September 22, 2021
DACA Renewal Tips
Dear Stakeholder,
The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) is sharing the tips below for submitting a request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to renew your Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
- File as early as possible. USCIS recommends that applicants submit a DACA renewal request 150 to 120 days before the expiration date on the current Form I-797, Notice of Action, and Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
- Currently, you can file more than 150 days in advance of the expiration date. Filing slightly more than 150 days prior to the end of your DACA EAD may avoid a gap in employment authorization. However, doing so may also result in an overlap between your current DACA and your renewal. This means your renewal period may extend for less than a full two years from the date that your current DACA period expires.
- USCIS processing times may fluctuate, lengthening or decreasing the anticipated amount of time it will take to adjudicate your renewal. You should always consult the USCIS Check Case Processing Times web page before proceeding.
- Make sure your request is complete. Before submitting your request:
- Make sure you are submitting the most recent versions of Form I-821D, Form I-765 and the Form I-765 Worksheet.
- Review all the forms to ensure that these are signed.
- Confirm that you are paying the appropriate fee.
- Check USCIS’ processing times. Please visit the agency’s Check Case Processing Times web page to find out the current timeframes to process the Form I-821D and Form I-765.
- No expedites. Please note USCIS has traditionally not processed requests for DACA expedites.
More Information
For more information on DACA, please visit the USCIS Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Frequently Asked Questions web pages.
The CIS Ombudsman is committed to meeting with stakeholders and USCIS to address concerns related to DACA. Additional updates on this topic will be shared by the CIS Ombudsman as appropriate. For more information on our office, please visit our website.
Please complete the CIS Ombudsman Customer Satisfaction Survey. We appreciate your feedback.
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