The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has finally announced the rules and regulations for renewing work permits and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. They also released a new edition of the form I-821D that will serve not only to request the renewal but also to request DACA for the first time.
Even though the Government expected more than one and a half million applications, until April 2014, only a little over 560,000 have benefited from this program. Those who are granted the Deferred Action benefit receive an employment authorization card valid for 2 years; during this period they may even request a permit to travel outside of the U.S. under certain circumstances.
USCIS recommends that the application for deferred action renewal be submitted at least 120 days in advance in order to avoid that the work permit and the status to expire without having received the new one. This is of particular importance for those who have been approved for DACA while they were under 18 years of age. USCIS also recommends not to file the request more than 150 in advance or it may be rejected.
The cost will remain the same for the renewal as well as for those who are requesting Deferred Action for the first time. Specifically, the applicants must pay $465 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
If you need to renew your Deferred Action or wish to know if you qualify for the first time, call us for a consultation at 704-644-7065. For additional information about the requisites for Deferred Action you can read the DACA section of our website.