Legal Ease

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, as it is more commonly known nationwide, is a form of relief that was made available to certain individuals who arrived to the U.S. as children without legal status.

If your DACA application is approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS, you will receive an approval notice that grants you a two year stay in the U.S. and a work card for the same period. The work card will allow you to apply for a social security number and a driver’s license. With these documents, you will be able to obtain any job in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

To help determine whether or not you are eligible to apply for DACA you must satisfy all of the following criteria:

1. You arrived in the United States before turning 16.
2. You are over age 15 and were under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012.
3. You are currently in school or obtained a high school diploma/GED certificate.
4. You have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007.
5. You were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012 and at the time of filing your DACA application.
6. You were without lawful immigration status on June 15, 2012.
7. You have not been convicted of certain crimes.

If you meet all of the above requirements, then you most likely are eligible to apply for DACA. There are always other factors to consider, such as whether you are able to obtain sufficient proof and the proper evidence. Every case is unique, so it is a good idea to seek out the guidance and assistance of a qualified immigration attorney.

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Karen Weinstock

Managing Attorney at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers

Karen Weinstock is the managing attorney of Weinstock Immigration Lawyers. She specializes in solving complex immigration problems and provides case strategy and management for organizations and individuals. Prior to opening her own immigration law firm, Karen was the managing attorney of Siskind Susser Immigration Lawyers’ Atlanta office for over 11 years, from 2002 until 2013. Before then, Karen managed a solo law practice in New York City, serving international corporate clientele conducting business in the U.S. or moving to the U.S. for the first time.

Latest posts by Karen Weinstock (see all)

• I-130 Family Petitions and Consular Processing: A path to keeping the family together for foreign-nationals. - November 3, 2014
• H-1B Visa: A path to hiring professional foreign employees. - October 23, 2014
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): What is it and who is eligible? - October 16, 2014