741; NJ (973) 847-5147
New York Statement of Client Rights
