DACA

What is DACA?

“Dreamers” are immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. The name comes from the DREAM Act. 

Different versions of the DREAM ACT have been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives but thus far have failed to become law. As a temporary solution, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was implemented by former President Obama in 2012.

Qualifying for DACA

Before listing the requirements for DACA, the Waxler Team wants you to understand that, while DACA may be a good temporary solution, it does not provide a path to residency or citizenship at this time.

If you consult with us regarding DACA we will not just assess whether you qualify for DACA, but more importantly, we will also assess how DACA can help you reach your ultimate goals of permanent lawful immigration status in the United States.   

The best way to know if you have a pathway to residency and citizenship is to sit down with an experienced and caring lawyer that will listen to your full story and the details of your case.

Immigration attorney Sherilyn Holcombe Waxler can help you determine if you are eligible for DACA, and whether you have any other options to seek lawful status in the United States that you may not be aware of. Request an initial consultation.

Who is eligible for DACA?

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you may be eligible for DACA if you:

  • were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012

  • came to the US before your 16th birthday

  • are 15 years old or older

  • have continued to live in the US since June 15, 2007 to the present time

  • were physically present in the US on June 15, 2012

  • were physically present at the time of making your DACA request

  • had no lawful status on or before (or if you did, it had expired by) June 15, 2012

  • are either still in school, you’ve earned your High School Diploma or GED, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces

  • you have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or more than three misdemeanors

  • do not pose a threat to the United States

The most important part of our consultation with you about your DACA case is not whether you qualify for DACA or DACA renewal, it is whether there are other immigration benefits that you are eligible for, some of which may expire if you reach the age of 21 before applying.  

In our experience, many Dreamers come to us believing they are eligible for DACA and discover that they (and sometimes their entire families) have other options to obtain lawful immigration status they were not aware of. Request a consultation.

Hiring an Immigration Attorney

If you or a loved one is in need of assistance with your DACA renewal or your initial DACA request, or you already have DACA but want to know if there are long term immigration options available to you, please contact us at Waxler Immigration Law. 

We’ve helped hundreds of clients achieve their desired status and we’d love to help you, too.

Call us today to request your initial consultation or fill out the Contact Form.