By Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Volunteer Josiah McLaughlin, 14, looks for the file of Massenat Pierre, seated in background wearing a pink blouse, as her son, Massenat Jean-Claude, an American citizen, holds his daughter, Ludjeana Dimanche, 2, in his arms. Jean-Claude brought his mother to Notre Dame d'Haiti Jan. 22 to help her apply for temporary protected status.
MIAMI � Massenat Pierre, 56, was thankful that Catholic Legal Services helped her apply for Temporary Protected Status, known as TPS for short.
�She�s happy because she has no place to go,� said her son, Massenat Jean-Claude, who came to the United States in 1984 and became a citizen in 1996.
His mother arrived Sept. 18, 2009 for a visit. Now, she has no home to return to.
�Her house in the Clercine section of Port-au-Prince was destroyed in the earthquake,� Jean-Claude said as he helped his mother at the Catholic Legal Services outreach center set up at Notre Dame d�Haiti Church in Miami.
Like Pierre, hundreds of other Haitians have come to Notre Dame d�Haiti since last week, seeking help with their TPS applications. TPS allows them to stay in the country legally and work for at least 18 months.
�They made it easy to apply for TPS here,� said Rosilia Pierre (no relation) as volunteer Reynald Jean helped her complete her application.
Randy McGrorty, chief executive officer of Catholic Legal Services, and Myriam Mezadieu, the agency�s administrator, supervised the volunteers and Legal Services staff on the second floor of the building that was once Notre Dame Academy for girls.
�It�s been really hectic here,� said McGrorty. �We knew there would be a tremendous need for legal services. And we knew there would be scam artists out there ready to take advantage of Haitians seeking TPS.�
McGrorty has asked volunteers and lawyers in private practice to help out, he said. Karen McLaughlin and her son, Josiah McLaughlin, 14, were among those volunteers Jan. 22.
�We came to the church to deliver relief supplies and we were recruited to help out,� she said as she and her son looked for files in carton boxes of those who had come to the center on another day, but lacked certain documents to complete their applications.
�We give Haitians orientation on what TPS is and what documents they need to bring with them,� said McGrorty. �And we have notary publics available.�
Haitians need to bring their passport or birth certificate, original or a copy, said McGrorty. If those cannot be found, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will accept a baptismal certificate from Haiti or sworn affidavits from close family members with specific details of the date and place of their birth and how the family member knows this information.
Once the application is complete it should be mailed to the U.S.C.I.S. (See addresses below).
�On Monday, we had 800 people show up,� he said. �The rest of the week, we�ve processed about 400 people a day.�
Before being admitted to the upper floor, applicants waited in the church until they were allowed, 10 at a time, upstairs. McGrorty told those waiting in the church that there would be a long wait if they chose to apply that same day.
�Please be patient!� he said in a hoarse voice. �I�ve been here every night this week until midnight. You have six months to apply.�
But most didn�t want to wait.
�Everyone is in a hurry,� McGrorty said. �One woman told me, I am hungry for my work card.�
TPS applicants need to be Haitian citizens and have resided in the U.S. since before the Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake. Letters from employers, payroll stubs, electric bills, telephone bills, rent receipts, bank statements and school records are among the documents that demonstrate residence in the U.S.
Those seeking TPS are given Form I-821, the TPS application. Haitians seeking to work in the U.S. also receive a Form I-765, an Employment Authorization Document.
�We help them fill out the forms,� said McGrorty. �The federal government charges $470 for the process, so they must bring a money order for that amount. That�s $50 for the application form, $80 for fingerprints and $340 for a work permit.�
There is an exception to who can apply, he said. �Anyone who was convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors in the U.S. is ineligible for TPS.�
After the immigration service receives the application, they mail the applicant a receipt and set an appointment time for fingerprinting, McGrorty said.
WHERE TO GO
� Catholic Legal Services will continue helping Haitians apply for TPS at Notre Dame d�Haiti Church, 110 N.E. 62 St., Miami, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
� Help also is offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Catholic Legal Services� main office, 150 S.E. Second Ave., Miami. For information call 305-373-1073.
� Completed applications from Haitians in Florida must be mailed to: P.O. Box 4464, Chicago, IL 60680-4464. Express mail and courier deliveries should be sent to: USCIS, Attn: Haiti TPS, 131 South Dearborn, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60603-5520.
� For more information on the TPS process, go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Web site, http://tinyurl.com/haitianstps or call toll-free, 800-375-5283.
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Volunteer Reynald Jean helps Rosilia Pierre fill out a form for Temporary Protected Status at Notre Dame d'Haiti Church Jan. 22.
