Can I renew my DACA?

This is general information, not legal advice.

Who can renew?

You can renew if all of these are true:

• You have DACA now, or it ended less than one year ago, and USCIS did not end it for cause.
• You have lived in the U.S. continuously since your last DACA request.
• You have not left the U.S. without advance parole since August 15, 2012.
• You have no felony, no significant misdemeanor and not three or more other misdemeanors, and you are not seen as a threat to public safety.

You do not need to still be in school to renew.

When should I file?

Between 120 and 150 days before your DACA ends. That is about four to five months ahead. USCIS strongly encourages this window.

Filing earlier than 150 days will not speed things up. USCIS says it will still accept it, but your new DACA period may overlap with the one you have, so you can lose some time (DACA FAQ Q53, checked October 21, 2026). Do not wait until the last month either. Renewals have been slow. Members of Congress reported the typical wait rose to about 70 days in late 2025 and early 2026. CBS News reported on October 8, 2026 that USCIS said it decided 80 percent of renewals within seven months, so some people wait much longer. Ask a clinic whether to file a little earlier.

Example with dates. Made up: if your DACA ends August 15, 2027, the window USCIS suggests runs from March 18, 2027 (150 days before) to April 17, 2027 (120 days before).

How much does it cost?

• Online: $555 ($85 for Form I-821D plus $470 for Form I-765).
• By mail: $605 ($85 plus $520).

There are no fee waivers for DACA. A few narrow fee exemptions exist, but they must be approved before you file. If the cost is hard, see Can I get help paying my DACA renewal fee?

How do I file?

Online, if you had DACA before. Create a free USCIS online account, fill out Forms I-821D and I-765, upload your evidence and pay. You can read notices and answer requests in your account. See Renew your DACA online.

By mail. Send these together, signed by hand:

1. Form I-821D, with the renewal box checked.
2. Form I-765 and the I-765WS worksheet. Without Form I-765, USCIS rejects the whole package.
3. Two identical color passport style photos and a copy of the front and back of your current or last work permit (Form I-765 instructions).
4. Payment on Form G-1450 or G-1650.
5. Optional: Form G-1145 clipped to the front, so you get a text or email when USCIS receives it.

California residents mail to: USCIS, Attn: DACA, P.O. Box 20700, Phoenix, AZ 85036-0700. Use the P.O. Box only with the U.S. Postal Service. Couriers use the street address on the USCIS filing address page. Check that page again the day you mail. See Renew your DACA by mail.

You do not need to send documents you sent before, unless you have new arrests, charges, convictions or a new removal case.

What happens after I file?

1. Receipt. USCIS sends a receipt notice, by mail or in your online account. Keep the 13 character receipt number.
2. Fingerprints. USCIS may schedule a biometrics appointment. Go. Missing it can lead to a denial.
3. Decision and card. The approval notice and the new card come separately. Allow up to 30 days after approval for the card.
4. Move? Tell USCIS within 10 days. See How do I tell USCIS my new address?

If the package comes back rejected, fix the reason USCIS gives and file again right away. If your request is denied, there is no appeal. Talk to a lawyer before you do anything else.

What if my DACA already expired?

If it ended less than one year ago, you can still renew. File now.

Until your renewal is approved, you cannot work. If you are 18 or older, you also build "unlawful presence," which can hurt future options.

If it ended more than one year ago, you must file as a first time request. USCIS accepts those but is not deciding them now. See Is DACA still available?

Will my work permit be extended while I wait?

No. DACA work permits do not get an automatic extension. Your employer must see a new work permit by the day your current one ends. This is the main reason to file on time. See While you wait.

Who should talk to a lawyer first?

Everyone benefits from a quick check. These people should not file without one:

• Anyone arrested, charged or convicted of anything since the last DACA approval, even if the case was dropped.
• Anyone who left the U.S. without advance parole.
• Anyone with an immigration court case or old deportation order.

Who can help?

These are free or low cost legal services, and many run DACA renewal clinics. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• California Department of Social Services: map of state funded immigration legal services. Call (916) 651-8017.
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (for low income San Mateo and Santa Clara county residents): (650) 326-6440
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (for San Mateo County residents): (650) 558-0915
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Redwood City office: (650) 587-1558 to book a free first consultation (appointments only, no drop ins).
• For Santa Clara County residents: Office of Immigrant Relations partners for DACA renewals

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?
• What does a renewal cost?
• What can I do if my DACA renewal is delayed?

You have done this before, and you can do it again. Put the date on your calendar today.