immigration - Haiti Observer Blog

TPS is designated to a foreign country if conditions in the country temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, if the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately. Thus, as per the latest announcement, the Haitian immigrants living in the U.S on TPS have to leave America within January 22, 2018 instead of the earlier dateline of July 22, 2017. USCIS may grant TPS to eligible nationals of a designated country, and eligible individuals without nationality who last resided in the designated country who are already in the United States.

Read more →  

On May 22, 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a 6 month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for some 58,700 Haitian immigrants who have been living in the United States since the 2010 earthquake.

To re-register, you must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. You must also submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, whether you are requesting employment authorization or not. As a re-registrant, you do not pay the Form I-821 application fee, but if you are age 14 or older, you must submit the biometric services fee. The fee for biometric services is around $85.

Read more →  

US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly wanted to deliver the message to Haitian President Jovenel Moïse personally. In his recent trip to Haiti, he told the Haitian on Wednesday to start thinking about how to bring to Haiti close to 60,000 Haitians who are currently holding TPS. He told Jovenel Moïse and some senior officials of the Haitian government to get travel or identification document for these people ready.

Kerry took the opportunity to educate the Haitians that TPS is not permanent. Haitians on TPS, Kelly said, "need to start thinking about returning."

Read more →  

Before you prepare for applying non-immigrant visa, you must keep in mind that under the U.S Law, all applicants for non-immigrant visas are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. Therefore, you have to prepare yourself to show them that you have reasons stronger to return your home country than remaining in the United States. Your chances of success will greatly increase if you prepare yourself with necessary documents and convincing answers of the anticipated questions of the visa officer. Always remember that incomplete or improper documentation is the leading cause of visa failure. So prepare yourself with perfect documents, especially your property documents, bank statement, income tax returns, family photographs and make sure nothing is missing. If your application was ever rejected, and you intend to apply for a second time, must consider the fact that consular officers do keep earlier records and he will compare your new documents against the earlier documents.

Read more →  

An overseas trip should never impromptu. You should make a host of arrangement months before you actually plan to visit. The U.S visa approval always remains a matter of concern. Complete documents increase your chances of a visa approval provided you know the right type of visa you need. There are about 185 different types of U.S visas which could be grouped in two main categories: (a) Nonimmigrant visa - for temporary visits such as for tourism, business, work or studying; and (b) Immigrant visa - for people to immigrate to the United States. Here are some tips that can help you to increase the chance of getting U.S visa. As per U.S laws, consular officers view all non-immigrant applicants as potential immigrants until you can convince them that you are not. You have to convince them that you have reasons stronger to return your home country than remaining in the United States. So prepare with supporting documents like your identity proof, property documents, bank statements, tax returns, your ability to finance your trip, purpose and duration of your stay, your responsibility towards your family and dependants in your homeland, if any. You should also mention whether you are a business owner or serving some employer. If you cannot meet their expected financial capacity, the consular officer may ask you for sponsorship documents, the name and details of your sponsor in the U.S.

Read more →  

It seems like Haitians and Dominicans would try anything to find a better life for themselves. The latest trend is trying to enter Europe. With the current crisis where thousands of immigrants from Syria, Somalia and other countries are attempting to enter Europe, some Haitians and Dominicans have been willing to fly 6,000 miles to Turkey and posing as Somalis with hope to emigrate in Europe also.

We were informed that they fly to Istabul as a visa is not required to enter Turkey. These Haitians and Dominicans then cross Aegean sea to Greek Island with the help of local smugglers. This particular crossing has resulted in many deaths. Upon their arrival, they claim to be from Somalia, Syria.

Read more →  

A note of caution to those seeking visa to emigrate in the United States. There is a major scam on the internet where a group of racketeers is claiming that it can provides people living in Haiti with U.S. VISA and Scholarships. On February 22, 2016, the US Embassy in Haiti put out a press release to inform the Haitian population about this Fraud attempt. The group has been using Sophia Martelly's name claiming that they can provide visas and scholarships to study in the United States. Specifically, the group is using the email address: ambassadeamericaine.haiti@yahoo.com / unmaria51@gmail.com with contact person named Samuel at +509-3990-6218. These are fake contact information and their claim to provide visas and scholarships to study in the United States is not true.

Read more →  

With pride we announce that one of our own, Haitian-Canadian Dominique Anglade, is Quebec's new minister of the economy, science and innovation and digital strategy. She has an engineering degree from École Polytechnique and a Masters in business administration from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC). Dominique Anglade held various positions in the past such as president of Montreal International, she also headed the Montreal office of business consultancy McKinsey & Co.

Good luck to you Dominique

Haitian Kreyol:

Ayisyen-Kanadyen Dominique Anglade Anglade, nouvo minis Quebec nan ekonomi

Ak fyète nou anonse ke youn nan pwòp nou, ayisyen-Kanadyen Dominique Anglade, se nouvo minis Quebec pou ekonomi, syans ak inovasyon ak dijital estrateji. Li te gen yon degre jeni soti nan École Polytechnique ak yon metriz nan administrasyon biznis ki soti École des Hautes Études komèrsyal (HEC). Dominique Anglade te nan divès pozisyon nan tan lontan kòm prezidan nan Monreyal Entènasyonal, li tou te dirije biwo Monreyal nan konsiltasyon biznis McKinsey & Co

Read more →  

A December 2015 report prepared by the Boston Redevelopment Authority Research Division reveals that Boston is the 7th largest home for foreign-born residents among the 25 largest U.S. cities. Between 2000 and 2014, its foreign-born population grew from 151,836 to 177,461, an increase from earlier 19.2% to present 27.1%. The top six countries of origin for the foreign born population living in Boston in 2014 were as follows: Dominican Republic 13.0%, China 10.6%, Haiti 7.6%, El Salvador 6.3%, Vietnam 6.2% and Jamaica 4.4%. Haitian migration to the U.S was very small (around 5,000) in 1960. Recent data from the U.S Census Bureau on American Community Surveys show that the Haitian immigrant population numbers between the years 1980 and 2012 in the U.S were as follows: 92,000 (1980), 225,000 (1990), 419,000 (2000), 510,000 (2006), 587,000 (2010) and 606,000 (2012). Five metro areas, such as greater Miami, New York, Boston, Orlando, and Atlanta account for nearly three-quarters of the total immigrant population from Haiti residing in the United States. Haitians are the third most populous foreign-born demographic residents of Boston. On the language front, with its 4.2% share, French Creole is the third most common non-English language spoken at home and it is followed by Spanish 16.3% and Chinese 4.6%.

Read more →  

Now many members of the Haitian community in Canada can breathe a sigh of relief over the recent announcement by the new Canadian Government of Trudeau. As per the announcement dated December 11, 2015, confirmed by the Canadian Minister of Immigration John McCallum, Canada has suspended the earlier announced deportation of Haitian and Zimbabwean nationals. The Government Trudeau has reinstated a moratorium on deportation of these two nations who were feared of being deported to their native lands.

We may recall that in last December (2014), the former federal Conservative government lifted the moratoria on removals to Haiti and Zimbabwe. Those who were affected by the withdrawal, were informed to submit an application to the Canadian Council for Refugees on humanitarian and compassionate grounds before June 1, 2015, otherwise they could face forced deportation. As per the announcement, it was further communicated that the susceptible immigrants would not be deported before the last date of application or while awaiting the decision on their H&C applications.

Read more →