TPS Transition & Family
Preparedness Guide
A guide for former Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries, their families, employers, business owners, and community partners.
IMPORTANT: PUBLICATION NOTICE
Draft current through August 10, 2026. Immigration litigation and agency guidance can change quickly.
Verify the most current information before publication and before relying on time-sensitive information.
READ THIS FIRST
IMPORTANT LEGAL DISCLAIMER
This publication provides general educational information. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and cannot determine whether a particular person has lawful status, employment authorization, relief from removal, or a right to remain in the United States. Immigration, family, estate, tax, banking, education, licensing, and benefits rules can differ by state, institution, and individual facts. Seek qualified legal and financial advice before taking irreversible action.
The end of TPS can affect immigration protection and work authorization, but it does not automatically erase a person’s family relationships, ownership of private property, bank deposits, retirement balances, business interests, school-age children’s educational rights, or existing legal obligations.
MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.
- DO NOT leave the United States, resign from a job, liquidate retirement funds, transfer a home, close a business, or give away financial control solely because TPS ended. Get individualized advice first.
- DO NOT assume one document solves every problem. A financial power of attorney, health-care directive, school pickup authorization, child-caregiver delegation, Social Security representative payee designation, and IRS Form 2848 serve different purposes.
- PREPARE while you are available. Banks, brokers, schools, plan administrators, insurers, licensing agencies, and courts can be much harder to navigate after detention, unexpected travel, hospitalization, or departure.
10 THINGS TO DO NOW
1
Schedule an immigration status audit.
Have a qualified immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative review every entry, petition, court case, family relationship, victim-based option, and pending filing.
2
Do not depart without advice.
Departure can affect pending applications, prior orders, unlawful-presence calculations, waivers, and future admissibility.
3
Confirm current work authorization.
Determine whether you have another independent EAD category or status that authorizes employment; do not rely on an expired TPS document without current authority.
4
Choose trusted emergency decision-makers.
Identify people who can handle money, children, healthcare, business matters, and emergencies – and give each person only the authority actually needed.
5
Pre-clear powers of attorney.
Ask every bank, brokerage, retirement plan, lender, and pension administrator what documents it will accept before an emergency occurs.
6
Update school records.
Review emergency contacts, authorized pickup lists, custody orders, health plans, and caregiver authorizations for each child.
7
Inventory every asset and obligation.
List bank accounts, loans, credit cards, investments, retirement plans, insurance, property, vehicles, leases, subscriptions, and recurring payments.
8
Make a business-continuity plan.
If you own a business, separate ownership from the work you personally perform and plan who can lawfully manage operations, payroll, banking, taxes, and contracts.
9
Build a secure document file.
Keep paper and encrypted electronic copies of immigration, identity, family, school, financial, medical, tax, property, and business records.
10
Create a family emergency sheet.
Record A-numbers, lawyers, school contacts, medication information, financial agents, business contacts, and where important documents are stored.
Four Resources to Save Now
IMMIGRATION STATUS AUDIT
DO NOT SELF-DIAGNOSE
The end of TPS does not automatically answer whether a person is removable, has another lawful status, has a pending protection or adjustment case, can work, can travel, or can pursue permanent residence. Those questions require the person’s complete immigration history.
Information to bring to a legal screening
Every entry to and departure from the United States, including visa, parole, advance parole, EWI, and border history.
- All passports, I-94 records, visas, parole documents, EADs, TPS notices, and USCIS receipt/approval notices.
- Any immigration court case, Notice to Appear, removal/deportation order, appeal, motion, bond case, or ICE supervision history.
- All I-130, I-140, I-360, I-485, asylum, U/T visa, VAWA, SIJS, waiver, FOIA, or other immigration filings – even very old ones.
- Current and former U.S.-citizen or lawful-permanent-resident spouses, parents, children, siblings, and petitioning relatives.
- Marriage, divorce, adoption, custody, domestic-violence, crime-victim, trafficking, abuse, or neglect history that may affect immigration options.
- Employment history, degrees, licenses, professional achievements, employers willing to sponsor, and any prior unauthorized employment.
- Arrests, citations, charges, convictions, expungements, withholds, diversion, probation, and certified court dispositions.
