DACA
Due to a federal court order, USCIS has resumed accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under DACA. Until further notice, and unless otherwise provided, the DACA policy will be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded on Sept. 5, 2017.
Individuals who were previously granted deferred action under DACA may request a renewal, but USCIS is not accepting requests from individuals who have never before been granted deferred action under DACA. USCIS will not accept or approve advance parole requests from DACA recipients.
Were you a child when you arrived in the U.S.? If so, then you may be able to stay here legally, even if you’re undocumented. A program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, is designed to help you through a difficult situation. To learn more about DACA and whether or not you qualify for the program, contact the lawyers at Estrella Immigration.
Thousands of people illegally arrived in the U.S. when they were children. They are not at fault for their situation, yet U.S. law used to say that illegal child immigrants had to be deported to their country of origin. That changed under President Obama, who passed a law to make it possible for individuals who met certain eligibility requirements to stay in the U.S. legally.
The program is called DACA, and it’s designed to protect eligible people from deportation. Additionally, a person who is accepted into the DACA program may be able to get a work permit and a social security number. Some individuals also may be able to get a driver’s license in the state where they reside.
It is important to understand that DACA is not a permanent solution. It is granted for an initial two-year period that may be renewed. However, it will never result in the receipt of a Green Card or in U.S. citizenship. These credentials come about as the result of entirely separate processes. During the two-year DACA deferral period, it may be possible for you to pursue a Green Card or citizenship.
Not everyone will qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The eligibility requirements include:
- You must have entered the U.S. prior to your 16th birthday
- You must have been continuously living in the U.S. for no fewer than five years on June 15, 2012
- You must have actually been in the U.S. on June 15, 2012
- You are in high school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a GED or are a veteran of the U.S. armed forces
- You are fewer than 30 years old
- You have not been convicted of a felony offense or a significant misdemeanor
- You have not been convicted of multiple misdemeanors
- You do not pose a threat to public safety or national security
It is not easy to gather all of the documentation that you need to prove your eligibility for DACA. At a minimum, you will need the following documents:
- Proof of your identity
- Documentation of your immigration status
- Evidence of your educational achievements
- Proof of presence in the U.S. for at least five years prior to June 15, 2012
- Proof that you were in the U.S. on June 15, 2012
- Documents showing that you are not a threat to public safety or national security
When you work with an experienced lawyer from Estella Immigration, you can be certain that your application is properly prepared and that you have all of the evidence that is required for your case. Contact Estrella today to learn more.
