VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 7/19/10)—The Office of Immigration and Refugee Services of American Baptist Home Mission Societies seeks assistance from Haitian American Baptist churches to help spread the news that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an additional 180 days for eligible Haitian nationals to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a relief program launched in response to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti earlier this year.
The new registration deadline is Jan. 18, 2011.
TPS registration permits eligible Haitian nationals to continue living in the United States and to obtain work authorization for the duration of the program. Waivers of the application fees are available to those who can demonstrate inability to pay.
Since the earthquake in January, the Office of Immigration and Refugee Services of American Baptist Home Mission Societies has partnered with Church World Service and worked closely with the Alliance of Haitian Baptist Church Leaders to provide resources and assistance to Haitian constituents who qualify and wish to apply for TPS.
“I commend USCIS for hearing the needs of displaced Haitians here in the United States and extending the TPS application deadline,” says Rev. Aundreia Alexander in American Baptist Home Mission Societies Office of Immigration and Refugee Services. “We will use this additional time to reach more Haitians who have not yet filed for TPS or who have tried to file and encountered difficulties. I encourage all churches and regional offices to get the word out to the community.”
For more information, contact Rev. Alexander at Aundreia.Alexander@abhms.org or 1-800-222-3872, x2430.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies ministers as the caring heart, serving hands, going feet and prophetic voice of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.