- Any fear of return, threats, political activity, religious persecution, gang violence, or other country-specific protection concerns.
- Any periods when the person was under 18, had a pending bona fide filing, had TPS, or otherwise may have been protected from accruing unlawful presence.
DEPARTURE WARNING
Do not advise someone to “self-deport” or leave solely because TPS ended. Departure can trigger or activate immigration consequences that depend on the person’s age, unlawful-presence history, prior entries, removal orders, waivers, and pending cases. Obtain individualized legal advice before travel or departure.
Where to find free or lower-cost legal help
EOIR List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers
HOW TO USE IT
Free providers for people in immigration court proceedings; organized by court/location. Capacity is limited.
ImmigrationLawHelp.org
HOW TO USE IT
Searchable nonprofit immigration-services directory by state, county, and detention facility. Many providers offer free or low-cost services.
DOJ Recognized Organizations / Accredited Representatives
HOW TO USE IT
Nonprofit organizations may employ DOJ-accredited representatives authorized to provide immigration legal services within the scope of accreditation.
LawHelp.org / Legal Services Corporation directory
HOW TO USE IT
Useful for family, housing, consumer, estate-planning, and other civil issues. Immigration-service eligibility at LSC-funded organizations is restricted by federal law, so ask before relying on it.
211
HOW TO USE IT
Dial 211 or use 211.org to locate local legal, housing, food, healthcare, utility, and family-support resources. Availability varies by community.
AILA Lawyer Search / state or local bar referrals
HOW TO USE IT
Private counsel option. Ask about consultation fees, limited-scope services, payment plans, and whether the lawyer regularly handles the specific issue.
AVOID NOTARIO FRAUD
A U.S. notary public is not an immigration lawyer merely because the person uses the title “notario.” For immigration legal advice, use a licensed attorney or an authorized DOJ-accredited representative working through a recognized organization.
TPS-BASED WORK & EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION
EMPLOYMENT CHECK
If the only employment authorization was based on Haiti TPS (A12/C19), do not assume it remains valid after TPS termination. A person may nevertheless have a different EAD, a status that authorizes employment incident to status, or another current basis to work. Verify the exact document and category.
For Workers
☐ Gather every current and prior EAD and I-797 notice and identify the category printed on each EAD.
☐ If another immigration application is pending, ask counsel whether it provides an independent basis for work authorization and whether the EAD is still valid.
☐ A Social Security number is an identifier; it is not, by itself, proof of current authorization to work.
☐ Do not present false documents, another person’s documents, or make false claims of U.S. citizenship to obtain or keep employment.
☐ Keep copies of the documents previously presented for Form I-9 purposes and any employer reverification notice.
For Employers and HR Departments
☐ Follow current USCIS I-9 Central instructions for TPS document expiration and reverification.
☐ When reverification is required, employees generally choose which acceptable documents to present. Employers should not demand a particular document or treat workers differently based on citizenship or national origin.
☐ Do not assume all Haitian workers have the same immigration category. Review each employee’s current work-authorization documents individually.
☐ Refer employees to counsel for immigration strategy; HR should not give individualized immigration legal advice.
Professional and Occupational Licenses
Driver licenses, nursing licenses, teaching certificates, contractor licenses, cosmetology/barber licenses, real-estate licenses, and similar credentials are governed primarily by state law and licensing-board rules. A state may tie renewal to immigration documentation, work authorization, SSN/ITIN requirements, or other eligibility criteria.
DEPARTURE WARNING
Do not advise someone to “self-deport” or leave solely because TPS ended. Departure can trigger or activate immigration consequences that depend on the person’s age, unlawful-presence history, prior entries, removal orders, waivers, and pending cases. Obtain individualized legal advice before travel or departure.
BANKS, CASH & POWERS OF ATTORNEY
FEDERAL BASELINE
Loss of TPS does not automatically transfer ownership of a person’s bank deposits to the government or to another person. FDIC deposit insurance is not limited to U.S. citizens or U.S. residents. Practical access, however, can become difficult if identification expires, the customer moves abroad, two-factor authentication fails, or the bank has not approved the customer’s agent.
