Tag Archives: Dream Act

Immigration News, Immigration Reform News

The Expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals starts in February

The expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) begins on February 18, 2015. On that day, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting applications under the expanded guidelines announced by the President in November of 2014. The DACA program grants a period of deferred action for eligible individuals who entered the U.S. before the age of 16. With deferred action, the government agrees to issue an Employment Authorization card and not deport an individual.

Eligibility under the new DACA program includes the following changes:

  • There is no age limitation, the applicant no longer has to have been born before Jun 15, 1981;
  • Applicants must prove continuous presence in the U.S. since January 1, 2010 (the prior continuous presence date was June 15, 2007).
  • Approved applicants will receive deferred action and work authorization for three years instead of two.

All other DACA guidelines remain the same. To find out if you qualify under the new program, please schedule a consultation.

See the full requirements for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Immigration Reform News

Immigration Executive Action to be Announced Thursday, November 20

THE PRESIDENT IS SET TO ANNOUNCE HIS PLANS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION TOMORROW AT 8:00 pm.

President Obama will announce his plans on national TV during a prime time event Thursday evening. Full details will be announced by the President at a rally in Las Vegas on Friday.

We will post full details as soon as we have them.

Immigration Reform News

New Immigration Form Announced for Dreamers Deferred Action

On August 3, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security announced that beginning on August 15, 2012, persons meeting the criteria below will be able to apply for deferred action and work authorization. They have created a new form for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The form will be available on August 15.

The filing fee for both DACA and work authorization is $465. The filing fee must be made payable to the “Department of Homeland Security”.

You may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals if you:

Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;
Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

To be considered “currently in school” under the guidelines, you must be enrolled in school on the date you submit a request for consideration of deferred action under this process. If you have not graduated high school – enroll in school now!

Individuals may begin to request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals on August 15, 2012.

read new deferred action guidelines from USCIS