How to renew DACA status

The process to renew DACA is essential to maintain the benefits of this program. Learn how to present this process, the fees and some recommendations that will help you achieve it faster.

Life has multiple paths and we will never be certain of what destiny will bring us. This is the reality of millions of migrant families who have come to the United States for decades looking for better life opportunities and betting all their cards on the American dream.

Unfortunately, being without legal stay in the country, they have faced constant problems, including fear of deportation and little or no access to basic services.

Faced with this obvious problem, in 2012 the DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was created. This program had been a complete success, providing benefits to almost a million dreamers or people who arrived in the United States as minors.

Some of the resources that Dreamers now have access to are:

• Protection from deportation for two years
• Social Security
• The possibility of working legally

What is the status of DACA renewals?

In June 2021, the order of a judge in the state of Texas declared the policy of the DACA program illegal, this restricted the authorization of initial petitions and only renewal applications were maintained by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

People who received approval to apply for DACA before July 16, 2021, can carry out their renewal process. Meeting the following requirements.

Requirements to renew DACA

• File Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, online.
• Not have left the United States without advance re-entry permission or after August 15, 2012.
• Continuously residing in the United States, since the most recent DACA request was filed and approved.
• Not be convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors (ie, not pose a threat to national and public security).

The recommendation issued by the USCIS is to submit the renewal form between 120 and 150 days before the expiration of the permit. If you do not receive a response for more than 105 days after submitting the process you should contact get in touch to verify your status.

The request to renew DACA can also be submitted within one year after its expiration, under the same process. If this period is exceeded, you will lose the rights obtained and it will be necessary to start the initial petition process, which would put your immigration status at risk, due to the current situation.

Fees to renew DACA

The cost that you must cover when filing this form is $495 USD, which includes $85 USD for biometric services. Take into account every detail of the Form I-821D form, because in case there of any error, payment fees are non-refundable.