May 20 is deadline for Temporary Protected Status

by Kofi Ayim

The initial registration for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of the Ebola-raged West African countries ends May 20, 2015. This warning bell was sounded by Dr. John E. Thompson, District Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at an Ebola-Related Immigration Information Session organized by the office of Congressman Donald Payne, Jr., in collaboration with representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. As a result of the policy, eligible nationals of these countries may apply for protection from deportation and for work permits with USCIS. The event included an information session by USCIS on the policy and the registration process, which runs through May 20, 2015.
Dr. Thompson pointed out that six out of the eleven countries currently under TPS are in Africa.
He explained that TPS does not necessarily pave way for permanent stay in the U.S. but allows qualified individuals to stay and work in the U.S. Applicants must have been in the U.S. November 21, 2014 and had stayed since then. Political asylum seekers, felony and other convictions as well as non-citizens of the three countries are not qualified. Mr. Thompson also highlighted the various forms (I-821, I-765, I-912 etc) and associated fees that must be filed before the May 20 deadline.
It is important to note that Employment Authorization Form I-765 must be filed by all, but applicants who do not seek employment authorization do not have to pay the fee of $380.00.
In a brief welcome address, Congressman Donald M. Payne Jr. (10th District New Jersey) praised President Obama for responding rapidly and positively to the Ebola crisis. He said “New Jersey is home to the fifth most West African immigrants in any U.S. state, and there is a sizeable population of West Africans in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District,” He emphasized the importance of getting the word out for qualified applicants of the affected countries.
For further information visit www.uscis.gov/tps or call 1-800-375-5283 . For TDD (deaf or hard of hearing) call 1-800-767-1833.

Posted by on May 13 2015. Filed under top stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Leave a Reply

Amandlanews.com