DACA

DACA Lawyer in Orlando

Immigrant-Founded Guidance for DACA Renewals & Related Immigration Questions

The Merilien Law Firm helps current recipients navigate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, commonly known as DACA, with personalized, multilingual guidance. DACA offers eligible recipients a temporary deferral from removal and the ability to request work authorization for a set period. Because the program remains subject to active litigation and policy changes, we help clients understand the rules that apply when they’re ready to file.

Our founding attorney’s experience as a Haitian immigrant shapes how we approach these cases. We explain the process, identify issues that may affect a renewal, and keep clients informed through open communication from the initial consultation through the completion of our work.

Discuss your DACA renewal or related immigration concerns with our team. Call (561) 786-2289 or request a consultation online.

Multilingual DACA Support in Orlando

At The Merilien Law Firm, we’re built by immigrants, for immigrants. Our approach combines careful legal guidance with practical access for clients balancing work, family, transportation, and financial concerns.

Our client support includes:

Four Languages: We assist clients in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole.
Virtual Consultations: Remote meetings are available for clients who can’t commute to an in-person appointment.
Personalized Attention: We tailor our guidance to each client’s immigration history and current concerns.
Accessible Services: We work to make legal services as affordable as possible for the people who need them.

Who May Qualify for a DACA Renewal?

USCIS currently accepts and processes renewal requests from qualifying recipients. Under current guidance, a person generally must have continuously resided in the United States since their most recent approved request and must not have left the country on or after August 15, 2012, without advance parole.

Renewal eligibility also generally requires that the applicant:

Hasn’t been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors.
Doesn’t otherwise present a threat to national security or public safety under current USCIS standards.
Previously received DACA and is filing within the renewal framework USCIS has established.

USCIS may receive initial requests, but federal court orders continue to block their approval. Existing DACA grants and Employment Authorization Documents generally remain valid until their expiration dates unless individually terminated. These rules may change as litigation continues, so applicants should confirm the current requirements before filing.

The Current Legal Status of DACA

DACA remains under active litigation, including the ongoing case of Texas v. United States. Renewals continue under current federal guidance, but the program’s long-term future is unsettled and may shift with further court decisions, agency action, or legislation.

An April 2026 Board of Immigration Appeals decision held that DACA alone doesn’t prevent removal proceedings from continuing against a recipient. Removal proceedings are the immigration court process used to determine whether someone may remain in the United States. Recipients who receive a Notice to Appear or have other deportation concerns shouldn’t assume DACA ends the proceeding, and should seek case-specific guidance promptly.

The DACA Renewal Process

A renewal request requires Form I-821D (Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), along with the supporting documents identified in USCIS’s current filing instructions.

Filing Fees, Timeline, & Validity

As of September 2026, the combined filing fee is $555 for an online submission or $605 for a paper submission. Government fees and filing requirements can change, so applicants should verify the current amount before submitting.

USCIS generally recommends filing 120 to 150 days before the current DACA period and Employment Authorization Document expires. The Employment Authorization Document is the card showing its holder is authorized to work in the United States. Processing times vary, and a pending request doesn’t automatically extend DACA or work authorization while USCIS reviews it. Filing earlier than the recommended window doesn’t necessarily speed up the decision.

If approved, a renewal generally provides another two-year period of deferred action and a two-year Employment Authorization Document.

Issues to Review Before Filing

A late renewal may create a gap in deferred action and work authorization. If the current Employment Authorization Document expires before USCIS approves the renewal, the recipient generally can’t lawfully work during that gap. Depending on the person’s age and other immigration status, unlawful presence may also begin to accrue.

Several developments warrant careful review before filing:

Arrests or Police Contact: Any arrest, charge, citation, or conviction since the last renewal may affect eligibility and should be evaluated before submitting.
International Travel: Advance parole allows a recipient to request reentry after temporary travel abroad, but departure can carry immigration risks based on prior unlawful presence and individual history.
Expired DACA: A long-expired grant may affect how USCIS treats the filing under its current rules.
Removal Proceedings: Pending or prior immigration court matters require analysis that goes beyond the renewal forms.

How We Help With DACA Matters

We start by reviewing the client’s DACA history, expiration date, travel record, criminal history, and relevant immigration documents. From there, we prepare the renewal forms, organize supporting materials, and walk clients through the filing requirements and next steps.

Our assistance isn’t limited to completing paperwork. When appropriate, we can assess how DACA fits into broader immigration goals involving family immigration, employment visas, investor visas, sports visas, or deportation defense.

Throughout the matter, clients receive clear communication about what we need, what USCIS has issued, and what decisions may require their attention. We treat each case on its own terms rather than as a routine filing.

Immigration Options Beyond DACA

DACA doesn’t create a direct path to a green card. Some recipients may have a separate route to lawful permanent residence through a qualifying family relationship, marriage, employment opportunity, or humanitarian protection, but eligibility depends on the person’s full immigration history.

Factors such as manner of entry, prior departures, unlawful presence, family relationships, pending petitions, and immigration court history all affect what options are available. We can evaluate those details and explain whether adjustment of status, consular processing, or another immigration strategy warrants further consideration.

Get Clarity Before Your DACA Expiration Date

Bring your current Employment Authorization Document, prior DACA filings, immigration notices, and information about any travel or police contact to your consultation. A focused review can help you understand the filing timeline, required forms, and any issues that should be addressed before submission.

Virtual consultations are available, and we assist clients in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole. We also work to make our services as affordable as possible.

Call (561) 786-2289 or submit a request through our contact form to schedule a DACA consultation with The Merilien Law Firm.

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Committed to Your American Dream
Whether you're seeking legal status, defending your right to remain in the country, or building a future for your family, we're dedicated to helping you move forward.
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As an immigrant himself, our founding attorney brings personal insight and genuine empathy to every immigration case we handle.
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