The Orlando Sentinel reported today that U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) officials and immigrant activists are surprised at the low number of applications for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), an immigration benefit that President Obama authorized for Haitian nationals in light of the earthquake that ravaged that country on January 12, 2010.

So far, the USCIS has processed a little over 13,000 applications nationwide.  Of that amount, about two-thirds of those applications are from applicants who live in Florida, the home to the largest Haitian community in the U.S.

USCIS officials initially predicted that between 100,000 to 200,000 Haitians would be eligible for the temporary status.  Therefore, they expected about that many applications.    

According to the article, some people have said that the low number of applications could be due to the fact that Haitian immigrants seem to be afraid to apply and hence register their undocumented status with the USCIS.  Other applicants are having a hard time to pay the $ 470 filing fee.  For many, that is an entire paycheck.  

We at Pappas & Associates, P.A. remind eligible Haitians that TPS would be granted until July 22, 2011, as long as the application is submitted before July 20, 2010 and, regardless of when the application is approved.

We also call on eligible Haitians to set aside their reluctance, come forward and apply.  This is a chance for those applicants to have legal status in the U.S., although temporary, but it will protect those Haitians from deportation for as long as their TPS is authorized.