U.S. immigration law isn’t just confusing—it’s time consuming.
That’s especially true if you’re planning your DACA renewal.
Right now, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is urging DACA recipients to file their renewals requests as soon as possible. In fact, they encourage you to start the process at least four months prior to your DACA expiration date.
In this article, we’ll show you exactly what you need to do to get started.
Plus, we will also discuss the benefits of DACA, review its recent history, and reveal where you can renew your DACA status today.
What is DACA?
On June 15, 2012, President Barack Obama made a landmark announcement before the American people.
With the full support of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), President Obama pledged not to deport undocumented youth who had arrived in the United States as children.
This executive order was officially named the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and it was swiftly implemented by Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.
What is DACA? It’s a lifeline for countless people.
In addition to providing temporary relief from deportation, DACA offered immigrant youths temporary work authorization permits to begin (or continue) their careers.
An individual’s DACA status can be renewed every two years. However, it’s important to note that DACA does not confer permanent legal residence, grant a green card, or provide a pathway to citizenship.
Over a decade after its initial introduction, DACA still remains a temporary protection.
Benefits of DACA
There are over 500,000 DACA recipients living and working in the U.S.
As DACA legislation has matured, so has the average age of its recipients. In 2017, the average age of DACA holders was roughly 23, while it sits just below 30 today.
Though they live all across the country, DACA recipients are most notably represented in Texas and California. In fact, roughly 44% of all DACA holders reside in those two states.
As a collective, DACA recipients enjoy a range of advantages and protections, including:
- Deportation protection, as they will not face the immediate fear of removal to a country they no longer call home.
- Work authorization, as they receive temporary permits to legally work in the United States and advance their careers.
- Social Security Numbers (SSNs), which are typically out of reach for noncitizens. With a SSN, DACA holders can gain increased access to healthcare services and private insurance.
- Driver’s license, which DACA recipients can legally obtain in all 50 states.
- Access to education, which can even include in-state tuition, state financial aid, and certain scholarships and grants. However, in most cases, federal student aid remains unavailable to DACA holders.
The benefits of DACA are clear.
Better yet, thanks to recent legislation, DACA recipients may also enjoy privileges beyond the original scope of President Obama’s 2012 executive order.
For example, the Biden administration’s new immigration policy provides a pathway to permanent residence for DACA recipients who married U.S. citizens.
To qualify, applicants must have been married to a U.S. citizen prior to June 17, 2024 and have lived continuously in the United States for at least 10 years.
History of DACA
While DACA was born in 2012, its roots date back to the turn of the 21st century.
In 2001, Congress first introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. This legislation had one clear goal: to provide children of undocumented immigrants with a pathway to citizenship.
These individuals, all under the age of 16, were called “DREAMers.”
Despite being a bipartisan policy, Congress repeatedly failed to pass the DREAM Act until President Obama took unilateral action in June 2012. By November of that year, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting applications for the program.
In 2014, Obama announced plans to extend DACA protections to more undocumented immigrants. While the heir apparent to the bipartisan DREAM Act, the DACA extensions were met with resistance.
In 2016, 26 states banded together to file a lawsuit—Texas v. United States—that aimed to limit DACA’s reach. Though the lawsuit was successful in receiving a preliminary injunction against expanded DACA provisions, it did not derail the program.
Still, after surviving state-led lawsuits, DACA would face its biggest challenge yet: surviving attacks from the Trump administration.
In September 2017, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions formally announced the Trump administration’s decision to rescind DACA.
However, immediately after pledging to block new applications, the Trump administration was met with multiple lawsuits, including Batalla Vidal v. United States, New York v. Trump (DACA), and Regents of the University of California v. Department of Homeland Security.
During this time, several major cities across the country—including New York, Washington D.C., and San Francisco—blocked the government from shutting down DACA.
Then, after months of debate and political intrigue, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the DACA case in 2019. The following year, SCOTUS stunned the nation by blocking the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle DACA in a landmark 5-4 decision.
Despite this victory, DACA remains under constant attack.
In September 2023, a federal judge declared DACA illegal, prompting news outlets to claim the program is on “life support.”
As Former President Obama wrote in June 2024: “Because the program that offered that protection remains temporary, [DACA recipients] are also living in fear of being sent back to a country many of them can’t even remember.”
Unfortunately, many more immigrants are without protections altogether.
While first-time DACA applications are still being accepted, they are not being processed at this time. Due to court order, the USCIS is forbidden from granting DACA status to any new applications. We will update this article if and when the order is terminated.
Fortunately, DACA renewals are still being freely accepted and processed.
How to Renew DACA in 2024
Need to renew your DACA? You can easily do so online in the following six steps.
1. Locate Your Previous DACA Renewal Filing
This is a great way to expedite the process. After all, your initial filing will have most (if not all) of the information you need to renew.
As always, be sure to double check its accuracy and update any new information (such as a change in your mailing address or marital status).
If this is your first time requesting a renewal, don’t worry. We will outline the application process in the steps below.
2. Create a Free USCIS Account
You can easily open a free USCIS account online. Under the “My Account” tab, click “File a Form Online.”
The USCIS website has many forms available, so be sure to select Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Next, after you complete I-821D, be sure to fill out Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
Finally, you will need to print out Form I-765WS (i.e. your I-765 worksheet) and upload the completed copy to the USCIS portal.
You can view all these documents online (alongside a video tutorial of the application process).
3. Complete the Application Forms
If you have your previous DACA renewal application on hand, this step will be easy.
However, if this is your first time requesting a DACA renewal, we encourage you to take your time. Read the instructions carefully and answer each question as best you can.
To avoid any errors, you might also consider seeking assistance from a local DACA non-profit. For example, check out Informed Immigrant to find free and low-cost DACA legal services in your area.
4. Pay the Requested Fee
As of April 1, 2024, the USCIS officially increased their fee structures: $555 for online DACA renewals and $605 for applications renewed by mail.
The I-821D form costs $85, while the employment authorization Form I-765 costs $470.
While using the USCIS portal, you will be directed to the U.S. Department of Treasury subsidiary site, pay.gov. From there, you will be able to select payment via bank account withdrawal, credit card, debit card, or prepaid card.
Any applications postmarked after April 1, 2024 must include the updated fees, or USCIS will not accept them.
5. Upload Your Documents
Once you pay the fee, you will be able to upload your documents and supporting evidence.
These files will likely include your cover letter, two recent passport-style photos, a copy of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), as well as your Form I-765, I-821D, and I-765 worksheet.
If you need inspiration for your DACA renewal cover letter, you can find a free sample letter and template here. Just be sure to select “Form I-821D” to download the correct materials.
6. Submit Your Application
Once your documents are uploaded, you can press “submit” with confidence.
To check the status of your DACA renewal, simply log in to your USCIS account for updates.
How long should you expect to wait? Renewal times vary, but the USCIS recommends you submit your request at least 120 days (four months) prior to your DACA expiration date.
In some cases, the USCIS may request additional biometrics—like facial scans, fingerprints and photographs—for certain renewal applications.
If you receive a notice for an in-person biometrics appointment, don’t overlook it. Failure to appear for your scheduled meeting could delay your renewal request.
To avoid this scenario, regularly check your application status in the USCIS portal.
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DACA policies have weathered countless political storms over the last decade.
While new applications are on hold, we remain hopeful that the court order will be rescinded and allow for more people to make America their home.
In the meantime, DACA renewals are moving along without interruption. If your status expires in the next year, we encourage you to take action and begin the renewal process as soon as your schedule allows.
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