DACA RENEWAL PROCESS ANNOUNCED

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced details surrounding the renewal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status. DACA granted certain individuals who arrived in the US under the age of 16 and who were physically present in the US between June 15, 2007 and June 15, 2012 (among other criteria) to obtain deferred action status and work authorization The first DACA applications were approved in September 2012 with expiration dates in September 2014. As of April 2014, some 560,000 DACA applications were approved.

DHS has released a new DACA renewal application, Form I-821D. The renewal process also requires submission of the work authorization Form I-765 and the I-765 worksheet. The extension request must also be accompanied by the $465 filing fee.

All DACA renewal applications must meet the following criteria:

-no departures from the US on or after August 15, 2012 without advance parole;

-continuous residence in the US since submitting their most recent DACA application;

-no convictions for a felony, a significant misdemeanor or three or more misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

Any questions on the DACA extension process can be directed to our office.