Certain undocumented persons who were brought to the United States by their parents may use Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, to apply for “DACA.”
Collectively, Form I-821D and the other forms filed together with it are known as the DACA application. Submitting the DACA application means that you are asking U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to allow you to stay in the U.S. temporarily until you become eligible for another form of relief, your DACA status expires, or USCIS terminates your deferral.
Benefits of DACA
Deferred action is a technical way of saying that the beneficiary is protected from deportation. A grant of deferred action through the DACA program provides:
- Temporary relief from deportation; and
- Employment authorization (work permit).
President Obama’s initial policy provided for DACA grants in renewable, two-year periods. In June 2020, the Trump administration reduced the grant period (and associated employment authorization) to one-year increments.
RECOMMENDED: How to Prepare for a DACA Renewal Application
DACA Application Packet
To request consideration for an initial grant of DACA or renewal, the applicant must file the following three forms with USCIS:
- Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
- Form I-765 Worksheet
All three forms must be submitted together. Initial applicants must submit several supporting documents to establish eligibility for DACA. Renewal applicants must also submit a much smaller list of documents to extend the protections of DACA. Detailed filing requirements can be found at USCIS.gov or by using CitizenPath to prepare your DACA application packet.
RECOMMENDED: DACA Eligibility Requirements
Cost of DACA
The fee to request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals, including employment authorization and biometric services, is $495, and cannot be waived. In very rare circumstances, there is a DACA fee exemption.
RECOMMENDED: Cost for DACA Application
What Happens After Filing Form I-821D
The processing time for a DACA renewal application can vary from 6 to 12 months for most applicants. During this time, USCIS will adjudicate the request for deferred action (Form I-821D) and then process the application for employment authorization (Form I-765).
RECOMMENDED: What Happens After Filing Form I-821D for DACA