Salt Lake City DACA Attorney

Assisting with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals in Utah

For those without legal status in the United States, DACA can be a golden ticket for obtaining a work permit and social security number—a promise from the government that you won’t be deported for as long as your DACA is valid. More than just a number or a piece of paper, being recognized by DACA is peace of mind.

To put it simply, DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a status that allows those who entered the U.S. as children to obtain a work permit and a social security number. Successful DACA applicants will receive a work permit that is valid for two years. After that, you’ll be able to renew your permit for additional three-year terms. At Monument Immigration, our Salt Lake City DACA lawyer also helps immigrants in Cottonwood Heights and Las Vegas.

For more information or to receive your free consultation, call (801) 609-3659 or contact us online.

Am I Eligible for DACA In Salt Lake City?

To enjoy the benefits of DACA, you’ll need to meet a handful of requirements.

You may be eligible if:

• Your birthday is after June 15th, 1981
• You have entered the U.S. on or before your 15th birthday
• You have maintained a continuous presence in the U.S. since June 15th, 2007
• You have graduated high school, obtained a GED, or are currently enrolled in school
• You have a limited criminal record

If you don’t meet one or more of these requirements, you may still be eligible to apply. However, your case will need to be evaluated by an attorney to give you the best chance at success. The Salt Lake City DACA lawyers at Monument Immigration are happy to evaluate your case during a free consultation and provide insight to your rights under DACA.

How Long Does DACA Take?

Following submission, the U.S. government typically takes about seven months to process your application. DACA renewals should be initiated at least six months prior to the expiration of your DACA status.

How Much Do You Charge for a DACA Case?

For your initial consultation and application, we charge a flat, no-hassle fee of $2,000, or $500 for DACA renewals. We believe all immigrants are entitled to fair legal counsel as they chase the American Dream, and that belief is reflected in our highly competitive pricing. That’s also why we’re proud to offer interest-free payment plans with an initial payment of just $500. If you choose to make your entire payment up front, you’ll receive a 10% discount. Also, bear in mind that the government filing fee for both initial and renewal requests is $495.

Can I Obtain a Green Card from Deferred Action?

Here is a basic outline for turning your Deferred Action status into Lawful Permanent Residence–or a Green Card!

There are two types of people who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals–also known as DACA:

1. Those who entered the United States as children with a visa and simply overstayed; and
2. Those who entered the United States as children without inspection and remained.

The way the law treats these two different groups determines which process you must follow to obtain your green card.

Sponsorship by a Relative

If a person entered the United States with most visas or inspection by a Customs and Border Patrol Agent and:

• Marries a United States Citizen; or
• Has a United States Citizen child over 21 years old,

that person’s U.S. Citizen family member can petition to adjust their status as an immediate relative to obtain a green card without ever leaving the country.

Advance Parole

However, the majority of DACA beneficiaries fall into the second category. They entered the United States without inspection by simply crossing the border.

Generally, people in this situation are ineligible to adjust their status in the United States without first being inspected and admitted by Customs and Border Protection. Luckily, there are still options available.

First, to circumvent the “inspected and admitted” requirement, DACA beneficiaries can apply for Advance Parole. Advance Parole allows the beneficiary to travel outside of the United States and return for a few different reasons:

• Urgent humanitarian purposes, which include medical assistance, to attend a family member’s funeral, visiting a sick relative, or some other urgent family-related matter;
• Educational purposes, including taking part in a study abroad program or doing academic research; or
• Employment purposes, including overseas assignments or client meetings, interviews, conferences, training, and travel needed to pursue a job with a foreign employer in the United States.

Once you return on your Advance Parole, congratulations, you are now considered “inspected and admitted”! Your immediate relative can now petition to adjust your status to Lawful Permanent Residency.

How We Help in Salt Lake City

Our DACA lawyer in Salt Lake City can help make sure the application requirements are clear, assist you in gathering your application information, and help accurately prepare your submission to the United States government.

Monument Immigration can have your DACA application ready to submit within just 48 hours of receiving your documentation and information. Our Salt Lake City DACA attorney is experienced with DACA paperwork and wants to help you and your family succeed.

Call (801) 609-3659 or contact us online for a free phone consultation with our experienced immigration attorney in Salt Lake City.