Am I Eligible for DACA?

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, is a federal policy that provides deferred action for certain individuals that illegally arrived in the United States as children. While it is not a path to citizenship, it provides deferred action on a person’s illegal status for two years, is renewable, and also provides a person with work authorization and allows them to live within the mainstream economy. The program represents a federal policy that immigration enforcement efforts are best directed at pursuing adult individuals that pose a threat to public safety or national security rather than people who arrived in the United States as children.

Obtaining DACA status can have a significant and positive impact on a person’s quality of life within the United States. For this reason, anyone who is eligible should be sure to apply. Information about DACA eligibility is detailed below. For specific information regarding your case, call Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC today for assistance.

Determining DACA eligibility can be complicated

There are many requirements that individuals must meet in order to be eligible for consideration for deferred action. In order to request DACA status, the following must be true regarding an applicant:

• He or she must have been under 31 as of June 15, 2012;
• He or she must come to the United States prior to his or her 16^th birthday;
• He or she must have been continuously residing in the United States since June 15, 2007, until the present time;
• He or she must have been present on June 15, 2012, and present when requesting DACA status;
• He or she must have had no lawful status as of June 15, 2012;
• He or she must be currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a GED, or be an honorably discharged veteran of the Armed Forces or Coast Guard; and
• He or she must not have been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, three or more misdemeanors, or otherwise pose a threat to public safety or national security.

While these requirements may seem straightforward, establishing these facts may be difficult, especially for people who have lived as undocumented immigrants (as DACA applicants, by definition, have). For this reason, it is important for people who are seeking DACA status to talk to an attorney. An experienced attorney familiar with immigration law will be able to determine your eligibility, collect documentation in support of your position, fill out the necessary paperwork, and advocate on your behalf with the immigration officials who will ultimately make a decision regarding your case.

Contact A Chicago Immigration Attorney Today To Retain Legal Representation

Anyone that is considering applying for DACA should consult with an attorney as soon as possible. In many cases, an attorney can help prospective applicants avoid potential problems with their application and ensure that they obtain the best possible outcome to their case. The Chicago immigration lawyers of Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC are dedicated to helping people resolve their legal issues related to immigration quickly and efficiently. To schedule a consultation with one of our consultation, call our office today at 312-332-2250 or submit our online contact form available here.