A Power of Attorney is Important - But Not A Master Key
A properly executed state-law financial power of attorney can authorize an agent to manage money, but financial institutions may review the document, request certifications, require identification, restrict particular transactions, use institution-specific forms, or apply special procedures to brokerage, mortgage, safe-deposit-box, trust, or business accounts. Give the document to the institution before an emergency and obtain confirmation that it has been accepted.
Questions to Ask Every Bank Now
☐ Will you accept my existing durable financial POA? If yes, where should I submit it and how will I know it has been approved?
☐ Do you require your own POA, affidavit, signature card, certification, or attorney opinion?
☐ Must the principal and agent appear together? What unexpired identification will each person need?
☐ Can my agent access checking, savings, CDs, safe-deposit boxes, credit cards, loans, mortgages, and business accounts – or is separate authority required?
☐ Can the agent use online/mobile banking, or only branch/telephone channels?
☐ If I live outside the United States, can I keep the account? Can I use a foreign mailing address and foreign phone number?
☐ How can I preserve two-factor authentication if I lose my U.S. phone number?
☐ Can the bank send international wires at my instruction or my agent’s instruction? What additional verification is required?
☐ Should I add a payable-on-death beneficiary or other beneficiary designation? What are the tax/estate consequences?
☐ What happens if my passport, driver license, or state ID expires while I am abroad?
Major-bank planning matrix
Bank of America
WHAT TO EXPECT
Accepts outside POAs for review in qualifying circumstances; in most states offers a limited Bank of America POA for designated deposit accounts/safe-deposit boxes. Its limited-POA process can require the principal and agent and valid unexpired IDs. Merrill/Private Bank accounts are handled separately.
BEST PREPARATION STEP
Schedule an appointment and submit the POA before an emergency; separately contact Merrill/Private Bank if applicable.
Chase
WHAT TO EXPECT
POA authority depends on the document. Chase has a dedicated POA-account process; brokerage/investment accounts have separate forms.
BEST PREPARATION STEP
Bring the POA and required identification to a branch; ask separately about investment, business, auto, and trust accounts.
Wells Fargo
WHAT TO EXPECT
Customers may use a Wells Fargo POA form for designated accounts or present prepared POA papers for review; certain products, including mortgage assistance, can have separate forms.
BEST PREPARATION STEP
Ask a banker to review the document and identify any product-specific affidavit or authorization before it is needed.
Capital One
WHAT TO EXPECT
Uses a formal process to submit POA, conservatorship, or guardianship documentation for review.
BEST PREPARATION STEP
Submit documents early and confirm exactly which accounts and actions are covered.
U.S. Bank
WHAT TO EXPECT
Recognizes POA/fiduciary arrangements subject to state law, documentation, identity verification, and bank procedures.
BEST PREPARATION STEP
Contact the bank for current requirements and confirm acceptance for each account type.
Citi
WHAT TO EXPECT
Requirements can differ by consumer banking, credit, wealth, and business products; a single public consumer POA procedure does not cover every product.
BEST PREPARATION STEP
Request the account-specific POA/fiduciary packet directly from Citi or the relationship manager and obtain written confirmation of acceptance.
Avoid creating a new problem while solving access
- Do not add someone as a joint owner merely because you want the person to help pay bills. Joint ownership can create survivorship, creditor, tax, divorce, and estate consequences.
- Do not give an agent your username, password, debit-card PIN, or authentication codes unless the institution expressly authorizes that access method.
- Do not assume a POA continues after death. A POA generally ends when the principal dies; beneficiary designations, trusts, wills, and probate/estate authority govern after death.
- Choose agents carefully. A financial POA can give substantial authority to move or withdraw funds.
INVESTMENTS, RETIREMENT & PENSIONS
Brokerage accounts and securities
Brokerage firms commonly require their own authorization process even when a state-law POA already exists. A trusted contact is useful for fraud or welfare concerns, but it does not give the trusted contact authority to trade, withdraw funds, or manage the account.
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BROKER / TYPE
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PLANNING NOTE
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Fidelity
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Allows customers to establish POA access and also provides an affidavit/indemnification process for some outside POAs. Account-access levels are separate from trusted-contact status.
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Vanguard
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Provides account-access/agent authorization processes, including power-of-attorney options for applicable accounts. Submit and confirm acceptance before access is needed.
