What to do now if you have DACA: a checklist

The news can make you feel like everything is out of your hands. It isn't. Each item below is something you can do, most of them in under an hour. This is general information, not legal advice.

Is my DACA still good?

Yes. If you have DACA today, it stays valid until the date it ends, unless USCIS ends it in your own case. Renewals are still accepted and decided. For what is happening in court, see Is DACA still open?

What should I do about my DACA itself?

• Know your end date. It is on your work permit and approval notice. Set reminders for 150 days and 120 days before it.
• Renew on time. USCIS asks you to file 120 to 150 days before your DACA ends. Renewals are slow, and your work permit is not extended while you wait. USCIS says it will accept a renewal sent more than 150 days early, but it won't decide it faster, and your new period may overlap with the time you have left (DACA FAQ Q53). Some Dreamer groups suggest filing earlier anyway because of delays. Ask your clinic. Steps: How to renew your DACA step by step.
• Plan for the fee. $555 online or $605 on paper, with no fee waivers. Start saving now, or see Help paying the DACA fee.
• Report every move within 10 days. Changing your address with the Post Office does not tell USCIS.
• Keep copies of everything. Every form you send and every notice you get, in one folder. Give a copy of your latest approval notice to someone you trust.

How do I protect my record?

• Stay out of legal trouble. A felony, one significant misdemeanor like a DUI, or three other misdemeanors can cost you DACA.
• If you are arrested, call an immigration lawyer right away. Tell your criminal defense lawyer you have DACA before you agree to any plea.
• Never say you are a U.S. citizen, on any form, and never vote unless the law allows it. Either one can bar you from ever getting a green card.
• Don't travel outside the U.S. without talking to a lawyer first. Since August 13, 2026, a trip on advance parole can trigger the 3 or 10 year bar for people with past unlawful presence (USCIS Form I-131 page). A trip also costs more now: $580 online or $630 on paper for advance parole, plus a $1,050 parole fee when you come back. See Keep your DACA.
• File taxes if you earn enough to need to file.
• Men 18 through 25: register with Selective Service.

How do I protect myself and my family?

• Carry your work permit. If you are 18 or older, the law says to carry proof of registration, and your DACA work permit counts today.
• Know your rights. You can stay silent and ask for a lawyer. Print the pocket card on Your rights with DACA.
• Save a lawyer's number in your phone and on paper.
• Make a family plan. Who picks up the kids, who can reach your papers, who pays the rent if something happens. See Make a family preparedness plan.
• Know who has your information. Read Can my DACA information be shared with ICE? so you can answer your family's questions.

How do I plan ahead?

• Get a legal screening for other options. DACA alone does not lead to a green card. But some people qualify another way, through family, a job, or a program for crime victims or young people. A free screening can tell you. See Paths to a green card.
• Build a cushion for a gap. Set aside what you can for rent, food and phone, in case your new card comes late. See While you wait.
• Keep school on track. In California, you do not need DACA for in state tuition or the California Dream Act. The 2027 to 2028 CA Dream Act Application deadline is March 2, 2027, or September 2, 2027 for community college (CSAC). See Paying for college in California.
• Check your health coverage (California). Adults with DACA can still newly enroll in full scope Medi-Cal (DHCS). Changes start January 1, 2027, when your care moves to Fee for Service and you use your Medi-Cal BIC card, not a health plan card. From July 1, 2027, adults 19 to 59 face a monthly premium of $30 to $50 a month, with the exact amount set by the governor in May 2027. See Medi-Cal for adults in 2026. More: Medi-Cal changes in 2027.
• Get news from trusted sources. Check uscis.gov or a legal clinic, not social media. Anyone who promises a shortcut for a fee may be running a scam. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.
• Take care of yourself. Living with this uncertainty is heavy. See Mental health care without fear.

What if something goes wrong?

• You get a Notice of Intent to Terminate. It gives you a deadline to answer. Call a lawyer the same day.
• Your card was mailed to an old address. Call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 right away, and update your address.
• You missed a fingerprint appointment. Missing it can lead to a denial. Reschedule before the appointment date if you can, and call the Contact Center if you can't.
• Your work permit ran out before the new one came. Stop working until you have it, and tell your employer in writing that your renewal is pending. See My renewal is late.
• You were arrested. Call an immigration lawyer before you agree to anything in criminal court.

Who can help?

These are free or low cost legal services. 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: a 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).
• Catholic Charities of San Mateo County (for San Mateo County residents): (650) 295-2160
• For Santa Clara County residents: Office of Immigrant Relations partners
• California Attorney General: to report immigration enforcement or a possible violation of your rights, email immigration@doj.ca.gov (oag.ca.gov/immigrant)

Only an attorney or a DOJ accredited representative may give you legal advice.

You have already done hard things to get here. One checked box at a time, you are protecting your future. Do not lose hope.

Is there a checklist I can print?