by Natasha B. | Oct 8, 2020 | Immigration, Legal Services, News, Press Releases and Statements, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
On September 14, 2020, an earlier court order temporarily stopping USCIS from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador was lifted. The lifting of this order does not allow the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediately revoke TPS for these countries; however, it may make it possible for USCIS to terminate TPS in the future. There is a separate lawsuit in which a court order has temporarily halted the termination of TPS for Haiti, and another lawsuit has temporarily blocked USCIS from terminating TPS for Honduras and Nepal. These orders related to Haiti, Honduras, and Nepal remain in effect at the moment.
The developments in these lawsuits do not require current TPS holders to take any action to maintain their status. These developments do not allow USCIS to immediately revoke TPS. All current TPS holders from Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, and El Salvador should continue to have TPS and employment authorization until at least January 4, 2021. You do not need to apply for a new work authorization document if you do not want to. However, if you choose to, you will be able to by filing the proper application form with the appropriate fee.
We will continue to update our website with more information as it becomes available. If you have any questions, concerns, or to make an appointment, please call Catholic Migration Services Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at (718) 236-3000 (Brooklyn Office) or at (347) 472-3500 (Queens Office).
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by Natasha B. | Nov 12, 2018 | Family Resources, Immigration, Legal Services, Press Releases and Statements, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
November 12, 2018
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Peze la pou tradui nan Kreyol Ayisyen
Recent Updates to Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
On October 3, 2018 a court temporarily stopped the U.S. Government from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for four countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan. This ruling means that, for now, people with TPS from those four countries can lawfully remain in the United Status. This is only a temporary decision, it is not permanent, which means, it can change at any time. The ruling does not impact the termination of TPS for Guinea, Liberia, Honduras, Nepal or Sierra Leone.
What this announcement means for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Recipients:
As of January 2018, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) had been terminated for 7 countries: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador. The injunction from the California court stops the government from deporting protected immigrants from the countries of Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador while the case continues.
The Judge prohibited the government from terminating TPS for these four countries pending the outcome of the litigation.
This decision does not allow people from these countries who had not previously applied for TPS to apply for TPS now.
On October 31, 2018 The Department of Homeland Security publicly stated that Nicaraguan and Sudanese TPS holders who re-registered during the last re-registration period for their country received an automatic extension of TPS until April 2, 2019.
Nicaraguan and Sudanese TPS holders whose cases have already been approved and who have Employment Authorization Documents (“work permits”) set to expire will receive automatic extensions of their work authorization through April 2, 2019.
Automatic extension of work authorization documents apply to TPS holders whose cases have already been approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as well as TPS holders with pending applications.
More information about TPS for Haiti and El Salvador will be provided if the court case continues past the termination dates for Haiti (July 22, 2019) and El Salvador (September 9, 2019).
Catholic Migration Services urges anyone who received TPS for Guinea, Liberia, Nepal, or Sierra Leone to call our office and schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation.
What happens next:
The court case will continue, and there may eventually be a court decision or settlement that resolves whether TPS can be terminated, and if so, the circumstances for such termination. Until then, the U.S. government cannot terminate TPS for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan.
How to Contact Us for Free Legal Advice:
If you are a TPS recipient for Guinea, Liberia, Nepal, or Sierra Leone and have questions or concerns, please call Catholic Migration Services in Brooklyn at (718) 236-3000 or in Queens at (347) 472-3500 for free legal advice about how this court decision may impact you. Our office hours are Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. For additional information, visit our website and follow us on social media via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @CMSBQ.
You can also obtain free legal advice by calling 311 and asking for “Action NYC.”
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by Natasha B. | May 1, 2018 | Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Immigration, Legal Services, News, Press Releases and Statements, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
May 1, 2018
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Recent Updates to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
On April 24, 2018 a Judge for the Federal District Court of the District of Columbia ruled that the administration’s decision to terminate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was based on “unexplained grounds” and therefore concluded that the DACA program must stay in place and the USCIS must accept new applications. However, the Judge’s decision is on hold for 90 days to give the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) time to better explain its reasoning for cancelling DACA.
What this mean for DACA recipients
If the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is not able to come up with a sufficient reason for why they cancelled DACA, the program will continue and DHS will be forced to accept new DACA applications.
Recent Updates to Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
On April 26, 2018 the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that the termination of TPS for Nepal will be delayed for 12 months and the program will terminate on June 24, 2019. Nepali citizens with TPS will be required to re-register for TPS and work authorization but should not do so until the re-registration period is announced in the Federal Registrar.
How to Contact Us:
If you are a DACA or TPS recipient and have any questions or concerns, please call Catholic Migration Services in Brooklyn at (718) 236-3000 or in Queens at (347) 472-3500 between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday. For additional information, visit our website at www.catholicmigration.org and follow us on social media via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @CMSBQ.
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by Natasha B. | Jan 22, 2018 | Immigration, Legal Services, News, Press Releases and Statements, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
January 22, 2018
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Peze la pou tradui nan Kreyol Ayisyen
The recent Federal Register Notice on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti contained an error affecting Haitian TPS holders who have pending applications with USCIS. Below please find those corrections reflected.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti on November 23, 2017. TPS for Haitian recipients will expire on July 22, 2019. Please read the following for information pertaining to the re-registration process.
