DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) Renewals to Begin in Late May
DACA is a
program created by the Obama administration that went into effect in August 2012. It allows eligible undocumented
individuals (or individuals who are present in the U.S. without lawful
immigration status) to apply for permission to work here. When the government
approves a DACA application, it is also stating that the recipient will not be
placed into deportation proceedings.
There are 7 primary
requirements for eligibility:
1. You must have come to the U.S. before
reaching your 16th birthday,
2. have continuously resided in
the U.S. since June 15, 2007, up to the present time,
3. be under the age of 31 years
as of June 15, 2012,
4. have been physically present
in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, and be physically present at the time
you are making the request for DACA,
5. have entered the U.S.
without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status must
have expired as of June 15, 2012,
6. currently be in school, have
graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have
obtained a GED certificate or other equivalent state-authorized exam in the
U.S., or be an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of
the U.S., and
7. not have been convicted of a
felony, significant misdemeanor, or 3 or more other misdemeanors, and not pose a threat to national security or public safety.
An approved DACA application is valid for only two (2) years. However, it may be renewed indefinitely.
For immigrants who applied in the summer or fall of 2012, it is almost time to request renewal. Two days ago, USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) posted an update on the renewal process. The renewal form should be available in late May. For more information, you can visit:
http://immigrationimpact.com/2014/04/10/uscis-releases-information-about-daca-renewal-process/