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DACA

How To Renew Your DACA

At NAKASEC, we are committed to supporting DACA recipients. We encourage all current DACA recipients to renew their DACA. Please note that renewals only apply for those who currently have DACA OR for people whose DACA expired less than a year ago. Any longer than a year ago will make the application an initial request, not a renewal.

To avoid processing delays, we also encourage all DACA recipients to renew at least 150 days before their expiration date. 

*Note on Prior Police / ICE Interaction: If you are a DACA recipient that has had interaction with law enforcement or ICE, you should consult an immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative prior to submitting a renewal request.

Renewing your DACA online

You can file your DACA renewal online through the six steps below (thanks to Informed Immigrant’s DACA renewal guide). Renewing online is simple, and can save time!

Review and Update Your Previous Renewal Filing

Find your previous renewal filing and use it as a guide to complete your new renewal filing. Cross-reference your old and new filings to ensure the information is consistent. Make sure the information on your new renewal filing is updated. For example, if you recently moved, ensure your current physical and mailing address is listed on your DACA renewal form.

01

Create and Use a Free USCIS Online Account

  1. Once you set up your USCIS account, login and click on the “Menu” option in the top right hand corner. Under “Account Actions” you will see an option to file a form online. You can file the following forms online:
    1. Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
      Instruction guide for Form I-821D
    2. Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
      Instructions guide for Form I-765
    3. **You will also need to submit form I-765WS. This form isn’t available to fill out electronically, so you will need to print it and upload it to the USCIS portal with your other documents. 
    • Concurrent filing is available. You can complete Form I-765 online after you sign Form I-821D online, allowing you to submit both forms at the same time. 

02

Fill Out Your Forms with Guidance

  1. Use your previous DACA renewal application to guide you through filling out the online forms. If you do not have a copy, fill out the application to the best of your ability. Or, we strongly urge you to consider seeking out assistance from local non-profit organizations that provide free to low-cost legal assistance.
    • USICS will automatically save your responses when you navigate to another section of the form. They will save your information for 30 days from the last day you worked on the forms. If you do not work on your application after 30 days, they will delete your data in order to prevent storing personal information indefinitely.

03

Upload Supporting Documents

Upload all necessary supporting documents as part of your DACA renewal application process.

04

Pay the $495 Fee

After completing and signing Form I-821D and Form I-765, you will need to pay the $495 fee. USCIS will direct you to the Department of Treasury site, pay.gov, to pay your fees online. Payment methods include:

  • Credit card, debit card, or prepaid card
  • Bank account withdrawals

05

Submit Your Application and Keep a Copy

  1. After carefully reviewing your application for accuracy, make a copy of your application for your records and submit your renewal!

You can also view United We Dream’s video on how to renew your DACA online here.

06

Finally, don’t forget that you can track your case online! You can come back to your USCIS account to check on the status of your renewal. USCIS has started to request biometrics for certain cases; you should ensure that you keep track of your application status in case they request your biometrics. Failure to show up for your biometrics appointment could result in delay or denial of your renewal application.

Renewing your DACA via mail

You can still choose to renew your DACA via mail. You can find more information about DACA renewals via mail from Informed Immigrant here.

Please note: USCIS has indicated they will no longer accept one bundled payment of $495 (check, money order, etc) for all the forms included in your DACA renewal request. Be sure to include two separate checks, as USCIS may reject your entire package otherwise:

  • $410 for Form I-765
  • $85 for Form I-821D

If your DACA renewal is delayed, please refer to suggestions here on steps to take from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC). If further assistance is needed, please contact Esther Jeon (ejeon@nakasec.org).

Where can I get help with my DACA renewal?

Regardless of where you live, if you need assistance with filling out your DACA renewal, please contact our affiliates:

You can also use Informed Immigrant’s DACA clinic database to find help near you if you do not live in any of the six states above.

Our Affiliates

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