USCIS reminds guatemalans of certain immigration benefits available

WASHINGTON-In light of Tropical Storm Agatha, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds Guatemalans of U.S. immigration

benefits available to eligible Guatemalan nationals upon request. USCIS understands that a natural disaster can affect an individual’s

ability to establish or maintain lawful immigration status. Temporary relief measures available to eligible nationals of Guatemala may

include:

 

The grant of an application for change or extension of nonimmigrant status on behalf of a Guatemalan national who is currently in the United States, even in cases where the request is submitted after the individual’s authorized period of admission has expired;

Re-parole of individuals granted parole by USCIS; Extension of certain grants of advance parole, expedited processing of

advance parole requests; Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment authorization due to severe economic hardship for F-1 students; Expedited processing of immigrant petitions for immediate relative(s) of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs); Expedited issuance of employment authorization where appropriate; and Assistance to LPRs stranded overseas without documents in coordination with the Department of State. For more information on USCIS humanitarian programs, visit

www.uscis.gov or call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

 

 

Guidance on Late Initial Registration for TPS Applicants

 

Introduction

This fact sheet focuses on the requirements for filing a late initial registration application for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

 

Background

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended TPS for 18 months, through Jan. 5, 2012, to eligible nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua

(and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in these countries). This extension does not apply to Hondurans and Nicaraguans who entered the United States after Dec. 30, 1998.

 

The re-registration period for Hondurans and Nicaraguans who already have TPS started on May 5, 2010 and will end on July 6, 2010. Further

details on this extension of TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua appear in the Federal Register notices published on May 5, which announced the

extension of these two designations. In addition, certain nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua who have not previously applied for TPS may be able to register under the late initial registration provisions.

 

Questions & Answers

 

Q1.  Can a Nicaraguan or Honduran who was in the United States as of Dec. 30, 1998, but did not register for TPS during the initial

designation of Nicaragua and Honduras in 1999, register for TPS now? A1.  Yes, late initial registration is available in limited

circumstances if you:

 

are a national of Honduras or Nicaragua, or an alien without nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras or Nicaragua; AND

have continuously resided in the United States since Dec. 30, 1998; AND have been continuously physically present in the United States since Jan. 5, 1999; AND satisfactorily complete the routine background checks required of all applicants; AND meet certain other admissibility and eligibility criteria as specified in section 244(c) of the INA, 8 USC 1254a(c), and regulations at 8 CFR 244.1-244.9; AND Meet the qualifying conditions listed below for late initial TPS registration.

 

Q2. What requirements or qualifying conditions do I need to meet to qualify for late initial registration?

A2. To qualify for a late initial TPS registration application, you must also demonstrate that at the time of the initial registration

period of the TPS designation for Nicaragua or Honduras (Jan. 5, 1999 through Aug. 20, 1999), you:

 

were in a valid nonimmigrant status, or had been granted voluntary departure, or any relief from removal; OR had a pending application for:

o Change of status; o Adjustment of status; o Asylum; OR

 

had voluntary departure; OR had any relief from removal pending or subject to further review or appeal; OR

were a parolee or had a pending request for re-parole; OR

 

were the spouse or child of an alien currently eligible to be a TPS registrant. (see 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2). If you are applying for TPS for the first time under the  late initial registration provisions, you must register while one of the above qualifying conditions still exists, or no later than 60 days after the expiration or termination of the qualifying condition. The qualifying condition you seek to use for eligibility under late initial filing must have existed during the initial TPS registration period for Nicaragua or the initial TPS registration period for Honduras TPS (January 5, 1999 through August 20, 1999).

 

Q3. If I didn’t have a qualifying condition during the initial TPS registration period, but had it during the last re-registration

(extension), am I eligible to submit a late initial filing for TPS now? A3. No. One of the qualifying conditions must have applied to you

during the initial 1999 TPS registration periods for Honduras and Nicaragua.

 

Q4. If I am currently the spouse or child of someone granted TPS, but I did not apply for TPS during the initial registration period, can I

submit a late initial filing now?

A4. The family relationship must also have existed during the 1999 initial registration period. You must also meet all the basic TPS

eligibility requirements.

 

Q5. How do I learn more about TPS?

A5. Please contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833 (TTY). You may also visit the USCIS’

Web site’s TPS page by clicking here.  To learn more about USCIS’ programs, visit www.uscis.gov