Beginning early 2015, certain Haitians will be allowed to quickly join family members who are in the U.S. This is a family reunification effort for those Haitians in the U.S. who have family members left behind in Haiti.

Following the devastating earthquake in 2010, many Haitians in the U.S. were granted temporary protective status (TPS) so they could remain here and be out of harm’s way while Haiti was recovering. Years later, there are still serious problems in Haiti and protective status has been extended to January 22, 2016. Meanwhile, family members of those in the U.S. remain stuck in Haiti.

Some Haitians in the U.S. are now green card holders and U.S. Citizens. Their family members continue to remain in Haiti in difficult conditions. To help bring extended family members together, the Department of Homeland Security decided to accelerate case processing for those Haitians in the U.S. who filed petitions to immigrate relatives from Haiti.

To take advantage of the HFRP program, Haitians in the U.S. who are U.S. citizens and green card holders may file petitions to immigrate family members and those petitions will be expedited according to a formula. This includes petitions already filed as well as new petitions. The formula depends on the type family relationship: minor child, adult child, sister or brother, etc. The USCIS will cut 2 years off the processing delay (priority date). For more general information regarding immigration of extended family members by U.S. citizens or green card holders, including priority dates, please see Immigration Visa for Relatives.

Contact us if you would like assistance with immigrating your family members from Haiti.