DACA
DACA renewals, and a look at what comes after
DACA protects you from deportation and lets you work, two years at a time. We file each renewal early, and use it as a chance to check whether you now qualify for something more lasting.
We recommend filing four to five months before your current DACA expires. Each time, we ask what has changed: a marriage, a parent who became a citizen, a job offer, a trip you took with permission. Any of these can open a door that wasn't there at your last renewal. The program itself has been in court for years, so we follow the rulings and tell you what they mean for you.
What each renewal includes
- 01
A date on our calendar
We note when your DACA expires and call you five months ahead, so a renewal never starts late.
- 02
The forms and the fee
Forms I-821D and I-765 with the government fee, checked against your past filings so nothing contradicts them.
- 03
A review of your options
A short meeting about what's changed in your life, and whether any of it opens a path to a green card.
- 04
Help with travel
If you need to travel for family, school or work, we can ask for advance parole first. Never leave the country without it.
Questions about DACA
When should I start my renewal?
Four to five months before your current approval expires. Filing much earlier can lead to overlap, and filing later risks a gap in your work permit.
Can I apply for DACA for the first time?
The rules on first-time requests have changed several times as the courts have ruled. Ask us what's true the week you call; we'll also check whether another path fits you better.
My DACA lapsed. Is it too late?
If it expired less than a year ago, you can usually still file it as a renewal. After a year, it's treated as a new request. Either way, bring your old approval notices and we'll sort out where you stand.
Put your renewal on our calendar
Bring your last approval notice and your work permit card.