Too all of us waiting in line - our wait just got a little longer

[az110965 252]

There is nothing that we can do if USCIS processing TPS petitions adds to our wait time. My only hope is that if CSC ends up being the servicing office then hopefully they will hire aditional adjudicators and any additional wait time is minimal.

[SuperDuper! 230]

I think many illegal hatians will not want TPS, 'cause this will document themselves, and what is really the benefit? THey have been "in the shadows" working or whatever all this time. Why would they want to "tell on themselves" and get officially recognized. THis is an opportunity for USA to identify illegals under the premise of a benign act. Are the Feds ever known to be "benign" ?

[Robby999 1,024]

There is nothing that we can do if USCIS processing TPS petitions adds to our wait time. My only hope is that if CSC ends up being the servicing office then hopefully they will hire aditional adjudicators and any additional wait time is minimal.

Ana Santiago, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, said applications will be processed in Nebraska and California, with the work done in 90 days. She said most of the applications are being initially handled by charitable organizations, so the bureau has no sense yet of the volume.

[az110965 252]

True enough Hoop,

Plus when you think about it, even if an illegal Hatian decides not to file for TPS - the government won't send them back to Haiti under the current conditions there. All in all, really the only thing that TPS normally provides is a DELAY in dorportation proceedings but that's sort of occurred anyway with the collapse of all infastructure in Haiti.

[Robby999 1,024]

I think many illegal hatians will not want TPS, 'cause this will document themselves, and what is really the benefit? THey have been "in the shadows" working or whatever all this time. Why would they want to "tell on themselves" and get officially recognized. THis is an opportunity for USA to identify illegals under the premise of a benign act. Are the Feds ever known to be "benign" ?

But whatever the implications, the Obama administration's announcement this week was greeted with joy in Haitian neighborhoods, where many people live lives of odd jobs, shared apartments, few educational opportunities and constant fear of deportation.

"I didn't think this day would come," said Georges Pierre, 23, of Hollywood, who came to the Oakland Park office of Catholic Legal Services with his sister on Thursday for help with the paperwork. With legal status, he said, he hopes to get a full-time job and save money for college. "We love the United States."

[Robby999 1,024]

True enough Hoop,

Plus when you think about it, even if an illegal Hatian decides not to file for TPS - the government won't send them back to Haiti under the current conditions there. All in all, really the only thing that TPS normally provides is a DELAY in dorportation proceedings but that's sort of occurred anyway with the collapse of all infastructure in Haiti.

In the winter of 1998, after Hurricane Mitch devastated Central America, the Clinton administration offered short-term legal residency to about 150,000 undocumented Nicaraguans and Hondurans already living in the United States.

"It is a temporary status," Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner Doris Meissner told reporters in announcing the decision. "The work authorizations will be issued only for 18 months. It is breathing room."

Today about 83,100 of them are still here, as succeeding administrations granted extension after extension of their right to live and work in the United States. They remain under what's called Temporary Protected Status, the same program offered this week to an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Haitians in the United States at the time of the Jan. 12 earthquake.

[az110965 252]

Ana Santiago, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, said applications will be processed in Nebraska and California, with the work done in 90 days. She said most of the applications are being initially handled by charitable organizations, so the bureau has no sense yet of the volume.

Robby999,

I'm not going to get upset about it... What's the point? Can't say that I'm estatic over the potential for petitions being delayed by another 3 months, but hopefully the volume of petitions for TPS will be low and the delay minimal.

I DO however, think that in light of any potential for delays in processing "normal" petitions with the isuances of TPS, that any increase in visa fees should be set aside. I think it will suck for those who otherwise would have mnade it to interview under the current $131 to have to pay $350 just because their petitions were delayed due to USCIS porcessing TPS petitions.

[Robby999 1,024]

Robby999,

I'm not going to get upset about it... What's the point? Can't say that I'm estatic over the potential for petitions being delayed by another 3 months, but hopefully the volume of petitions for TPS will be low and the delay minimal.

I DO however, think that in light of any potential for delays in processing "normal" petitions with the isuances of TPS, that any increase in visa fees should be set aside. I think it will suck for those who otherwise would have mnade it to interview under the current $131 to have to pay $350 just because their petitions were delayed due to USCIS porcessing TPS petitions.

[AAD... 4EVER!!! 0]

I am jumping on this boat to, I love all people whether Haitian or US or any other nationality. BUT, all us here are going through LONG immigration process to PROVE that we are not bringing a criminal into the US right? And now Haitians are welcome to just walk into our country and work for $5 less per hour because they live 30 people in a house, when our unemployment rate is at all time highs? I do NOT understand the TPS program. I agree that why shouldnt they stay there to build their own country back? Why will we all send our money and go there to volunteer our time when they all come here and get our jobs? It is no doubt devastating, however the world has lost its sense of picking up their feet and going to work, everyone wants a handout from the government.

