Quoted, Efforts to Rebuild Haiti, Latin Lawyer

Hunton & Williams seeks fee waiver for Haitians in US

Latin Lawyer

Hunton & Williams LLP has helped bring a petition to the US immigration office to waive fees for Haitians applying for temporary protection status in a move that could see as much as US$1 billion injected into the Haitian economy over the next three years. The firm is working with members of Congress to push through the proposal. Washington-based immigration lawyer Suzan Kern told Latin Lawyer, "We believe the immigration service needs to implement some guidelines so that TPS waivers are given more generously, more routinely and more consistently, so that Haitians who are deterred by the fees will feel more comfortable applying,” says Kern. But access to TPS fee waivers is still only part of the problem. “The fees are one of the main barriers, but there is a certain amount of fear in the undocumented Haitian community of coming forward to receive legal status that may end at some point,” says Kern. “The US government does not actively seek out people when TPS has ended but it takes time to get the word out that it’s safe for people to come forward.”

Ms. Kern focuses her practice exclusively on immigration and nationality law.

Click here to read more in "Coalition of U.S. Charities Launches Effort to Support Long Term Haiti Rebuilding."