DACA Validity & Applications

Is my DACA still valid?

Your DACA is valid until it expires. DACA and work permits (employment authorization documents, or EADs) will remain valid until their expiration date. To determine when your DACA and work permit expire, look at your I-795 Approval Notice and the bottom of your EAD.

I don’t have DACA. If I am eligible, can I still apply?

No new DACA applications will be accepted. USCIS is no longer accepting first-time applications after September 5, 2017.

Can I apply for DACA now if it has been more than one year since my last DACA expired?

Yes. If you have received DACA before but it expired before September 5, 2016 and you did not renew, then you may renew your expired DACA by filing an initial DACA application with supporting documents that establish you are eligible for DACA. Please consult with a Center attorney for support with your DACA application.
If your DACA expired on or after September 5, 2016 but you did not renew, then you may renew your expired DACA by filing a renewal DACA application (please see Question 2).

My DACA is expiring soon. Can I renew it?

Yes. Information on how to renew is available here.

Have the DACA eligibility requirements as ordered by the Court changed in any way?

No. Based on the Court’s Order, the eligibility requirements for DACA have not changed. However, that does not mean that it is safe for everyone to renew their DACA. The circumstances listed in the bullet points below could trigger enforcement action – it is very important to consult with an attorney if any of the following applies to you:

• You have had any contact with police or the courts, including arrests, convictions, or any other criminal issues;
• You have had any contact with immigration authorities, including detention, deportation, or removal from the United States; or
• You have moved and changed your address since your last DACA application.

I already submitted my DACA application for the first time. What will happen to my application?

If your first-time DACA application has been received and accepted by USCIS before September 5, 2017, a receipt notice was issued and it will be processed accordingly. However, it is unclear how USCIS will process first-time applications that were physically received before September 5 but for which a receipt has not been issued.

I submitted my DACA renewal application already. What will happen to my application?

If your application is currently pending, it will be adjudicated according to USCIS.

Can I still apply for advance parole to participate in study abroad or international travel?

No. Advance parole to travel abroad is no longer available. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will no longer grant DACA recipients permission to travel abroad through advance parole. Any pending applications for advance parole will not be processed and DHS will refund any associated fees. Please note that the recommendation for UW students who are DACA recipients for study abroad has changed. The general advice is that you don’t travel abroad until there is greater clarification on your ability to return to the United States. Please see the Community Advisory Regarding DACA Program from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project found here. Please contact a study abroad advisor if you have questions.

If I already have advanced parole, can I still travel?

Because of the uncertainty surrounding the future of DACA, we urge those considering traveling outside the U.S. under advance parole to talk to an attorney or accredited representative before doing so.