Help for those affected by disaster in
Haiti: Frequently asked questions
February 1, 2010
Help through Ceridian’s LifeWorks employee assistance progam
Q: I am upset by sad news from Haiti and anxious about not knowing if other family
members and friends are safe. Where can I get help?
A: Many families here in the U.S. are dealing with shock, grief and uncertainty as they
receive sad news or wait to hear news of family and loved ones. Ceridian has
temporarily extended telephonic counseling and bereavement support to all Ceridian
customers. Impacted employees are encouraged to call 1-800-527-3060.
Employees at organizations covered by the LifeWorks program may be eligible for
additional support, including answers to legal questions and special support for
managers.
Ceridian’s article, Coping with Grief and Loss After a Traumatic Event, is available in
English and Creole.
For residents of New York City, New York Haitian Earthquake Family Resource Center
opened on February 1 to provide legal, emotional, and practical support. The Center is
located in the New York National Guard Armory at 1579 Bedford Avenue, between
Union and President Streets in Brooklyn, and is open from 10am to 8pm on weekdays
and from 10 a,m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Help for managers
Q: I am getting questions from associates with family members in Haiti that I don’t know
how to answer. I’d like to provide them with whatever help I can. Where should I go for
this help?
A: Managers at organizations covered by Ceridian’s LifeWorks program may be eligible
for special help and support, including the option of scheduling on-site debriefing
sessions for employees with professional trauma and grief counselors.
Two of Ceridian’s Management Services consultants have recorded a 10-minute audio
podcast for managers on supporting employees affected by the earthquake in Haiti,
which you can listen to at any time.
Helping family and friends in Haiti
Q: How can I transfer money to family and friends in Haiti?
A: Many banks in Haiti were damaged in the earthquake and are not yet fully back in
operation. According to the Inter-American Development Bank and a January 31 report
in the New York Daily News, Fonkoze, a microlending bank with many locations in rural
communities and an operating branch in Port-au-Prince, has been able to distribute
funds sent by MoneyGram and C.A.M. Western Union was making payments in 150
locations throughout Haiti. In general, transferring money through Western Union or
through a bank based in the U.S., France, or U.K. will be safer than transferring money
through a Haitian bank as the assets will be protected until withdrawn in Haiti.
Q: How can I contribute to relief efforts in Haiti?
A: Aid agencies are seeking financial contributions. They are discouraging the donation
of food, clothing and other material goods at this time, as the logistics of getting bulky
shipments into Haiti are difficult with damage to airports and harbors. Ceridian has
compiled a list of charities with capacity to provide direct aid in Haiti: How to Make a
Donation Following the Earthquake in Haiti, Another useful resource is the web site
www.charitynavigator.org, which includes a list of reputable organization providing
emergency relief to Haiti.
Q: Are any discounts being offered on telephone calls to Haiti?
A: Verizon has waived charges on calls from the U.S. to Haiti from January 12 through
February 14. This applies to calls made using Verizon land line and cell phone plans,
and Verizon’s pre-paid calling cards. T-Mobile offered a similar program from January
12 to 31.
Immigration and visas:
Q: How can my family apply for visas to enter the U.S.? What type of visas should they
apply for?
A: Application must be made to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
Information can be found at www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis and at a special page on
the USCIS site with information specific to Haiti. Preference is given to immediate family
members of U.S. citizens. Customers of Ceridian’s LifeWorks program may be eligible
to schedule a free 30-minute consultant with an attorney.
Q: Have any U.S. immigration and visa policies changed?
A: The only policy that has changed is the designation of Temporary Protected Status
(TPS) for Haitian nationals who were in the U.S. as of January 12, 2010. More detail
can be found in Ceridian’s article on Temporary Protected Status. A short video
explanation in Creole is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjhjnn3j8bc
Humanitarian visas are also being granted to young Haitians deemed unlikely to live
without advanced medical care.
Q: Where can I get help with immigration and visa issues amd with the application for
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
A: The U.S. Department of Justice maintains a list of free legal service providers for
many states. Free legal clinics to help with application for Temporary Protected Status
(TPS) are also being organized in some communities, as listed below.

In South Florida, call the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC) at 305-5731106 and press 1250 to find out about upcoming clinics where you can get free legal
help applying for TPS.

In New York City, visit the New York Haitian Earthquake Family Resource Center,
located in the New York National Guard Armory at 1579 Bedford Avenue, between
Union and President Streets in Brooklyn. The center is open from 10am to 8pm on
weekdays and from 10 a,m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

In Boston, call 617-464-8004 for information about upcoming free TPS legal clinics
staffed by immigration attorneys from Mintz Levin and the American Immigration
Lawyers Association (AILA).

In Connecticut, free legal clinics will be held on February 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in
Hartford (at City Hall, 55 Main Street), New Haven (Southern Connecticut State
University, Engleman Hall, Room B121, 501 Crescent Street), Norwich (City Hall,
Room 108, 100 Broadway), and Stamford (UCONN, 1 University Place).
www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?bc=11836|15767|31027|31034|31101
Beware of scams from people who claim to be able to help with TPS and other
immigration issues but who are really seeking to make money in a crisis. The U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has issued a fact sheet on avoiding these
scams, available in English and Creole.