Today a 21 year old man with no immigration status called my office and told me that he has been living in the US since he was a small child. His buddy is a client and thought that I might be able to help.
When I asked him why he had not applied for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), he replied that he did not know what that program is.
DACA was implemented on 8.15.12. It is a program for so-called DREAMers, youth in the US who arrived before age 16.
Those with DACA receive 2 year work permits which they have used to obtain Social Security cards and Driver’s Licenses.
Also there are special rules by which a DACA recipient might be able to travel legally outside the US.
Thus, The Greatest Mystery of The DREAM ACT Solved – 10 Answers.
In order to qualify for DACA you:
- Must be younger than 31 as of 6.15.12
- Must have entered US before the age of 16
- Must have been in US for 5 continuous years (since on or before 6.15.07)
- Must be At Least 15 years old, unless in removal proceedings
- Need to show NO serious criminal history
- Must be US high school graduate, earned GED, served in US military, or be enrolled in school or enrolled in a GED program (do not be discouraged by this issue if you have not yet enrolled, as there are many programs available).
- Must pass government background check
- If you have a current or prior deportation or removal case you are still eligible for deferred action – talk to an expert
- Although more than half a million people have applied and 400,000 have been approved, there are hundreds of thousands yet to apply
- These cases are taking as little as a few months and Immigration has been very generous in accepting evidence
What are you waiting for?
For more information see NewDreamAct.com