Catholic Migration Services urges anyone who receives TPS for Haiti to call our office and schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation.
What are the important deadlines?
- If you are a current Haitian TPS holder with a pending TPS application as of January 18, 2018 you do NOT need to apply again. If TPS is approved from the pending application, TPS will be granted through the termination date of July 22, 2019 and you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (work permit) with an expiration date of July 22, 2019.
- Current Haitian TPS holders who received an Employment Authorization Document with an expiration date of January 22, 2018, will receive an automatic extension of their work permit for 180 days (valid through July 21, 2018) however, you must re-register in order to continue receiving TPS through the termination date of July 22, 2019.
- Re-registration for Haitian TPS runs from January 18, 2018 through March 19, 2018.
- If you do not re-register during this time period, you will not be in lawful status and will effectively abandon your TPS.
Do I need to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (work permit)?
- The Department of Homeland Security has automatically extended the validity of work permits expiring on January 22, 2018 for 180 days, through July 21, 2018. If you wish to maintain status and have a valid work permit through July 22, 2019, you should apply for a new work permit.
- For Haitian TPS holder with pending TPS applications, and a work permit that expires on July 22, 2017, your work authorization will similarly be automatically extended. However, you will need to provide the following documents to your employer:
- An Employment Authorization Document with a July 22, 2017 date on its face;
- An Employment Authorization Document application receipt from the previous Haitian TPS renewal period (filed on or after May 24, 2017);
- A copy of the USCIS supplemental statement which was issued on January 18, 2018
- Federal Register Notice dated January 18, 2018.
Do I need to pay any fees?
- If you are 14 years or older, you must submit an $85 biometrics fee with your re-registration;
- If you are unable to pay the biometrics fee, you may submit a request for a fee waiver;
- You do not need to pay a filing fee for renewing your TPS if you are under 14 years old;
- If you wish to receive a new work permit with a July 22, 2019 expiration date on the face of the card, you must pay the $410 Employment Authorization Document fee;
- All forms and payments can be filed together.
To be screened for other possible forms of immigration relief or if you have any questions, please contact Catholic Migration Services at (718) 236-3000.
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by Natasha B. | Jan 19, 2018 | Immigration, Legal Services, News, Press Releases and Statements, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
January 19, 2018
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Honduras for 6 months, from January 6, 2018 to July 5, 2018. Please read the following for information pertaining to this extension.
Catholic Migration Services urges anyone who receives TPS for Honduras to call our office and schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation.
What are the important deadlines?
- If you are a current Honduran TPS holder you must timely re-register to maintain TPS throughout the current extension period. Re-registration for Honduran TPS runs from December 15, 2017 through February 13, 2018.
- If you do not re-register during this time period, you will not be in lawful status and will effectively abandon your TPS.
Do I need to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (work permit)?
- The Department of Homeland Security has automatically extended the validity of work permits expiring on January 5, 2018 for 180 days, through July 4, 2018.
- If you want to obtain a new work permit with a July 5, 2018 expiration date written on the face of the card, you must also apply for an Employment Authorization Document with the USCIS and pay for the new document.
Do I need to pay any fees?
- If you are 14 years or older, you must submit an $85 biometrics fee with your re-registration;
- If you are unable to pay the biometrics fee, you may submit a request for a fee waiver;
- You do not need to pay a filing fee for renewing your TPS if you are under 14 years old;
- If you wish to receive a new work permit with a July 5, 2018 expiration date on the face of the card, you must pay the $410 Employment Authorization Document fee;
- All forms and payments can be filed together.
To be screened for other possible forms of immigration relief or if you have any questions, please contact Catholic Migration Services at 718-236-3000.
Download this update as a PDF.
by Natasha B. | Jan 19, 2018 | Immigration, Legal Services, News, Press Releases and Statements, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
January 19, 2018
Presione aquí para la versión en Español
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador. TPS for Salvadoran recipients will expire on September 9, 2019. Please read the following for information pertaining to the re-registration process.
Catholic Migration Services urges anyone who receives TPS for El Salvador to call our office and schedule an appointment for a free legal consultation.
What are the important deadlines?
- If you are a current Salvadoran TPS holder you must timely re-register to maintain TPS throughout the current extension period. Re-registration for Salvadoran TPS runs from January 18, 2018 through March 19, 2018.
- If you do not re-register during this time period, you will not be in lawful status and will effectively abandon your TPS.
Do I need to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (work permit)?
- Current Salvadoran TPS holders who have an Employment Authorization Document with an expiration date of March 9, 2018 will receive an automatic extension of their work permit for 180 days (valid through September 5, 2018).
- If you want to obtain a new work permit with a September 9, 2019 expiration date written on the face of the card, you must also apply for an Employment Authorization Document with the USCIS and pay for the new document.
Do I need to pay any fees?
- If you are 14 years or older, you must submit an $85 biometrics fee with your re-registration;
- If you are unable to pay the biometrics fee, you may submit a request for a fee waiver;
- You do not need to pay a filing fee for renewing your TPS if you are under 14 years old;
- If you wish to receive a new work permit with a September 9, 2019 expiration date on the face of the card, you must pay the $410 Employment Authorization Document fee;
- All forms and payments can be filed together.
To be screened for other possible forms of immigration relief or if you have any questions, please contact Catholic Migration Services at 718-236-3000.
Download this update as a PDF.