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Other brokers
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Ask whether the firm requires its own POA, agent certification, medallion signature guarantee, notary, or identity documentation; ask what happens if the account owner lives abroad.
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401(k), 403(b), IRA and similar retirement accounts
DO NOT CASH OUT SIMPLY BECAUSE TPS ENDED
Leaving employment does not ordinarily erase a vested retirement balance. Depending on the plan and account, a participant may be able to leave money in the former employer’s plan, roll it to another eligible plan or IRA, or take a distribution. Distributions can trigger income tax, withholding, penalties, and loss of future tax-deferred growth.
Defined-benefit pensions
☐ Download the latest statement and Summary Plan Description.
☐ Confirm the vested balance and whether any employer contribution is unvested.
☐ Review beneficiaries and contact information.
☐ Ask whether the plan accepts an outside durable POA or requires its own form.
☐ Ask whether distributions can be sent to a foreign address or financial institution and what tax withholding/documentation applies.
☐ If there is an outstanding plan loan, ask what happens upon termination of employment.
☐ Get tax advice before taking a lump-sum distribution or moving assets abroad.
Contact the pension administrator directly. Rules for changing beneficiaries, starting benefits, foreign addresses, international payments, notarization, and POA acceptance are plan-specific. For pensions administered by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), PBGC provides its own POA form and publishes procedures for international customers; foreign notarized documents may require authentication or apostille procedures.
Social Security: a separate authorization system
POA IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE-PAYEE AUTHORITY
An ordinary financial power of attorney does not make the agent a Social Security representative payee and does not authorize the agent to negotiate or manage Social Security/SSI payments as a payee. SSA must appoint a representative payee when one is needed.
CHILDREN, SCHOOL & CAREGIVER PLANNING
PUBLIC K-12 BASELINE
A child’s or parent’s immigration/citizenship status cannot be used to bar the child from a free public elementary or secondary education. Schools may require ordinary enrollment documentation, but they cannot condition enrollment on proving lawful immigration status.
Documents a public school may commonly request
☐ Proof of the child’s age and identity (a district must not use a document rule as a proxy for immigration-status screening).
☐ Proof that the student resides within the district, using documents the district accepts such as lease, utility, affidavit, or other residency evidence.
☐ Immunization or health records required by state law, subject to applicable exemptions and special enrollment protections.
☐ Prior school records, transcripts, report cards, IEP/Section 504 records, and English-learner information.
☐ Parent/guardian or caregiver information needed under state/district policy.
WHAT SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT REQUIRE FOR K-12 ENROLLMENT
A public school may not deny enrollment because a child or parent will not provide a Social Security number or because the family cannot prove lawful immigration status. Districts must use enrollment practices consistent with federal civil-rights requirements.
If housing becomes unstable
Families who lose housing, double up with others because of economic hardship, live in motels/shelters, or otherwise meet the McKinney-Vento definition may have special school-enrollment protections. Eligible children and youth must be enrolled immediately even when ordinarily required records are missing, and the district’s homeless-education liaison can help obtain records and resolve barriers.
School pickup: do not assume “emergency contact” means “authorized pickup”
Pickup and early-release procedures are generally set by the school district. Parents should review each child’s actual release form and ask the school what identification an authorized adult must show. Some districts separately list emergency contacts and people authorized to remove the child from school.
Family school-preparedness checklist
☐ Update the authorized-pickup list at each school and after-school program.
☐ List at least two trusted adults if permitted.
☐ Give the trusted adult the school’s name, address, phone number, dismissal time, student ID (if appropriate), and pickup procedure.
☐ Provide the school with current custody orders or restrictions affecting who may pick up the child.
☐ Keep copies of the child’s birth record, passport/ID, immunizations, medication/health plan, IEP/504 plan, report cards, and school contacts.
☐ Ask whether the school needs a separate caregiver, educational-consent, or guardianship document if the parent will be unavailable for an extended period.
☐ Confirm whether a temporary caregiver can consent to field trips, medical treatment, special education, and school records – these powers may require different documents.
