How To Prepare DACA Forms for Free With ImmigrationHelp
ImmigrationHelp.org is a nonprofit with a mission to help cut down the cost of legal fees for eligible low-income Dreamers. ImmigrationHelp is not an immigration law firm or accredited representative that provides legal advice. Even though ImmigrationHelp is not a form preparation service, we help with many immigration application types, and most of them follow a similar process. Our service is interactive, and the faster you respond, the sooner we can get you your completed forms. Generally, we hope to help you file your forms two weeks after you first contact us to work together. This article will focus on how to complete a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal application or new DACA application with ImmigrationHelp.org’s system.
Written by Jonathan Petts.
Written May 25, 2022
Step 1: Complete Our DACA Eligibility Screener
If you want to work with us on your Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) application, the first thing you need to do is complete our screener. It takes about 10 minutes and determines if you are eligible to apply for DACA. If you are, it will register you in our system so we can get started.
What Are the Requirements for DACA?
You can submit a DACA application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if you meet these requirements:
You were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012.
You came to the United States before your 16th birthday.
You have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to now.
You were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of requesting deferred action from USCIS.
You had no lawful status (such as a valid green card or a valid U.S. visa) on or before June 15, 2012, meaning that:
You are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States.
You have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not threaten national security or public safety.
If you meet these requirements, we can help you with your DACA application paperwork for free. Click the Get Started button to begin the process.
Step 2: Complete Your DACA Forms Using Our Online App
If our screener approves your case, we'll help you complete your DACA forms through our online form preparation system. Our system transforms complex immigration forms into a simple question-answer format that later populates onto the PDF version of the official forms. Whenever you make any changes or updates, make sure to save them and submit them so our team can review your form responses.
What Forms Do I Need To Fill Out for DACA?
Every DACA application involves three USCIS forms. Form I-812D is the request for deferred action or main DACA application. Form I-765 is the request for employment authorization and to receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Form I-765WS is a worksheet for people requesting deferred action to demonstrate their economic need to work.
We will send all three forms to you through our form preparation software. When you’re done filling them out, we’ll review them and get back to you.
Step 3: Make Any Needed Corrections to Your DACA Forms
After you complete your forms, we will review them and leave comments. If necessary, we will send you an email alerting you to make updates. You can follow the tutorial videos we provide on viewing and changing your forms. When your forms are ready, we will send you a final PDF version.
Step 4: Proofread Your Finalized PDF Forms
It’s crucial to ensure your forms are accurate and that you carefully follow the entire DACA application process checklist. When you receive your PDF, double-check that you entered dates and names correctly, that no information for any applicable question is missing, and that you signed in all the right places. You can make changes to the editable PDF we sent you.
If you have any other issues, such as file corruption, you can email help@immigrationhelp.org.
Step 5: Request Review of Your Supporting Documents [Optional]
In addition to the immigration forms, you need to include certain supporting documents in your DACA application, depending on your specific application. You can email help@immigrationhelp.org to request a personal review by an immigration lawyer on our team. We will ask for a list of documents depending on your case and review them when you send them over.
Step 6: File DACA Forms Using Filing Instructions We Sent With Your PDF
After finalizing your DACA forms, file them with USCIS using the instructions we sent with your completed PDF submission package. Make sure that you file your forms with the correct office and fees.
Step 7: Keep us posted!
A few weeks after we send you your forms for filing, we will request an update on your application through email. Click the button to let us know the current status. Sharing with us is your best way of keeping us updated on your application so that we can help you along the way, so please keep the email handy.
You can use that same link to provide us with an application update at any point in time. If you are unsure how to check your application status, let us know, and we can help.
Conclusion
Preparing your DACA forms can be complicated, but help is available. If you are eligible, our free web app will walk you through the DACA process and help you prepare and file your application with the U.S. government. If our app isn’t a good fit, we may be able to refer you to an experienced immigration attorney to help. Click "Get Started" to see how we can help make your American dream come true!