Department of Homeland Security May 19, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is both extending the existing designation of Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months from July 23, 2011 through January 22, 2013, and redesignating Haiti for TPS for 18 months, effective July 23, 2011 through January 22, 2013. The extension allows current eligible TPS beneficiaries to retain their TPS through January 22, 2013. The redesignation of Haiti allows additional individuals who have been continuously residing in the United States since January 12, 2011, to obtain TPS, if eligible, including certain Haitians who arrived in the United States following the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Under the redesignation, individuals who currently do not have TPS, or a TPS application pending, may apply for TPS from May 19, 2011 through November 15, 2011. In addition to demonstrating continuous residence in the United States since January 12, 2011, initial applicants for TPS under this redesignation must demonstrate that they have been continuously physically present in the United States since July 23, 2011, the effective date of the redesignation of Haiti. For individuals who have already been granted Haiti TPS, the 90-day re-registration period will run from May 23, 2011 through August 22, 2011. The Department will publish a Federal Register notice in May with complete information on the re-registration procedures, including the automatic 6-month extension of currently valid employment authorization documents (EADs) that expire July 22, 2011. However, current Haiti TPS beneficiaries may not apply for re-registration until May 23, 2011. Applications and fees submitted before that date will be rejected and will have to be resubmitted once the re-registration period starts. TPS applications that were filed during the first Haiti designation that opened on January 21, 2010, and remain pending on May 19, 2011 will be treated as initial applications under the redesignation. Therefore, individuals who have a pending TPS application will not need to file a new Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821. Additional instructions are provided in this notice for individuals whose TPS applications remain pending and who would like to obtain an EAD valid through January 22, 2013.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-3320-EM), dated May 4, 2011, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Alabama (FEMA-1971-DR), dated April 28, 2011, and related determinations.

The Coast Guard announces the publication of Officer of Vessel Activities (CG-543) Policy Letter 11-03: ``Implementation of Revised Passenger Weight Standards for Existing Passenger Vessels.'' This policy letter provides guidance on how the Coast Guard will amend Certificates of Inspection prior to a change in the assumed average weight per person standard that will become effective in December 2011.