Caregiver authority and guardianship
STATE LAW CONTROLS
A school pickup form is not the same as legal custody or authority to make educational/medical decisions. Depending on the state and family circumstances, a family may need a parental delegation, caregiver affidavit, minor-child POA, standby guardianship, temporary guardianship, medical consent, educational consent, or court order. Have a local family/estate-planning lawyer review the plan.
BUSINESS OWNERS & SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE
OWNERSHIP IS NOT THE SAME AS WORK AUTHORIZATION
A person may own an interest in a U.S. business, but forming or owning an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship does not itself create immigration employment authorization. If TPS-based work authorization ended, obtain immigration advice before continuing to perform services, labor, management, sales, or other work for the business.
Business continuity checklist
☐ Identify the entity type: sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, S corporation, C corporation, nonprofit, or other entity.
☐ Review the operating agreement, partnership agreement, bylaws, shareholder agreement, succession provisions, and buy-sell terms.
☐ Identify who may legally act as manager, officer, director, authorized signer, payroll administrator, or registered agent if the owner is unavailable.
☐ Adopt required member, manager, board, or shareholder resolutions before an emergency.
☐ Confirm business-bank signers and whether the bank requires a business-specific authorization or POA.
☐ Give the accountant/bookkeeper lawful access to records – not shared personal passwords.
☐ Inventory payroll, payroll-tax deposits, sales tax, estimated taxes, annual reports, licenses, insurance, leases, merchant accounts, vendor contracts, customer receivables, loans, and recurring obligations.
☐ Create written procedures for paying employees, vendors, rent, utilities, taxes, and insurance.
☐ Identify who can sign contracts or communicate with landlords, lenders, insurers, and vendors.
☐ Review professional or occupational licenses and whether a licensed qualifying agent must remain attached to the business.
☐ Have immigration counsel evaluate whether the owner can perform any role in the business without separate work authorization; do not rely on labels such as “volunteer,” “independent contractor,” or “self-employed” without legal advice.
Special warning for sole proprietors
A sole proprietorship has no separate board or manager structure. If the owner is detained, departs, or loses the ability to work, day-to-day operations can stop immediately unless lawful authority and operational access have been arranged. Consider whether a different business structure or succession arrangement is appropriate with business and tax counsel.
Keep a business continuity folder
Entity documents
WHAT TO KEEP
Articles, EIN letter, operating agreement/bylaws, ownership ledger, annual reports, licenses.
Money
WHAT TO KEEP
Bank/merchant accounts, loans, credit lines, payroll, taxes, accounts receivable/payable.
People
WHAT TO KEEP
Manager/officer, attorney, accountant, payroll provider, insurance broker, key vendors.
Operations
WHAT TO KEEP
Passwords stored through an approved business password manager, contracts, procedures, vendor/customer lists.
Property
WHAT TO KEEP
Commercial lease, equipment, vehicles, inventory, insurance, security systems.
Succession
WHAT TO KEEP
Resolutions, POA/authority documents, buy-sell terms, instructions if the owner becomes unavailable.
HOME, VEHICLES, HEALTHCARE & DAILY LIFE
Homeowners
☐ Keep mortgage, property-tax, homeowner/condo insurance, HOA/condo, utility, deed, and lender information together.
☐ Ask the lender what POA documentation it requires for loan servicing, loss mitigation, refinancing, sale, or payoff.
☐ If someone may need to sell or refinance property, ask a state-licensed attorney whether the POA contains the specific real-estate powers and execution formalities required in that state.
☐ If the family may move or leave the country, obtain state tax advice about homestead or residency-related property-tax consequences.
Renters
☐ Keep the lease, security-deposit record, renter’s insurance, landlord contact, utility accounts, and move-out requirements.
☐ Do not abandon a lease without understanding notice, early-termination, subletting, and property-removal rules.
☐ Authorize a trusted person, where legally appropriate, to retrieve possessions or communicate with the landlord if you become unavailable.
☐ Use LawHelp.org, LSC-funded legal aid (if eligible), or 211 for local housing referrals.
Vehicles
☐ Keep title, registration, loan, insurance, VIN, and lender/DMV information.
☐ Ask the state DMV what form of vehicle POA is required to transfer title, register, sell, or handle a financed vehicle.
☐ Do not assume a general financial POA automatically satisfies DMV or lender requirements.
