TPS for Haiti

On December 5, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for 18 months. Under this announcement, Haitian nationals who currently have TPS will be able to extend their status for an additional 18 months, from February 4, 2023, through August 3, 2024. And Haitian nationals residing in the U.S. as of November 6, 2022, who do not have TPS will now be able to apply for TPS and employment authorization.

In the coming weeks, DHS will publish detailed information regarding eligibility criteria, timelines, and procedures for current TPS beneficiaries applying to re-register and for new applicants submitting an initial application for TPS. DHS has repeatedly stressed that Haitians entering the U.S. after November 6, 2022, are not eligible for TPS.

While TPS does not provide permanent legal status in the U.S., it provides Haitians living in the U.S. with the ability to temporarily reside lawfully in the U.S. and obtain employment authorization. As DHS Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, remarked, “The conditions in Haiti, including socioeconomic challenges, political instability, and gang violence and crime – aggravated by environmental disaster – compelled the humanitarian relief we are providing today.”

If you or someone you know has questions about TPS or need assistance in applying, please contact our office and make an appointment to speak with one of our immigration attorneys.