Many New Jersey residents benefited from the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,” or DACA program instituted by President Barack Obama in 2012. While the Trump administration stopped accepting new applications in 2020, President Biden reopened the program under some conditions. While the federal government still isn’t accepting new applications, DACA recipients must continue to renew their status every two years.
When should I renew my DACA status?
The USICS, the federal agency that handles immigration, recommends that DACA recipients submit their renewal 120 to 150 days before their DACA expires. This ensures that the applicant has enough time to complete the renewal and that the USICS has time to renew it before the expiration date.
Conditions for DACA renewal
To request a DACA renewal, the applicant must meet the following conditions:
- The applicant did not leave the United States after August 15, 2012, without a valid travel document provided by a government agency (Form I-131).
- The applicant was not convicted of a felony, three or more misdemeanors or a single serious misdemeanor during his or her time in the United States.
- The applicant does not pose a threat to public safety or national security.
- The applicant lived continuously in the United States between the date of his or her last DACA request and the current renewal application.
How to file for DACA renewal
If this is your first time filing for a DACA renewal, you may not know what the government requires. DACA recipients filing for renewal must:
- Complete and sign form I-821D.
- Complete and sign form I-765.
- Pay the renewal fee of $495.
- Provide documentation of updated deportation or removal proceedings between the most recent DACA request and the current renewal application.
- Provide documentation of any criminal history since the initial DACA application.
The current administration has made it clear that they intend to continue the DACA program. However, the renewal requirements will continue to be a crucial component of the process.
