DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. About 800,000 people currently residing in the United States were brought to the country illegally by their parents. While DACA does not grant these children citizenship or a green card, it aims to protect them from deportation as they are innocent and have no role in their parents’ unlawful activity.
DACA allows you to be protected from being removed from the country as well as provides them with certain rights and opportunities. The DACA applications are not permanent but temporary with renewal periods. If you want to apply for DACA, speak to a DACA lawyer today.
Understanding DACA
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is an administrative relief that protects illegal immigrants brought to the United States during their childhood from deportation and provides them with the opportunity to work. The work permit is not permanent but can be renewed every two years. However, people with a DACA status still cannot enjoy certain federal benefits, such as Medicaid for health care, Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Eligibility to apply for DACA
To be eligible to apply for DACA status, the legal requirements are as follows:
- The applicant should be under 31 years old as of June 15, 2012.
- The applicant must have continuously lived in the United States since June 15, 2007, and up to the time when they applied.
- The applicant was brought to the US before their 16th birthday.
- The applicant never had a lawful immigration status before June 15, 2012 (this includes expired or otherwise terminated statuses).
- The applicant was physically present in the US on June 15, 2012, and during the time of their application.
- The applicant should have a criminal record. They should not have been convicted of a felony, serious misdemeanors, or 3-4 misdemeanors.
- The applicant must have a high school certification or GED, be currently enrolled in a school, or should have served in the United States Coast Guard or the United States armed forces.
DACA applications– how to apply?
Here are the steps to apply for DACA. However, please do not apply alone. Take help from an attorney.
- Collect all documents to show evidence of your eligibility.
- Fill out the necessary forms, submit the fees, and be sure of the deadlines.
- Complete the biometric services.
- Wait to check the status of your case by logging into your USCIS online account.
While the steps may look straightforward, they can be complex, especially the second one. Consult with an attorney to avoid errors and chances of rejection.
