Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy that allows young unauthorized immigrants who are low enforcement priorities to remain in the country with temporary lawful status. If you were born outside of the United States and entered the country as a child without proper authorization, you may be able to avoid deportation and obtain temporary work authorization. Our Orange County immigration lawyers explain what you need to qualify for DACA.
DACA Eligibility Requirements
Although the Trump administration disrupted the DACA program, the Biden Administration has decided to keep the DACA program in place for now. Below we have put together the requirements needed to apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
- You must have entered the country before the age of 16 and be under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012.
- You must have continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2007.
- You must be at least 15 years of age and be in school, have graduated high school, received a GED, or have been honorably discharged from military service.
- You can’t be considered a threat to national security.
- You can’t have felony convictions or have more than three misdemeanors.
Can I Still Apply for DACA?
On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued a memorandum to Homeland Security, directing them to take appropriate action to preserve DACA. This means that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is accepting first-time requests for consideration of deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Orange County Immigration Attorneys
If you want to apply for DACA or want to renew your application, our team at Yekrangi & Associates is here to help you. We are dedicated to helping families and individuals with their immigration cases. We walk them through the process and help them achieve their desired results. Our team also stays up to date with all the ever-changing immigration laws. If you have questions about your case or the DACA application process, we are here to help you.
Contact our Orange County immigration lawyers today at (949) 478-4963 to schedule a case review!