What is DACA?

On Behalf of | Aug 30, 2022 | Deportation Defense |

If you came to the U.S. as a child, you may be eligible to apply for consideration to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. As long as you meet certain criteria, you can avoid immigration removal actions for certain periods of time and even receive work authorization.

DACA went into effect on June 15, 2012, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and has allowed many immigrants to continue living in the U.S. If you want to apply to this program, there are several things you should know about it.

Guidelines for requesting DACA

There are many guidelines you must follow if you want to apply for DACA. For example, you must have been under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, and you must also have come to the U.S. before you reached your 16th birthday. Additionally, you cannot have a criminal record and you must have graduated from high school or received your GED.

The filing process

If you meet the qualifications to apply for DACA, you must gather several pieces of information to apply. For instance, you must present proof of your identity, proof that you came to the U.S. before you turned 16 and proof of immigration status. You must also provide information that proves you continuously lived in the U.S. and that you either graduated high school or earned your GED.

Although DACA can help you avoid deportation, there is no guarantee that you will receive approval to remain in the U.S. through this program. If your application received a denial, take action to protect your right to remain in the U.S. under DACA.