On May 13, 2024, the Citizenship and Immigration Service Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) sent this message to interest groups:

If you have to renew your Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) urges you to submit your DACA renewal request as soon as possible.

• USCIS recommends that you submit your DACA renewal request between 150 and 120 days (four to five months) before the expiration date. from your current DACA approval notice (Form I-797, Notice of Action) and your employment authorization document (EAD).
  • Filing your renewal request during this time frame reduces the risk that your current DACA and employment authorization will expire before USCIS makes a decision on your renewal request. Filing more than 150 days before your current DACA expiration will not result in a faster decision.

• Submit your renewal request online.
  • Filing your petition online allows you to monitor your case, respond to requests for evidence electronically, and communicate with USCIS through your online account. It can also save you money.

• Make sure your request is complete. Before submitting:
  • If you are submitting a paper form, be sure to use the most recent versions of the Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization and Form I-765 WorksheetA new edition of Form I-765 went into effect on April 1, 2024.
  • Please review all forms to make sure you have signed them.
  • Please confirm that you are paying the applicable fees. Starting April 1, 2024, Form I-765 filing fee increased $520 if you file the paper form and $470 if you file online. The filing fee for Form I-821D will remain at $85. If you file the paper application, please include separate checks or money orders for the Form I-765 and Form I-821D filing fees.

• Check USCIS processing times. Please visit the USCIS page Check Case Processing Times for processing times for Form I-821 and Form I-765.
  • Please note that USCIS will not adjudicate your DACA-based Form I-765 until after you make a decision on your DACA petition renewal Form I-821D.

• You may request expedited processing of your DACA renewal application in emergencies or unforeseen circumstances. Please refer to the USCIS website Immigration Assistance in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances.

Why is it important?

DACA renewals and DACA-related EAD renewals represent a significant workload for USCIS. Filing within the recommended time frame reduces the risk that your current period of DACA and employment authorization will expire before you receive a decision on your renewal request.

If you apply more than a year after your current DACA expires, USCIS considers it an initial request and not a renewal request. While USCIS is accepting initial DACA applications now, recent court rulings prohibit USCIS from approving them at this time. Therefore, you can submit an initial application by mail, but all initial DACA requests are on hold and USCIS will not adjudicate them at this time.

Additional Information

For more information on DACA, please visit the pages of Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) y Frequently Asked Questions USCIS. For information on current court cases affecting DACA, please visit the USCIS website. DACA Litigation Information from the agency.

The Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of the Ombudsman is committed to working with stakeholders and USCIS to address concerns related to DACA. We will share additional updates on this topic when they become available.