What can I do if my DACA renewal is delayed?

This is general information, not legal advice.

Why is my renewal taking so long?

You are not alone. Renewals are slower than they used to be. Members of Congress reported in June 2026 that the median wait rose to 70 days, up from 15 days the year before. CBS News reported on October 8, 2026 that USCIS said it decided 80 percent of renewals within seven months over the previous six months, so some cases take longer than that. USCIS's DACA FAQ says it aims to decide renewals within 120 days, but that is a goal, not a promise.

Your case can also stall for reasons you can fix:

• You missed a fingerprint (biometrics) appointment.
• USCIS sent a request for more evidence and is waiting for your answer.
• Your address changed and USCIS mail went to the old one.

Check for these first. They are the fastest wins.

What should I do first?

1. Check your case. Use your receipt number in your USCIS account or on Case Status Online. Read every notice.
2. Answer any request for evidence by its deadline, and go to any biometrics appointment.
3. Update your address if you moved. Report a move within 10 days. The Post Office does not update USCIS for you. See How do I tell USCIS my new address?
4. Write down your dates: when you filed, your receipt numbers, and the day your DACA ends.

When can I ask USCIS about it?

Once your renewal has been pending more than 105 days, USCIS says (Q52, checked October 21, 2026) you may send an inquiry online. Use e-Request or call the Contact Center. Have your receipt number ready. TheDream.US reports that the e-Request menu may not list Form I-821D, so some people use the receipt number from their Form I-765 instead.

Can I ask USCIS to speed it up?

Yes, if you can show serious harm. USCIS may expedite for reasons like severe financial loss or an urgent humanitarian need. It is up to USCIS.

• Losing your job may count, depending on your facts. Needing a work permit, by itself, does not.
• Proof matters. A letter from your employer saying you will lose your job on a set date is strong proof.
• Filing late hurts. USCIS will not count an emergency that came from filing late.

Ask by calling the Contact Center, or by sending a secure message in your USCIS account and choosing "expedite." There is no fee. Details: Can I speed up my DACA case?

Who can I contact about a delay?

Go in this order. You can do more than one at the same time.

• USCIS Contact Center: 800-375-5283, TTY 800-767-1833. Ask about your case, send an inquiry, or ask for an expedite. Write down the date, the name or ID of the person, and any reference number.
• Your member of Congress. Their caseworkers can contact USCIS for you. They will ask you to sign a privacy release first. Find yours at house.gov. In East Palo Alto, ZIP 94303 covers two districts, so enter your street address.
• The CIS Ombudsman. This office in the Department of Homeland Security helps with stuck USCIS cases through DHS Form 7001. It asks you to try USCIS first. DHS's Ombudsman page (updated May 13, 2026) still says the office helps people with USCIS problems (checked October 21, 2026). News reports in March 2025 said DHS cut most of its staff, and DHS posts no response times, so use it alongside the other steps, not instead of them.
• A free legal clinic. A lawyer or DOJ accredited representative can check your file and help write an expedite request. See the list below.

Never pay anyone who promises to make USCIS move faster. Asking is free.

What if my DACA ends while I wait?

Here is the hard part. DACA work permits get no automatic extension. Your receipt notice does not let you keep working. If your DACA ends before the new approval:

• You may not work until the new card arrives, at any age.
• You start to build up unlawful presence, unless you were under 18 when you filed the renewal.
• Your employer must check your papers again no later than the day your permit ends.

Tell your employer your end date early, in writing, and ask if they can hold your job. Your rights during a gap: What happens to my job if my DACA work permit ends? Do not travel outside the U.S. without talking to a lawyer.

How do I avoid a delay next time?

USCIS strongly encourages filing 120 to 150 days before your DACA ends. Because of current delays, TheDream.US now advises filing about 180 to 240 days ahead (September 2026). USCIS says (Q53) it accepts renewals sent more than 150 days early, but your new DACA period may overlap the old one, so it can end up lasting less than two more years. Filing early does not get you a faster decision. Ask a clinic which date is right for you.

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

For San Mateo County residents:

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: (650) 326-6440
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County: (650) 558-0915
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (Redwood City): (650) 587-1558, consultations by appointment
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194, immigrantservices@smcgov.org

Elsewhere:

• Santa Clara County residents: Office of Immigrant Relations partners
• Anywhere in California: the state's map of free immigration legal services, or call (916) 651-8017.

Only a lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative may give you immigration legal advice. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

Related questions

• Should I keep renewing DACA?
• Can I renew my DACA?
• How do I tell USCIS my new address?

Waiting is hard. Keep your papers close, make one call at a time, and remember that a slow case is still a live case.