Following President Obama’s directive, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, issued guidelines on June 15, 2012 for a new program to provide temporary relief from removal proceedings for certain young people who were brought to the United States through no fault of their own as young children and who meet several key criteria. Known commonly as the “Dream Act”, but officially as “Deferred Action for Early Childhood Arrivals”, this remarkable program offers relief from deportation for certain individuals meeting several requirements.

Since August 15, 2012, individuals have been able to submit applications to the USCIS to apply for deferred action or the “Dream Act”. Individuals seeking this relief will have to meet these 7 requirements in order to be eligible for this program, specifically they must:

    • 1. Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;

 

    • 2. Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;

 

    • 3. 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 your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;

 

    • 5. Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;

 

    • 6. Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and

 

    • 7. Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

 

Only those individuals who can prove through verifiable documentation that they meet these criteria will be eligible for deferred action. The preparation of your documents is imperative, even the smallest error(s) can result in a denial with no possibility of appeal. Further, if you have a significant misdemeanor, there may be an exception for you, but your case will need to have expert preparation. For that, you can call a Deferred Action Attorney in Irvine, California.

Furthermore, to be eligible for this program, you will likely be in an unlawful status. There are a lot of questions and uncertainty regarding this program and how it is going to be implemented. For example, by revealing sensitive information about yourself to the government, could you be inadvertently giving information to the government about other family members (ones who do not qualify for deferred action) that target them for possible removal? For legal help and guidance on this topic, contact the Dream Act Immigration Attorneys in Irvine, CA at the Law Offices of Kapesh V. Patel. You can get in touch with our Dream Act Immigration Attorneys in Orange County by calling (949) 440-3240 for a Free Case Evaluation.

It is very important you consult with this office to determine whether you are eligible and if you have any questions concerning your qualifications. If you have a criminal background, don’t let your “Dream Act” turn into a nightmare, consult with a licensed immigration attorney to give you the best possible chance at approval. Our Orange County Deferred Action Attorneys are always ready to assist you. Call the California Deferred Action Lawyers at our office at (949) 440-3240.