Healthcare and medical decision-making
☐ Prepare a healthcare surrogate/proxy or medical POA that complies with state law.
☐ Consider a HIPAA authorization so the chosen person can obtain medical information when needed.
☐ Keep medication lists, prescriptions, insurance information, doctors, allergies, and children’s medical-consent forms.
☐ If immigration-status changes may affect coverage, speak with a qualified benefits navigator or state program before cancelling coverage. Eligibility rules are program-specific and can differ for each household member.
MIXED-STATUS FAMILIES
A parent’s loss of TPS does not change a U.S.-citizen child’s citizenship or another family member’s separate immigration classification. Do not assume that every family member loses school, health, nutrition, or other eligibility because one adult’s status changed. Benefits rules are program-specific; ask the administering agency or a qualified benefits/legal-services provider.
Driver license and state identification
Driver-license and state-ID rules are state-specific. Some states tie credential validity or renewal to immigration documents; others provide licenses or IDs under separate state eligibility rules. Because ID affects banking, school pickup, notarization, travel, and daily transactions, the state appendix should explain the exact renewal rules and acceptable documents.
TAXES, MAIL & GOVERNMENT RECORDS
Taxes
Immigration status and federal tax residency are not the same legal test. A person who loses TPS may still have federal, state, local, business, payroll, property, or information-reporting obligations. Business owners, landlords, investors, and people leaving the United States should get tax advice before moving assets or taking retirement distributions.
IRS AUTHORIZATION
The IRS has its own representation system. Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, is the standard way to authorize an eligible representative to act before the IRS for specified tax matters. A general financial POA should not be assumed to substitute automatically in every tax matter.
Change of address
TWO SYSTEMS MAY NEED SEPARATE UPDATES
USCIS generally requires covered noncitizens to report a change of address within 10 days. People with a case before an immigration court or the BIA must separately update EOIR, generally within five working days, using the appropriate EOIR-33 process. Updating one agency does not necessarily update the other.
☐ Update USCIS through the current online change-of-address process or required form.
☐ If you have an immigration-court case, update the immigration court through EOIR Respondent Access / EOIR-33/IC.
☐ If an appeal is before the BIA, use EOIR-33/BIA.
☐ Update the U.S. Postal Service, but do not rely on mail forwarding as a substitute for updating immigration agencies.
☐ Update banks, retirement plans, schools, insurers, lenders, courts, licensing boards, employers, and tax authorities as applicable.
☐ Keep proof of each address change submission.
DETENTION & FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN
Create a one-page family emergency sheet
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ITEM
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FILL IN / WHERE STORED
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Full legal name
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A-number
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Date of birth / country of birth
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Immigration attorney / representative
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Attorney phone / email
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USCIS receipt numbers
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Immigration court / next hearing
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ICE reporting information (if any)
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Children / schools
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Medical conditions / medications
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Financial agent
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Business contact / manager
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Location of passport & legal documents
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Trusted emergency contact
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If someone is detained
- Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System. Searches may use an A-number and country of birth or other identifying information.
- ICE lists the Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024.
- Contact the person’s immigration attorney or a qualified removal-defense provider promptly.
- Locate the person’s immigration documents and any final removal order, pending appeal, stay request, motion, supervision documents, or upcoming hearing notice.
- Activate child-care, financial, business, and medical plans only within the authority each document actually provides.
Verification note: ICE Detainee Information / Online Detainee Locator System (current pages reviewed August 2026).
PROTECT SENSITIVE INFORMATION
Do not carry a public-facing sheet containing bank passwords, PINs, full account numbers, or authentication codes. Store those through a secure system. The emergency sheet should tell the trusted person where lawful access documents are stored, not reveal credentials that could enable fraud.
ESTATE, INCAPACITY & FAMILY AUTHORITY
Documents to review with state-law counsel
Durable financial POA
WHAT IT GENERALLY DOES
Authority over specified financial/property matters during the principal’s lifetime; powers and execution formalities vary by state.
Healthcare proxy / medical POA
WHAT IT GENERALLY DOES
Authority to make healthcare decisions under state law when applicable.
HIPAA authorization
WHAT IT GENERALLY DOES
Allows specified people to receive protected medical information within the scope of the authorization.
