DACA renewal eligibility tool

DACA policy has changed multiple times due to ongoing litigation. Current acceptance of new and renewal applications can shift with little notice based on court rulings. Confirm the current status of the program before relying on any timeline here, and check with an immigration attorney for the latest guidance. See our full disclaimer.

DACA renewal screener

Your DACA renewal eligibility result

Get help with your DACA renewal

A late renewal can mean a gap in work authorization and protection from removal. An immigration attorney can help confirm your eligibility and timing given the current state of the program.

What does DACA renewal require?

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, grants temporary protection from removal and work authorization in 2-year increments to people who arrived in the US as children and meet specific requirements. Renewal isn't automatic. It requires filing before the current grant expires, continued good moral character, and no disqualifying criminal history during the period since the last grant.

If your DACA renewal is delayed or denied, it's worth understanding your broader options. Our deportation defense screener and cancellation of removal screener cover relief options that may apply outside of DACA specifically.

Timing your renewal application

USCIS has historically recommended filing a renewal application 120 to 150 days before the current period expires, since processing delays are common and a lapse in status can affect both work authorization and protection from removal. Filing too early, before that window opens, can also result in rejection. Tracking your exact expiration date and working backward from it is essential.

Continuous residence and the original eligibility criteria

While initial DACA eligibility required specific criteria about arrival age and date, continuous residence since 2007, and being in school or having graduated, renewal generally focuses on whether you've maintained continuous residence in the US since your last DACA grant, without a single absence that wasn't authorized or covered by advance parole. Significant gaps in residence can complicate a renewal application.

Criminal history and renewal

Certain convictions, including any felony, what's classified as a "significant misdemeanor," or 3 or more other misdemeanors, generally disqualify someone from DACA renewal, similar to the original eligibility requirements. Even an arrest without a conviction can require additional explanation and documentation. Any new criminal history since your last DACA grant should be reviewed carefully with an attorney before filing a renewal.

Frequently asked questions about DACA renewal

USCIS has historically recommended filing 120 to 150 days before your current DACA period expires, to account for processing time and avoid a gap in work authorization or protection. Filing too far in advance, before that window opens, can result in rejection, so tracking your exact expiration date matters. Current acceptance of renewal applications can also depend on the status of ongoing litigation, so confirming the program's current status before filing is important.

A gap between your old work permit expiring and your renewal being approved can mean a period without valid work authorization, which can create complications with an employer's I-9 verification. Filing as early as the window allows is the best way to minimize this risk, since processing times can vary and aren't guaranteed.

It depends on the classification. A single misdemeanor that doesn't meet the definition of a "significant misdemeanor," such as certain low-level offenses, generally doesn't disqualify someone on its own. However, 3 or more misdemeanors of any kind, or 1 significant misdemeanor, or any felony, generally does disqualify a renewal applicant. An attorney should review the exact offense and its classification.

Travel outside the US without advance parole, even while a renewal is pending, generally ends DACA status and can create reentry problems depending on how long you were unlawfully present before DACA was granted. Advance parole for DACA recipients has also been affected by litigation over the years, so confirming current availability before planning any international travel is essential.

This has changed multiple times due to ongoing court rulings affecting the program, and the current status can shift again with little notice. Checking the most current guidance directly from USCIS or with an immigration attorney before assuming either new applications or renewals are being processed is the safest approach given this history.