Are children able to apply for the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program?
Yes, children residing in Washington are eligible to apply for the DACA program. The DACA program is a federal initiative that provides undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as children the opportunity to receive a two-year reprieve from deportation and permission to legally work in the U.S. During the two-year period of “deferred action”, eligible applicants may continue to legally remain in the U.S. However, it bears noting that the DACA program does not provide a pathway towards citizenship or lawful permanent residence. To qualify for DACA, applicants must be under 31 years of age as of June 15, 2012, must have resided continuously in the U.S. since June 15, 2007, and must have come to the U.S. before the age of 16. Additionally, applicants must have either obtained a high school diploma, GED, or have been honorably discharged from the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the U.S. In Washington, children may initiate the DACA application process by compiling and submitting the necessary paperwork along with the required fees. The first step is to file the relevant forms with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) including Form I-821D, Form I-765, and Form I-765W. After review and processing of the forms, applicants can be notified of the outcome. To ensure proper processing, applicants are encouraged to use the services of an experienced immigration lawyer to guide them along the way.
THELAW.TV ofrece respuestas en español a todas las preguntas sobre la ley de inmigración.La respuesta a esta pregunta es sí. DACA es un programa de acción diferida que fue creado por el gobierno de los Estados Unidos en junio de 2012 para ayudar a los jóvenes inmigrantes indocumentados. El programa ofrece a los solicitantes inmigrantes la protección contra la deportación, un permiso de trabajo, y otros beneficios. Cualquier persona calificada que haya llegado a los Estados Unidos antes de los 16 años de edad y de forma ilegal, puede solicitar el DACA. Esto significa que los niños tienen la posibilidad de aplicar para el programa. Sin embargo, el programa tiene estrictos criterios de elegibilidad que los solicitantes deben cumplir. Además, los solicitantes deben tener un historial limpio criminal y demostrar que han vivido en los Estados Unidos durante al menos cinco años antes de presentar la solicitud. Los aplicantes también deben presentar una carta de motivación explicando por qué necesitan la acción diferida. Si un niño cumple con los criterios de elegibilidad, entonces puede solicitar el DACA.
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