If you came to the U.S. as a child, you may want to know if you have options for avoiding deportation and extending your ability to stay in the country. One of these options is the government program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DACA went into effect in 2012 and provides a way for certain people who came to the U.S. as children to request deferred action for two-year periods. Under DACA, those who came to the U.S. as children can also request work authorization.
Filing for DACA
There are certain requirements you must meet before filing for DACA. For example, you must have come to the U.S. before turning 16 and continuously lived in the U.S. since June of 2007. You must have also enrolled in school and not have any felony offenses on your record.
If you meet these requirements and want to apply for DACA, you must submit several forms of documentation. For instance, you must submit proof of identity, proof you came to the U.S. before you were 16 and proof of your immigration status.
Appealing a denial
If your DACA request gets denied, you cannot file an appeal for USCIS to review their decision. For this reason, you must carefully submit all documentation supporting your case when originally applying for DACA.
Whether or not you can get approved for DACA could impact your life and the future of your immigration status. Take legal action if your request for DACA gets denied, so you can potentially avoid the deportation process.