On June 15, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would begin utilizing a deferred action program, allowing certain immigrants who entered the United States as minors to avoid deportation and, eventually, seek authorization to work in the U.S.
To be eligible for the deferred action program, an individual must:
· Have come to the United States before the age of 16.
· Have been under the age of 21 on June 15, 2012.
· Have resided in the U.S. for at least five years before June 15, 2012 and have been present in the U.S. on that date.
· Be currently in school, have graduated or have obtained a GED, or be an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or Coast Guard.
· Have no felony or significant misdemeanor convictions or three or more misdemeanors.
· Not pose a threat to national security or public safety.
In order to be considered as a part of the deferred action program, in addition to meeting these eligibility requirements, a person also must submit a variety of supporting documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service department. Once these have been submitted and approved by the USCIS, the individual will be granted deferred action for two years and will not be eligible for removal during that time period.
Once those two years have ended, they may apply for renewal and can choose to apply for U.S. work authorization if they wish.
More on the Deferred Action Program
Anyone who immigrated to the United States as a minor may be eligible for the benefits of the deferred action program. Those considering seeking deferred action should consult a qualified attorney before moving forward with the process.
Are you considering applying for the deferred action program? Then call the Davis Law Firm at 800-770-0127 today for help.