USCIS has finally posted an update on the renewal process for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The notice is preliminary and subject to change, but it does it offers over half a million DACA recipients vital information about what they should do to prepare for the road ahead.
The update clarifies DACA renewal issues regarding adjudication procedure, evidence and timing. USCIS will release the updated DACA application form in late May. No one may file a renewal before that date on the current form (other than those granted Deferred Action by ICE). As it pertains to required evidence for the renewal, applicants will only be required to submit new documents pertaining to removal proceedings or criminal history that were not been previously submitted to USCIS.
Because USCIS anticipates adjudicating renewal requests within 120 days, we recommend DACA recipients file for renewal approximately 120 days before the expiration date of their initial DACA grant, but no earlier than 150 days (five months) prior to expiration. USCIS states that it will not accept DACA applications filed more than 150 days in advance of a DACA expiration date. USCIS states that it “may” provide an automatic extension of the original DACA grant, but appears to limit the automatic extension to individuals who file between 150 and 120 days before their DACA expiration date.
With the release of the updated DACA application form in late May, USCIS will finalize the details of the renewal process.
