DACA Restored! Dreamers don’t just dream - take action today!

On December 4, 2020, the District Court of New York ordered USCIS to FULLY REINSTATE DACA throughout the country! What does this mean for you? This means that if you meet certain guidelines, you can apply now for DACA as a first-time applicant. For those of you who have consulted with us in the past and are on our “DACA list”, be on alert for a phone call or text message from our office. Please feel welcome to call our office to schedule an appointment if you want to speak with us immediately, or would like to schedule a first-time consultation with us.

Basic eligibility:

• Born on or after June 15, 1981, and

• Under the age of 15 years old when arrived to the United States.

  ~Know someone who might qualify? Tell them to call us today!

DACA changes your life by giving you:

• Work authorization/Work Permit;

• Social Security Number;

• Valid status in the United States;

• The opportunity to continue studying/pursuing your personal goals;

• Stability - protection from immigration enforcement and removal; and

• Permission to travel under Advance Parole

Common misunderstandings about DACA:

• Never studied? DACA doesn’t require past education - this is the most common mistake we see in our DACA screening. Consult with us to learn how you can qualify for DACA today.

• If you think Dreamers are all very young, think again - Dreamers born in 1981 turned 39 years old this year. You cannot age out of DACA. As long as you were born on or after June 15, 1981, you still qualify today.

• You have a child or are married - you still qualify for DACA regardless of whether you are married or have children.

• If you’ve never applied before - You can apply now that DACA has been restored!

• You applied before but were denied - You can apply again now! Consult with us if you don’t know why your application was denied, or if you had trouble gathering evidence from when you first arrived to the United States. We may be able to offer ideas to help you gather better evidence and help you reapply.

• You’re afraid because you’ve had an arrest. Consult with us to find out if your record will impact your case. Many times, an arrest will not impact your application. Don’t assume negatively - talk to us and review your case history with an experienced immigration attorney. In the majority of cases, this review is routine and is part of the consultation.

“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you will miss them.”

-William Arthur Ward

Still can’t believe it? Check USCIS’ website for updates on this important change. The District Court ordered USCIS to update their website on or before December 7, 2020. https://www.uscis.gov/archive/consideration-of-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-daca

Welcome back, DACA! We can’t wait to get to work this week!

~Your Legal Team @ De Castro Foden