UPDATES:

7/17/2020: Yesterday a federal court in Maryland ordered the Trump administration to take initial DACA and Advance Parole applications. I will be working with American Gateways, La Puerta and others to plan a pro bono clinic in Waco for initial applications. If you have called my office, we will contact you with more information. If you would like more information, give us a call.

6/19/2020: Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Trump administration did not properly end the DACA program. This may create an opportunity to file new applications for those who have not had DACA or to file Advance Parole application for those with DACA who have an urgent need to travel outside the U.S. Call us if you would like to be contacted if applications are possible. My advice for those who have DACA currently continues to be to renew your DACA if your expiration date is in 2020.

4/28/2020 - The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on whether President Trump's rescission of DACA is valid. I expect that the Court will allow the end of DACA. I recommend that anyone whose DACA expires in 2020, renew their DACA as soon as possible. The filing fee is $495. We will prepare your application without charging legal fees. Call us to set up an appointment.

9/5/17 - The Trump Administration has announced that it will phase out and eventually end DACA.

This means that as of September 5, 2017:

INITIAL APPLICATIONS:

• USCIS will continue to process all pending initial applications accepted as of 09/05/2017.
• USCIS will reject all other new initial applications.

RENEWAL APPLICATIONS:

• USCIS will continue to process all pending renewal applications that have been filed.
• USCIS will continue to accept and process renewal applications until October 5, 2017 from applicants whose DACA expires between 09/05/2017 and 03/05/2018.
• DACA recipients whose DACA has already expired are no longer eligible to renew.
• USCIS will reject all applications received after October 5, 2017.

CURRENT DACA HOLDERS:

• DACA holders whose grant of DACA expires after 03/05/2018 will continue to hold DACA until it expires.
• DACA holders maintain their protection from deportation and work permit until their current expiration date.

TRAVEL ON DACA ADVANCE PAROLE:

• Previously approved grants of Advance Parole remain valid and individuals may exit and return to the U.S. within the dates provided in the travel document.
• If you are outside the U.S. on a grant of Advance Parole, you should return as soon as possible. USCIS states that those currently outside the U.S. will be able to return as long as they do so before their grant of Advance Parole expires.
• I do not recommend that any person with DACA Advance Parole leave the country even within the dates allowed on the travel document as U.S. Customs and Border Protection may deny you re-entry to the U.S.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS:

• The SS# issued to you by the Social Security Administration is a valid SS# for life, even once your work permit and DACA grant expire.

DISCLAIMER

This page is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

Last updated September 6, 2017