Will
WHAT IT GENERALLY DOES
Directs probate assets at death and may nominate guardians; it does not create lifetime financial authority.
Minor-child caregiver / delegation
WHAT IT GENERALLY DOES
May allow a trusted adult to perform specified parental tasks; terminology, duration, and powers vary by state.
Guardianship / standby guardianship
WHAT IT GENERALLY DOES
Court or statutory process that may be needed for broader or longer-term child authority depending on state law and circumstances.
POD / TOD / beneficiary designations
WHAT IT GENERALLY DOES
Directs certain financial or insurance assets outside probate, subject to account/plan rules.
Trust
WHAT IT GENERALLY DOES
May provide management and succession for titled assets; appropriate only after individualized estate-planning advice.
Business succession documents
WHAT IT GENERALLY DOES
Operating agreement, buy-sell provisions, resolutions, manager/officer authority, or other entity-specific planning.
REMEMBER
Financial POA ≠ healthcare authority ≠ child guardianship ≠ school pickup authorization ≠ Social Security representative payee ≠ IRS representation. One document rarely covers every system.
Beneficiary review
☐ Bank payable-on-death beneficiaries.
☐ Brokerage transfer-on-death beneficiaries.
☐ 401(k), 403(b), IRA, pension, and other retirement beneficiaries.
☐ Life-insurance beneficiaries.
☐ Business ownership succession and buy-sell terms.
☐ Will/trust consistency with beneficiary designations.
THE FAMILY DOCUMENT FILE
Keep secure paper and electronic copies in more than one location.
Immigration
☐ Passport(s) and identity documents
☐ I-94 records and visa pages
☐ All EADs and TPS notices
☐ All I-797 receipts/approvals
☐ Immigration court/BIA documents
☐ Prior petitions and applications
☐ Advance-parole/travel documents
☐ A-number and online account information
Family & School
☐ Birth certificates
☐ Marriage/divorce records
☐ Custody/parenting orders
☐ Children’s passports/IDs
☐ School enrollment records
☐ Report cards/transcripts
☐ IEP/504/English-learner records
☐ Authorized pickup and caregiver documents
Financial
☐ Bank and credit-union list
☐ Credit cards and loans
☐ Brokerage/investment accounts
☐ 401(k)/403(b)/IRA accounts
☐ Pensions
☐ Life insurance
☐ Mortgage/lease
☐ Property deeds and vehicle titles
Business
☐ Entity formation documents
☐ EIN and tax returns
☐ Operating agreement/bylaws
☐ Licenses and annual reports
☐ Bank/merchant/payroll information
☐ Commercial lease
☐ Insurance
☐ Key contracts and succession authority
FINANCIAL
☐ Bank and credit-union list
☐ Credit cards and loans
☐ Brokerage/investment accounts
☐ 401(k)/403(b)/IRA accounts
☐ Pensions
☐ Life insurance
☐ Mortgage/lease
☐ Property deeds and vehicle titles
BUSINESS
☐ Entity formation documents
☐ EIN and tax returns
☐ Operating agreement/bylaws
☐ Licenses and annual reports
☐ Bank/merchant/payroll information
☐ Commercial lease
☐ Insurance
☐ Key contracts and succession authority
Health & Tax
☐ Insurance cards
☐ Medication/prescription list
☐ Doctors and medical records
☐ Healthcare directives/HIPAA form
☐ Recent federal/state tax returns
☐ Accountant/tax preparer contact
☐ IRS authorization documents if used
SECURITY PRACTICE
Store the document file securely. Consider an encrypted cloud folder plus a sealed paper backup with a trusted person. Avoid sending complete identity and financial files through unencrypted group chats or broadly shared email accounts.
CALL SCRIPTS & INSTITUTION QUESTIONS
Bank / credit union
“I am updating my contingency plan in case I am outside the United States or unable to appear in person. I have a durable financial power of attorney. What is your process for reviewing and accepting it? Does my agent need to appear with me? What identification or institution-specific forms are required? Which accounts and transactions would the agent be able to handle, and can the account remain open if I later use a foreign address or phone number?”
