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For questions about applying under the “Childhood Arrivals” (Deferred Action) Program call our office at: (954) 382-5378
USCIS Releases “Childhood Arrivals” (Deferred Action) Application and Renewal
Forms, Fees & Filing Information
Learn More About:
Application & Renewal Filing Fees: $465 (Includes total fee for forms I-821D, I-765 and the I-765WS)
Filing Address: Depends upon state where Applicant resides. Click on link below to find out where your Application should be filed:
Read Information posted on the USCIS Website by clicking on the links below:
Recap of General Requirements for Eligibility: To qualify, applicants must provide evidence to demonstrate that they-
1.Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;2.Came to the United States before age 16th;
Came to the United States before age 16th;3.Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;4.Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making the request for deferred action with USCIS;
Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making the request for deferred action with USCIS;5.Were in un lawful immigration status as of June 15, 2012;
Were in un lawful immigration status as of June 15, 2012;6.Are currently in school, have graduated or have a certificate of completion from high school or GED, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
Are currently in school, have graduated or have a certificate of completion from high school or GED, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and7.Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
Here are the Major Highlights of the newly named Childhood Arrivals program:
USCIS Filing Fees:$ 465 (Includes USCIS Filing Fees for Work Authorization as well)
$ 465 (Includes USCIS Filing Fees for Work Authorization as well) Application Form: New USCIS form is being created and is not available yet
New USCIS form is being created and is not available yetWork Authorization Period: Issued for 2 Years & Renewable
Travel Permission: Not automatic. Can be requested once Deferred Action is granted under the Childhood Arrivals program. An additional USCIS Filing Fee of $445 ($360 plus $85 Biometrics) will be required. Note that while travel can be requested, the DHS has decided that approval will be limited to emergency travel related to those for Humanitarian purposes, Education and Work (will require proof of eligibility). Those granted Deferred Action are not allowed to travel abroad until they have received travel permission called “Advance Parole”
Status For Eligibility: Only individuals who are currently not in status and were not in any lawful status on June 15, 2012 are eligible for Deferred Action under the Childhood Arrivals program. This means that children who are currently maintaining legal status on a nonimmigrant visa such as (F-1, L-2, E-2, H-4) and even those who have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are not eligible unless proof is provided that the child had failed to maintain lawful status and was in fact in “unlawful” status as of June 15, 2012. We anticipate quite a lot of controvery surrounding these issue, including whether F-1 students who worked illegally before June 15th or otherwise failed to maintain status will be eligible. Individuals with Asylum, cancellation of removal, or similar cases pending as of June 15, 2012, who had no lawful status qualify for deferred action.
Safety of Applying: The DHS had decided that Information applicant’s provide on the form will be kept confidential, including all information relating to family members or legal guardians. This means that making an application will not jeopardize parents or any other family member who may not be in legal status. The USCIS will only refer a case to ICE or immigration court if it meets the strict criteria of the USCIS November 7, 2011 Policy Memorandum on Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Removable Aliens.
Other Eligibility Requirements Details:
School:Must either have graduated High School or GED or be currently enrolled in school at the time of application. That means legally registered in school.
Must either have graduated High School or GED or be currently enrolled in school at the time of application. That means legally registered in school.Age Requirements to apply: For most children, the minimum age to apply is 15. So for children who are not 15 years old yet, once a child reaches age 15 in the future, as long as the child is in school, he or she is eligible to apply for Deferred Action under the Childhood Arrivals program. However, for children who are in deportation or removal proceedings, or who have a final removal or a voluntary departure order, but not in immigration detention, a Deferred Action request can be made at any time, even if the child is under age 15. The maximum age is 30, as of June 15, 2012, with no exceptions. Individual who turn age 31 after June 15, 2012 remain eligible.
Deportation/Removal Orders: Individuals who have deportation or removal order are eligible to apply without additional requirements to go through the immigration court
Update on Criminal:
Non-significant Misdemeanors - means any misdemeanor (in which the maximum term of imprisonment authorized is one year or less but greater than five days) and is not an offense of domestic violence; sexual abuse or exploitation; burglary; unlawful possession or use of a firearm; drug distribution or trafficking; or, driving under the influence; and in which the individual was sentenced to time in custody of 90 days or less. Minor traffic offenses, such as driving without a license, are not considered misdemeanors that count toward the "3 or more" standard.
Significant Misdemeanors -The DHS will deem “significant” any misdemeanor, regardless of the sentence imposed, involving burglary, domestic violence, sexual abuse or exploitation, unlawful possession of firearms, driving under the influence, or drug distribution or trafficking. In addition, any other misdemeanor for which an applicant was sentenced to more than 90 days in jail, not including suspended sentences and time held pursuant to immigration detention.
Felonies -Offenses qualify as a felonies are those federal, state, or local criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year
Filing Fee Waivers: Waivers of paying the USCIS Filing Fees will not be available. Fee Exemptions, however, can be requested, but they must be requested and approved prior to filing for Deferred Action. DHS has made it clear that Fee Exemptions will only be granted in very limited cases where a child is under age 18 and either homeless, in foster care or without parental or familial support, or the individual (age 15 – 30) cannot care for themselves due to a serious, chronic disability or the individual (age 15 – 30) has accumulated $25,000 or more in debts in the past 12 months as a result of unreimbursed medical expenses for themselves or an immediate family member. In all cases, the applicant’s income must be less than 150% of the U.S. poverty level. Extensive documentation of meeting the eligibility for a Fee Exemption will be required at the time of application.
Deferred Action Denials - No Appeal Process: If a case is denied, there will be no chance to get the case reviewed or appeal the decision. Only applications which have been denied for “abandonment” (meaning failure to respond to a Request for Evidence by the deadline) because the USCIS mailed the Request for Evidence to the wrong address, as long as the applicant filed a Change of Address (Form AR-11) before the USCIS Request was issued.
Acceptable Evidence: In addition to the previously announced documents required to prove eligibility (birth certificate, passport, I-94 card, school records, etc), the DHS will also accept-
Affidavits -in very limited circumstances, but only to “fill in the gaps” necessary to prove 5 years of continuous residence and that trips outside the U.S. during that time were “brief, casual and innocent departures” in order to prove maintenance of continuous presence in the U.S..However, Affidavits will not be acceptable to prove school attendance or graduation, military service, physical presence in the U.S. and age as of June 15, 2012, entry into the U.S. before age 16 and criminal history.
Circumstantial Evidence -when documentary evidence is insufficient or not available, (but only to supplement “direct evidence”) to show that the individual was physically inside the U.S. on June 15, 2012, had entered the U.S. before age 16 and continued to reside in the U.S., and that trips outside the U.S. during that time were “brief, casual and innocent departures” in order to prove maintenance of continuous presence in the U.S..
However, circumstantial evidences will not be acceptable to prove school attendance or graduation, military service, physical presence in the U.S. and age as of June 15, 2012
“Childhood Arrivals” (Deferred Action) Program
Important Reminder: All information on the forms requested by the USCIS must be accompanied by extensive documentation to prove that you meet all the requriements. Applications filed without the accompanying evidence will receive a request for evidence which could result in your case being denied. There is no Appeal available for case denials.
