Short Hills DACA Consultants

Compassionate and Dedicated Guidance

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) extends removal relief to hundreds of thousands of individuals who unlawfully entered the United States as children. The program protects these individuals from removal so long as they continue to renew their status. However, program beneficiaries do not currently have a path to permanent citizenship.

Our Short Hills DACA consultants at Worldwide Legal Services are compassionate to the challenges that many immigrants face when they have accrued any level of unlawful presence. We are committed to helping those eligible for DACA protections to secure and renew their status.

Our team has over 50 years of combined experience and has handled over 10,000 cases. We can leverage our extensive knowledge of the U.S. immigration system to effectively manage your case.

We offer our services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Contact us online or call to learn more about how we can help you secure or renew your DACA status.

What Are the Requirements for DACA?

DACA status is reserved for immigrants that are currently unlawfully present in the United States and are under the age of 31. Qualifying requires meeting a series of restrictive and somewhat convoluted requirements.

To be eligible for DACA status, applicants must have:

• Entered the U.S. without legal status prior to turning 16
• Lived continuously in the U.S. since June 15, 2007
• Been physically present in the U.S. and had no legal status on June 15, 2012
• Been under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012
• A high school degree or a General Education Development certificate (GED) or be currently enrolled in school orbeen honorably discharged from the U.S. military
• Not been convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor or any combination of 3 misdemeanors

How Does DACA Work?

If you meet all of the program requirements, you will need to submit a petition and relevant documentation to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If your application is approved, you will receive DACA status and will be protected from removal efforts for a period of 2 years.

You will also be able to obtain:

• A work permit
• Driver’s license
• And Social Security Number (SSN)

You must renew your DACA status every 2 years. You should plan to submit your renewal request between 120 days and 150 days before your current status is set to expire.

You can generally renew your DACA status easily so long as:

• You were not convicted of a disqualifying crime
• Did not travel abroad without a permit
• And have continuously resided in the United States since your last renewal

The DACA program has been the subject of numerous legal battles, and the Trump administration attempted to outright dismantle the program in 2017. This has led to periods where USCIS has not accepted new applications or renewal requests, leaving current DACA beneficiaries in a state of uncertainty.

Currently, USCIS is accepting and processing new DACA applications and renewals, but the future of DACA is unclear. Our Short Hills DACA consultants at Worldwide Legal Services remain abreast of the latest immigration developments.

No matter what challenges DACA beneficiaries face, we never give up. Our team can help you explore all available options and will do everything possible to protect your status.

Put decades of experience on your side. Schedule a consultation by calling or contacting us online to