[az110965 252]

AAD-

At first I was angry about the TPS status being granted but that was because I didn't have all my facts straight and I think that perhaps you are in the same boat...

First of all - TPS is not for people to "just walk into our country", it is temporary for people who were already here illegally. TPS means that deportation proceedings will be postponed (supposedly for 18 months). While I don't condone illegal immigration and I'm petitioning for my fiancee to come here LEGALLY, the people who have been granted TPS are already here. As someone pointed out to me when I originally posted in another thread - "where would we send these people back too"? Haiti is for all intents and purposes, destroyed and it will likely take years to rebuild. There is no infastructure there, it's estimated that 200,000 people there died and 2,000,000 are homeless due to the earthquake.

I understand your frustration but why get upset about things that you can't control or change? These people were already here and honestly, they weren't going to be deported anyway...

Hang in there.

Al

[Robby999 1,024]

AAD-

At first I was angry about the TPS status being granted but that was because I didn't have all my facts straight and I think that perhaps you are in the same boat...

First of all - TPS is not for people to "just walk into our country", it is temporary for people who were already here illegally. TPS means that deportation proceedings will be postponed (supposedly for 18 months). While I don't condone illegal immigration and I'm petitioning for my fiancee to come here LEGALLY, the people who have been granted TPS are already here. As someone pointed out to me when I originally posted in another thread - "where would we send these people back too"? Haiti is for all intents and purposes, destroyed and it will likely take years to rebuild. There is no infastructure there, it's estimated that 200,000 people there died and 2,000,000 are homeless due to the earthquake.

I understand your frustration but why get upset about things that you can't control or change? These people were already here and honestly, they weren't going to be deported anyway...

Hang in there.

Al

I agree with most of your post, but I think after the 18 months they should either return voluntarily to help supply the massive need for workers to rebuild Haiti, or have their status revoked and deported!

Those Haitians who do obtain permission to stay will join thousands of people from five countries living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status. Salvadorans account for the largest number, with 266,000 granted residency after a 2001 earthquake.

Others include Hondurans and Nicaraguans allowed to stay after Hurricane Mitch and 950 Somalis and Sudanese granted temporary residency because of their countries' civil wars.

In explaining the latest 18-month extension for Hondurans, announced Oct. 1, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security said thousands of houses destroyed by the hurricane still had not been replaced, many areas had a high risk of flooding and many communities lacked electricity and adequate drinking water. But as critics point out, this could describe conditions in many poor countries.

[az110965 252]

Hell Robby,

You and I know that the TPS will just be extended after the initial 18 month TPS expire. Haiti will not be rebuilt in 18 months, 36 months, 54 months, etc...

Conditions there were awful PRIOR to the earthquake and I suspect that it will literally take years to reestablish any sort of infastructure there.

I don't think ICE had Haitians high on their deportation priority list before the earthquake, nor do I think that they'd prioritize illegal Haitians when their TPS expires.

While it would be nice for those folks to just voluntarilly show up to USCIS upon the expiration of TPS (if it should expire) it will never happen. Personally I don't care - I just want the processing to be over with as soon as possible so that CSC can get back to processing other petitions (like mine ).

[natty bumppo 297]

It took 74 posts for some right-wing nut to turn this into a self-serving act by Obama. A new record!

it took 74 posts before you noticed? had problems reading earlier ones much?

the question still remains ... what else would BY say?

time to toss this one back and reset the hook ....

[Robby999 1,024]

Hell Robby,

You and I know that the TPS will just be extended after the initial 18 month TPS expire. Haiti will not be rebuilt in 18 months, 36 months, 54 months, etc...

Conditions there were awful PRIOR to the earthquake and I suspect that it will literally take years to reestablish any sort of infastructure there.

I don't think ICE had Haitians high on their deportation priority list before the earthquake, nor do I think that they'd prioritize illegal Haitians when their TPS expires.

While it would be nice for those folks to just voluntarilly show up to USCIS upon the expiration of TPS (if it should expire) it will never happen. Personally I don't care - I just want the processing to be over with as soon as possible so that CSC can get back to processing other petitions (like mine ).

Yea, I know. I am just disgusted that a criminal receive preferential treatment! Well, good luck with your petition and may any delay be a short one!

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

There are no more illegally Hiatians here than there are Canadians, British, Mexicans, and anyone else who has over stayed their visa. Hiatians have to go thru a POE before they can even enter into the US, they can't walk over a border, nor can they come here on a WAVA visa, they have to be granted a visa in the first place inorder to enter the USA.

Those that have been so luckly to surive the crossing of the ocean and the coast guard to be here are so minimum, that they are not even the ones who would be applying for the TPS.