Brokerage / investment firm
“I want to establish lawful account access for a trusted agent before an emergency. Do you accept an outside durable POA, or must I use your form? What powers can the agent exercise? Is a separate authorization needed for retirement accounts? Can I add a trusted contact as well, and what can the trusted contact actually do?”
Retirement plan / pension administrator
“I am planning for the possibility that I may live outside the United States or be unavailable to manage my plan. Does the plan accept a durable power of attorney, and do you require your own form? What happens to my vested balance if my employment ends? What are my rollover/distribution options, and what procedures apply if my mailing address or bank is outside the United States?”
Child’s school
“I am updating my child’s emergency plan. Please tell me who is currently listed as an emergency contact and who is authorized to pick up my child. Are those lists separate? What ID must an authorized adult show? If I am temporarily unavailable, what document does the school require for a caregiver to make educational or medical decisions?”
Business bank / accountant
“I am creating a business-continuity plan. Which individuals are currently authorized on the business accounts, payroll, merchant processing, tax systems, and contracts? What resolutions, POA documents, or bank forms would be required for a backup manager or signer to act if I am unavailable?”
State DMV
“I need to know what happens to my current driver license/state ID if my immigration documentation changes. Is the credential valid through the printed expiration date? What documents are required for renewal or a non-driver ID, and what form is required if an agent must sell or transfer my vehicle?”
STATE & LOCAL APPENDIX TEMPLATE
Create a one-page family emergency sheet
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TOPIC
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STATE-SPECIFIC INFORMATION TO PUBLISH
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|---|---|
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State / version date
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Free / low-cost immigration legal providers
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Name • service area • phone • languages • court/affirmative services • eligibility
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Family/estate-planning legal aid
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POA • caregiver delegation • guardianship • housing • consumer
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Driver license / state ID
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Status dependency • renewal rules • acceptable documents • DMV link/phone
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K-12 enrollment
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State residency/age/health requirements • homeless liaison information
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School pickup / caregiver authority
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District forms • ID requirements • caregiver/educational consent
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Minor guardianship / standby guardianship
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Available procedure • duration • court/agency link
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Health programs
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State/children’s programs • navigator contacts • status rules
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Professional licenses
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Major boards • immigration/work-authorization requirements
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Unemployment / wage claims
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State agency • work-authorization issues • wage-theft resources
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State financial POA
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Execution formalities • witnesses/notary • acceptance/remedies
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Vehicle POA / title transfer
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DMV form and requirements
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Housing / foreclosure / eviction legal aid
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Providers and hotlines
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Tax assistance
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VITA/LITC/state tax resources
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Haitian consular / community resources
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Consulate • community centers • language access
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Local emergency family-planning resources
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Caregiver forms • school district resources • family court self-help
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District-level school insert
☐ Enrollment office and link.
☐ Proof-of-age options.
☐ Proof-of-residency options.
☐ Immunization/health requirements.
☐ Emergency contact form.
☐ Authorized pickup/release form.
☐ Photo-ID rule for pickup.
☐ Caregiver/guardian documentation accepted.
☐ McKinney-Vento homeless-education liaison.
☐ Language-access contact.
Institution-level financial insert
☐ Bank/broker/plan name and customer-service contact.
☐ Outside POA accepted? Institution form required?
☐ Principal and agent appearance requirements.
☐ Agent ID requirements.
☐ Online access available to agent?
☐ Foreign address/phone permitted?
☐ International distributions/wires permitted?
☐ Beneficiary/TOD/POD process.
☐ Date requirements last verified
SELECTED NATIONAL RESOURCES & SOURCES
Our Work
NHAEON is a Resource and Advocate for Haitian American Elected Officials throughout the US.
As the epicenter of resources for Haitian American elected officials across the country, NHAEON enhances the viability of the Haitian community through collaborative networking. Members of this communal network advocate for social justice issues that affect the most disproportionate communities.
Additionally, NHAEON fosters strong partnerships with community-based organizations and faith-based groups to further improve the livelihood of the Haitian American population.
PREPAREDNESS, NOT PANIC
The end of TPS can change immigration protection and work authorization. It does not automatically erase the family, property, savings, retirement, business, education, and community ties a person has built. The goal is to identify any remaining immigration option and put the right legal authority in place so families and affairs can continue to function during uncertainty.
