Aug 15, 2012

DACA Initiative - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

It means: children that were brought here illegally by their parents or their legal status has terminated before June 15, 2012, are eligible to apply for a limited time for "DACA".
"Deferred action" is a discretionary decision of the Department of Homeland Security not to pursue enforcement against a person for a specific period. In this case it's two years. After that, nothing is guaranteed. THIS IS NOT AN AMNESTY.
To be eligible to apply for DACA, an individual must demonstrate that:
1) Was under age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
2) Came to US before reaching his/her 16th birthday;
3) Has continuously resided in the US since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
4) Was physically present in the US on June 15, 2012, and at the time of application to USCIS;
5) Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;
6) Is currently in school, has graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, has obtained a GED, or is an honorably discharged veteran of the US Coast Guard or the US Armed Forces; and
7) Has not been convicted of a felony, a "significant misdemeanor", three or more other misdemeanors, or does not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

It is our strong opinion that no one should apply for this status before consulting with an immigration attorney for the following reasons:
1) immigration law is a highly specialized legal field, very complex, and the legal language is always subject to interpretation and only an attorney is equipped to find the right interpretation through legal research and other resources;
2) if an individual does not qualify, he/she exposes herself and even his/her family to deportation;
3) be aware of "notarios" or any other non-lawyer offering to help and promising guaranteed results, because the situation arises too often when these people have ruined lives, even when they did it with good intention.
Call us today to receive the answers you are looking for, at: (678) 615-8529.