Homeland Security Sec. Jeh Johnson is extending Haiti’s designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) an additional year and a half.
TPS is a designation granted to certain foreign nations “due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.” The designation allows nationals from those countries to remain and work in the U.S.
Haiti received the designation for TPS following the earthquake that rocked the country in 2010. DHS announced the extension of the designation through July 2017 this week.
The extension also allows those Hatian nationals to request new work permits or Employment Authorization Documents (EAD). The USCIS announcement explains:
Eligible TPS Haiti beneficiaries who re-register during the 60-day period and request a new EAD will receive one with an expiration date of July 22, 2017. USCIS recognizes that some re-registrants may not receive their new EADs until after their current EADs expire. Therefore, [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] is automatically extending current TPS Haiti EADs bearing a Jan. 22, 2016, expiration date for an additional six months. These existing EADs are now valid through July 22, 2016.
Last fiscal year USCIS issued more than 85,000 work permits to TPS beneficiaries.