As we mark the third anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, we would like to provide you with some DACA renewal tips.
If you do not want to fall out of status and become an undocumented immigrant again, then you will need to make sure that you renew DACA at the right time. Do not be one of those who wait for too long to file a DACA renewal application. Waiting for too long to apply for DACA may result in the expiration of your work permit and your temporary status. That is because your documents might expire before the USCIS finishes processing your request for DACA renewal. Remember that USCIS receives a lot of applications and processes them in the order received. Applications filed first will be processed first.
Like how you filed an application for initial DACA, you must file Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals with Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization and Form I-765 Worksheet to get your deferred action status renewed. Without these two forms, your I-821D application will not be accepted.
Do the following to make sure that you don’t fall out of status.
- File an application for renewal of DACA at the right time, that is between 120 and 150 days before the expiration of your current deferred action status and employment authorization document.
- Submit the three required forms, Form I-821D, Form I-765 and Form I-765WS. The fee that you must pay is $465.
- Submit the necessary supporting documents that you may not have submitted at the time of filing your initial DACA request. Make sure to submit documents related to your criminal history and removal proceedings, if any.
- If you had traveled abroad after receiving DACA, submit proof of advance parole.
- Submit proof of legal name changes, if applicable.
- USCIS may face backlogs. So you will need to respond to the Requests for Evidence that the agency may send to ensure that you do not face processing delays.
To prevent DACA recipients from falling out of status, USCIS is mailing renewal reminder notices around 180 days before the date of expiry of their current period of DACA. USCIS does this to ensure that DACA recipients have enough time to prepare their DACA renewal applications. If you receive one such notice, start the renewal process as soon as possible.