Maintaining protection from deportation and preserving valid work authorization requires submitting a timely and complete renewal request. Federal immigration agencies recommend submitting DACA renewal requests between 120 and 150 days before the expiration date listed on your current approval notice. Submitting incomplete packages or missing required documentation can lead to severe delays, administrative rejections, or gaps in employment permission. Knowing DACA Renewal exactly which forms, identification records, and supporting evidence to include ensures a seamless evaluation process.
Essential Mandatory Forms
Every request for DACA renewal relies on three core forms that must be completed accurately. Leaving required fields blank or using outdated edition dates will cause the government to return the submission without processing it.
Form I-821D: Consideration of Deferred Action
Form I-821D serves as the primary request for continued deferred action. Applicants must ensure they use the most current version available on the official government website. When completing this questionnaire, personal details such as full name, residential address, and mailing history must match previous filings unless a formal change occurred. Any address modifications should be updated immediately across all sections.
Form I-765 and Form I-765WS: Work Authorization and Economic Need
Alongside the deferred action petition, applicants must submit Form I-765 to request an extension of employment authorization. This form requires selecting the appropriate eligibility category for deferred action recipients. Additionally, applicants must complete Form I-765WS, a supplemental financial worksheet. This worksheet outlines annual income, current expenses, and total asset values to demonstrate an economic necessity for employment permission.
Required Identity and Status Documentation
In addition to completing official paperwork, petitioners must provide physical evidence confirming their identity and ongoing eligibility.
1. Current Work Authorization Card
A legible photocopy of the front and back of your current Employment Authorization Document is a mandatory requirement. This document proves your existing status and displays your Alien Registration Number. If your card was lost, stolen, or damaged, you should include a copy of the original approval notice along with a government-issued photo identity document.
2. Official Identification and Supporting Copies
Applicants must submit copies of valid identification documents to verify their personal details. Acceptable forms of identity evidence include:
- A unexpired foreign passport page containing biographical details and a photograph
- A state-issued driver’s license or official non-driver identification card
- A birth certificate accompanied by a certified English translation if issued in another language
- Two identical passport-style photographs taken within thirty days of submitting the paperwork
Evidence of Legal History Changes or Special Circumstances
If your personal circumstances have changed since your last approved submission, additional documentation is necessary to prevent processing holds.
1. Criminal and Legal Records
Any legal incidents that occurred since the previous grant period must be fully disclosed. Applicants who were arrested, charged, or convicted of any offense must supply certified copies of arrest reports, court dispositions, sentencing orders, or dismissal notices. Failing to disclose legal interactions can result in immediate denial and revocation of status.
2. Travel Documents and Re-entry Approvals
Applicants who traveled outside the country during their previous grant period must provide documentation proving authorized travel. Submitting a copy of an approved advance parole DACA document alongside official passport stamps confirms that international travel was conducted legally.
Fee Payment Methods and Submission Checklist
Filing requirements vary depending on whether the application is submitted by mail or through an official electronic portal.
1. Filing Fees and Payment Instructions
The government requires a specific processing fee covering both the work authorization petition and biometrics services. When submitting by mail, fees must be paid using a cashier’s check or money order drawn on a financial institution located in the United States and made payable to the designated federal department. When using electronic filing systems, payment can be processed directly via credit card or electronic bank transfer. Fee waiver requests are generally not available for renewal filings.
2. Assembling and Submitting the Application Packet
Before sending the completed packet, verify that every form contains original signatures in black ink if submitting paper copies. Organize all materials sequentially: payment instrument on top, followed by notification forms, primary petitions, work authorization worksheets, and supporting photocopies. Retain a complete duplicate copy of the entire packet for your personal files before mailing or online submission.
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