WASHINGTON -- The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) July 1
granted an additional 45 days for those Hondurans and Nicaraguans who
are already eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to
submit their applications.
Given the difficulty that some prospective applicants have faced in
obtaining necessary documentation from their home countries, the INS
will continue to accept applications until August 20, 1999.
However, applicants should note that the TPS filing instructions do
contain provisions for filing without nationality documents. The INS
must receive a completed application by close of business on August
20, 1999, in order to process it; thus, applications should be mailed
well in advance of August 20.
There will be no further extension of the registration deadline, the
INS cautions.
The INS is granting applicants the extra time to obtain evidence that
could demonstrate eligibility for TPS. However, applicants do not need
to wait to apply until they have obtained all of the evidence. The
application, Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status,
contains instructions for applicants who cannot obtain identity and
nationality documentation.
Applicants who do not submit appropriate documentation establishing
identity or nationality with their applications must, under the
regulations, instead submit an affidavit showing proof of unsuccessful
efforts to obtain the documents, explaining why the consular process
was unavailable, and affirming that they are nationals of Honduras or
Nicaragua.
As part of the Clinton Administration's ongoing efforts to assist
countries affected by Hurricane Mitch, on December 30, 1998, the INS
announced the Attorney General's designation of TPS for Honduras and
Nicaragua for a period of 18 months. This status will expire on July
5, 2000.
Today's action does not alter that date. During the designation
period, eligible Hondurans and Nicaraguans will not be subject to
removal and will be eligible for permission to work in the United
States. Only Hondurans and Nicaraguans who were in the United States
by December 30, 1998 are eligible.
Hondurans and Nicaraguans eligible for TPS must submit both an
Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821, and an
Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, along with
evidence of nationality and residence in the United States as of
December 30, 1998. These forms are available from the toll-free INS
Forms line, 1-800-870-3676, and from the INS Website,
www.ins.usdoj.gov. Once completed, they should be sent to the INS
Service Center with jurisdiction over the state where the applicant
resides. The INS Service Center locations and jurisdictions are listed
on the forms.
Form I-821 must include a $50 filing fee, along with a $25
fingerprinting fee. Applicants for employment authorization should
submit a Form I-765 with the $100 filing fee. Applicants who already
have or do not wish to receive employment authorization still must
submit a completed Form I-765, but without the accompanying fee. An
applicant may request a waiver of TPS-related application filing fees,
but not the fingerprinting fees, by submitting proper documentation of
inability to pay.
Source: Washington File
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Enrique Gili
Hispanic-American Village
The Minorities' Job Bank
http://www.minorities-jb.com/hispanic.com